When it comes to the OBS Ford trucks – the “Old Body Style” era – it seems there is no shortage of buyers who want clean, well-equipped examples. Despite seemingly falling under my internal score card of desirable versus not desirable due to sheer production volume, an F150 skirts this logic because of the hundreds of thousands made, relatively few exist in survivor-grade condition. This 1997 Ford F-250 XLT looks quite clean with sparking paint and clean chrome rims, and is equipped with the big block 460 V8. It shows just over 115,000 original miles and is listed here on eBay with bids to $11,211 and the reserve unmet.

This F-250 features the extended cab and the long bed,  and I really can’t get over how clean the bodywork is. I was expecting to see a mention of a respray in the listing, but the seller provides a detailed overview and doesn’t talk about paintwork, so I’m going to assume this is an original finish. The “4×4” graphics look correct, too, so that’s another possible indication if it never being stripped down for paint. The truck is well-optioned, with the Heavy Duty / XLT packages, towing mirrors, manual locking hubs, and full power options inside the cabin. The factory 16-inch wheels fit the truck perfectly, in my opinion.

With just three owners from new, this F-250 hasn’t changed hands much. That’s not entirely uncommon for these OBS trucks, especially well-equipped examples like this. It seems to me that when someone knows there’s a rig like this in their community, conversations are already happening between the current and future owners. In many ways, a good OBS is like a desirable sports car: it changes hands with just a bit of word of mouth. The caretakers of this Ford have clearly looked after the truck in each subsequent hand-off, as the cabin’s light gray fabric is in mint condition, and the same goes for the plastic surfaces as well. The listing notes a ton of recent maintenance, so hopefully this truck is as turnkey as it looks.

While everyone seeks out the turbodiesel varieties (and for good reason – their durability is nearly unmatched), the 460 was quite stout as well. Horsepower was respectable at around 245, and torque was particularly generous at 400 lb.-ft. This truck will tow and lug with ease, and has the added benefit of likely being a bit more enjoyable at reaching highway speeds than the diesel-equipped rigs. Of course, all of these engines are quite beefy, so there’s really no wrong answer if you’re looking for the ideal OBS era F-Series. It’s a matter of personal taste and buying the best one you can get, as you’ll likely never lose money. Gas or diesel, what’s your preferred Ford truck configuration?