This truck appears to be a really clean example of a mid-70s Ford. Featuring big-block power with an automatic transmission, it is a factory Camper Special from 1976. Found for sale here on eBay with a current bid of $3,650, the truck sounds like a survivor gem. Located in Loomis, California, the ad doesn’t say if this is an original California truck but judging by the condition, it may be. Check it out and see what you think.
The interior is just as nice as the exterior. I don’t know if the front bench has been recovered, but everything looks very clean and tidy. Even the back seat is in amazing condition. While a crew cab might be a little more comfortable for a big family, this super cab will do just fine for small kids.
According to BlueOvalTech.com, the engine options in 1976 ranged from the 300 cubic inch inline-six to the monster 460 cubic inch V8. While the biggest engine you could get in a standard 1/2 ton was a 390, this F-250 features the big 460. While the stock performance was only about 245 horsepower, they can be easily woken up with electronic ignition, high-performance intake, and larger 4bbl carb. The ad says it has been tuned up and driven regularly, which is a plus.
The truck is a 2wd, which will be a drawback for some people. However, you can see the truck features nice aggressive tires, but they don’t look too noisy for highway driving. When combined with a camper on the back, those tires will get you pretty much anywhere you want to go without getting you in too much trouble. The 90s-style Ford wheels are fairly attractive, but I’d probably do something different if this was my truck. How about you? Would you change anything about this truck if it was yours?
Wonderful old truck! The only thing I’d do is definitely try and fit the original wheels instead of the ones currently on it.
Wheel *covers*. Even easier swap.
I believe this truck was recently up for auction on Bring A Trailer and didn’t meet the reserve.
Yes, stalled at $7500, I believe
Not sure what the seller is looking for, but the BaT bidding seemed like all the money for this truck.
Nice truck! Hell to park in most places cause the parking is geared toward new smaller vehicles!! But clean inside and out with a power house motor!! The issue I see is it needs a purpose for its use!! It’s not a cruiser or hot rod!! It’s made to haul the car to the track or the camper into the mountains for the weekend!!!
460 engine will go for ever. I talked with a guy who leased vans. he said the ones that had over 300K on them were still running along. Smaller engines like 351 tended to start misbehaving at 150K.
Mileage sucks though. can drop to 6MPG.
“…easily woken up with…”
Yes so true (easily) w/just a lill extra, the modern cam is what really helps these 460s.
Luv the big bed/2 WD for a rd truck.
I’m waiting for a similarly equiped F250 4WD step side short bed.
That’d B my off rd choice. Pretty tight cab, feel like I’m sittin at the kitchen table, but boy what a off rd rig…
Looks to have been well cared for. Front bench has been recovered. Repaint presents nicely too. Only fault I can spot is the dash pad, but at the going price, who cares! The 460 and engine bay look very clean as well.
Just don’t expect to pass too many gas stations…
Regarding the wheels, this vintage truck always looks great in classic white wagon wheels
The wheels mentioned are later model Ford hub caps, probably has the original steelies under them.
I had the twin to this one only 390 v8 , A/C, carried an 11 1/2 foot Coachman camper all over the Northeast ,Great truck . yes it loved gas , the reason it has 2 gas tanks . Believe this is a repaint due to the F259 and Camper special emblems being pop riveted back on, still a nice truck. Mine had 10.00 16.5 tires which are very hard to find now a days !
I had a 78 version of this truck, with a 428 and a C6. It was one of the best trucks I have ever owned. I sold it because I got an offer I couldn’t refuse, and have regretted it ever since.
That is a nice looking truck, but I would want more engine for towing, such as a 428 or a 460.
Bob
I owned 1978 f150 factory regular cab factory camper special with a factory 460 v8; stock it was not fast and got terrible gas mileage about 7-8 mpg!
If your going to pull with this truck the thing to do is rework the heads with satellite seats and sodium cooled valves then install an RV cam followed by a propane fuel system. You’ll also need to recurve the distributor. I’d put a 90 gallon tank in the box and pull a trailer with it instead of a camper. The torque will improve but the takeoff will be a bit tamer, and it will pull hard. Not only will your mileage go up slightly but the price of fuel will go down too. It’s to bad that the auto makers wouldn’t have looked at this closer. The other thing is your emissions, with the majority of what comes out the tail pipe being water will be much better. Now I know you can run a diesel on natural gas which makes me think with some engineering there’s no reason for a diesel not run on propane too. The funny thing about propane is it’s a by product of refining natural gas. The benefit to propane over natural gas is its contained at much lower pressures. Rant over.
When i was a kid, my dad ordered a similar truck, f250 supercab long box 2wd, only in medium green glow metallic. What memories we have of Big Green. Factory stock it was a total dog even with the 460. Recurved distributor, holley 4 barrel really woke it up. If i remember right the factory had the cam timing retarded 4 degrees for emissions reasons and going back to straight up cam helped a lot too.
We loved that truck and went everywhere in it all over the western us. However during the 79 gas price spike dad sold it and traded into a used 78 f250 supercab long box, but with the standard 300 6 cyl. Talk about a change! The new one was a base model except it had a radio. My brother and I were devastated that dad got rid of big green for the brown turd as we called it.
Years and years went by and lo and behold i found the brown 78 sitting beside a house essentially not being used anymore. I talked to the owners and they agreed to sell it back to me si i brought it home this past August. Strange to have one of my dads old trucks back in the family after 30 some years later
Funny – I commented in the BaT thread about the 77 F250 my dad bought new. It was brown and we called it the brown turd as well!
A friend had a ’76 f-250 regular cab 2wd truck many years ago, 460, dual tanks, A/c, 3.73 rear gear, etc. Drove it a few times and it was pretty lively. Would never by any stretch of the mind call it a dog. My ’78 GMC, on the other hand is a screamer. One ton C-35 single rear wheel pickup, 454/TH400, factory cat exempt dual exhaust, dual tanks, A/C and more. Not sure which ratio it has in back, only two available on the one ton single wheel, with 4.11 standard and 3.73 optional. I have to take off with a very light foot to avoid leaving rubber on the ground and smacking my head into the rear window.
Hi Montana Danford! Do you have this 1976 shop manual https://fordmanualblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/1976-ford-truck-shop-manual-pdf-download/ ???