This 1971 Ford F-100 Stepside, or Flareside, vacillates between trendy patina, old school surface rust, and just plain ol’ rust. It’s a barn find that the seller just cleaned up, refinished the wheels and that’s about it. This shortbox stepside can be found here on eBay in Panama City Beach, Florida and the current bid price is just under $1,500 and there is no reserve.
The fifth-generation Ford F-Series pickups were made for the model years 1967 through 1972, at least for North America, and dare I say that they’re currently the most popular generation of Ford pickup? The ol’ bump side design, although in this case a lot of the bump is missing because it’s a stepside, or Flareside in Ford speak. I really like the look of stepside pickups but I know that the majority of people prefer the look and extra capacity of the regular bed on a pickup.
This truck has an interesting look for sure, it’s probably more surface rust than Harbor Blue paint, and then there are those jarringly-new, clean, and tiny but probably correctly-sized wheels. There is more than innocent and trendy “patina” on this truck, however. There is some serious rust-through that will require some serious work. The roof and “gutters” will need help and then there’s the underside. Ouch. A few folks are battling it out for this truck, though, and they can see the work that’s required. Hagerty is at $6,500 for a #4 fair condition truck but there’s a lot of work to do to bring it up to that point.
The seat cover is a bummer, I always like to see the condition of everything, but it instantly tells us that it’ll “need replaced”, as they say in 2020. The dash looks fried and the whole interior may need a kit from any number of aftermarket suppliers. Speaking of which, the next owner should be able to sit in a leather wingback chair by their fireplace with a snifter of brandy and a cigar and order part after part from multiple catalogs for this truck, unlike for the vehicles that really turn my crank where parts are pretty much nonexistent.
There is no photo showing the inside of the box and I’m guessing that it isn’t pretty back there, given the amount of rust everywhere else. But, there is an engine photo! They don’t say what it is but in decoding the VIN from a photo that they thankfully supplied, it’s Ford’s 240 cubic-inch inline-six. Of course, it isn’t currently running but hopefully it’ll be running again. How would you bring this one back? Full body and paint with a V8 or keep the “patina” and 240-six?
I had a truck very similar to this, only a 1970 stepside , 300, column shift. It had been an ex-municipal truck, about the only time you saw a stepside. It’s a rare find, and the non-running is clearly holding it back. I’m sure it runs, but rattles, knocks and smokes ( they ran like that for years) and sourcing, or rebuilding this should be no problem. You want a vintage F series AND a stepside, it doesn’t get much better than this.
I currently own a 1967 f100 stakebody. Plain as it gets. 80 stakebody’s made for 67. Great shape. Need to get it running again. This truck is ready for some work but it will be worth it. Nice truck.
1967 is definitely my favorite amongst this body style. We had an F250 4×4 the same color and it looked great in full battle regalia. I sure wouldn’t kick this one off my driveway but it would definitely get a re-paint. I like the truck although I am somewhat disappointed it isn’t running the available 352 engine. I always liked that engine…
The short wheelbase Flaresides are my favorite bodystyle for this era. I like their simple, basic look. This one restored to stock or near-stock condition would be cool. I’d even be fine with the six cylinder and manual transmission, for me this vehicle going fast wouldn’t be a priority. Just make it a fun cruiser and errand-runner.
“It has the perfect patina everybody’s looking for.” Such generalizing is a pet peeve of mine. I’m not looking for patina. Nor am I looking for a rig with a rotten frame. Easy pass here.
The salty beach air has destroyed the roof seams , the antennae mast on fender is missing so say goodbye to the passenger floor, depending on how bad the frame and outriggers are rusted this would be a good $500 investment. 43 years ago I bought a 68 f250 for $800 in Panama city Beach, drove it up to New York and back. Had to put a water pump in it. Old Fords are hard to kill
An ol’ farm truck, complete with gun rack, that was once as common as pigeons. I’d feel right at home cruising the back roads in this one. Get it running, fix the rust holes, make it safe, and enjoy a no-worries ride.
The trashed dash pad would annoy me the most but would be a quick fix.
The 240 with three-on-the-tree will move it along just fine. The manual tranny will prevent a lot of people from asking to borrow it.
Truck sorely needs a sliding rear window–not just for ventilation, but to facilitate tossing empties into the bed.
Had a buddy that had a similar truck with a gun rack in the window. We made a couple dummy rifles out of some old rifle butts with broomsticks painted black for barrels. Try to run around like that these days and you’ll get shot the first time you get pulled over, which wouldn’t be too long. Can’t believe the things we used to get away with lol.
This one would look oh so sweet repainted in the original blue. That rust in the roof is troubling. Between what it would take to fix it and damage thats been done because of it. Patina queen. Give me break. this thing has some serious trouble because it had no paint on it Good luck and looker over good.
Cheers
GPC
You should be glad it has patina. That way you can see all the problems that haven’t been buried under 20 lbs of bond and krylon.
Looks to be some holes in the frame ;any potentail buyer should really look this over before purchasing it
Anybody notice the license plate lol.
I bought a 71 with an 8′ bed from barn find this past winter!! It was and still is rust free!! It houses a 302 with a three speed on the column shifter!! I got it running and driving great!! I welded the oblong holes on the shifter linkage and put it all back together!! My son wants me to put the shifter on the floor and I really like the nostalgia of the three on the tree!! The Wilwood brakes are sitting on my work bench in the garage cause I haven’t got to it yet!! These are great trucks and they can still be bought at relatively cheap prices compared to most all else we see here!! This truck looks solid and all the parts are available!! I guess my point is that this is a great project for not a lot of money!! I’m driving mine to my shop daily and I get a lot of thumbs up and quite a few people wanting to buy it!! You really can’t go wrong at this price!!!
Good candidate for a P71 Crown Vic chassis swap.
Digging the gun rack!
The only complaint I have about the truck is that it’s in Florida and I’m in Ct.
Auction update: this truck sold for $2,475.