Big Block Bumpside: 1970 Ford F-250

Adhering to the trend they had followed (mostly) since 1947, Ford released its fifth-generation F-Series pickup truck in late fall 1966, concurrent with rival Chevrolet’s “Action Line” series of pickups. And much like Chevrolet, Ford’s 1967 offering was a radical cosmetic restyle over the previous generation, while retaining most of its mechanical makeup. This particular F-250, found here on Craigslist in Junction City, Oregon, with an asking price of $11,500, is a mid-run 1970 model, which received a few small updates over its early brethren. Special thanks to Barn Finder Curvette for locating this one!

Although they look completely different, underneath the sheet metal, these “bumpside” Fords, as fans affectionately call them, were essentially re-skinned 1965 models. They used the same frame, the same revolutionary “Twin I-Beam” front suspension setup, and the same basic engine and transmission options. This, of course, made the only major selling point available to Ford in 1967 its new styling. Luckily for Ford, their fifth generation was an attractive one, selling upwards of 400,000 units each year it was available.

As the model ran its course, changes were made to keep the truck both fresh and government-compliant, as new safety regulations went into place in 1968. These safety changes ranged from the minuscule and barely recognizable, like rounding off the glove box door opener to make it less sharp in the event of a crash, to pretty easy-to-spot ones, like side reflectors on the hood and a redesigned interior door handle and armrest. However, the biggest changes came at the front of the truck. The grille on each year of Bumpside Ford is unique to that year, sometimes in small ways. In the case of the 1970, however, the grille underwent a massive redesign. The grid-style grille from ’67 to ’69 was gone; in its place was the striking split grille with wraparound turn signals you see on this example.

This particular truck is a spectacularly cared-for example, especially considering the fact that it is an F-250, the 3/4-ton F-series variant that was typically subject to a much harder service life than a half-ton F-100. The body and paint, though certainly not perfect, are in incredibly good condition for any pickup; the seller claims the body is “99%” rust-free, and that definitely looks accurate based on the photos. Under the hood lives the star of the show, a 390 cubic-inch FE Big Block Ford engine, the largest engine available in any year of Bumpside Ford. This does appear to be about the only option this truck was ordered with, as there is no air conditioning, no power brakes, no power steering, and the 390 is coupled to Ford’s 4-speed manual transmission, which was actually more like a 3-speed with a “granny low” gear. For $11,500, a Bumpside Ford in this condition, with this engine, is a good price in my opinion. What do you think?