This 1979 Ford F150 features an unusual combination of options and paint code to make it a rare bird of sorts despite not being particularly exotic. It’s a survivor, too, as it’s a California-built example that has never left the town it was sold in and still wears its vintage-cool dealer plate frame around original California blue plates. The seller contends it is one of just 36 trucks configured this way and has the Marti report to prove it. Find it here on eBay with bids to $5,300 and no reserve.
The F150 is a short wheelbase, “Supercab” short-bed pickup, wearing pretty Bright Yellow paint and outfitted with the 302 V8, four-speed manual transmission, and 2.73 axle. Hell, it even has a radio delete. I love trucks like these as I can only imagine who the first owner was that researched every possible combination of features while scanning the period brochure and then settled on this exact configuration of options and colors, and then confidently marched down to the dealer to place their order.
Perhaps I romanticize it too much, but I feel like the radio delete all but confirms this was a special order truck. I thought my mother was one of the only people who did this, as she requested her 1997 Honda CR-V – one of the first ones ordered in my hometown – had the factory cassette deck struck from the already-limited options list. To this day, it just has the AM/FM deck in the dash and remains in mint condition. The original owner of this truck went one step further with the Bright Yellow paint job and four-speed manual, not to mention the extended cab and short bed.
On top of all of this, the truck appears to have been meticulously maintained. The seller notes the engine is original to the truck and has had one rebuilt in its lifetime; he reckons a new starter will be needed in the short-term. The F150 is also said to be one of just 906 F-Series models equipped with the B-Code four-speed, which was apparently more common in automobile models than trucks. Certainly, this F150 has an interesting story to tell, but most important is that it appears to be a wonderful California survivor.
“Radio delete” may be the wrong term for this era. Back in the day, trucks and econo boxes cane with no radio, it was an option or dealer add on.
No door weatherstripping at all?? WHY?
& the headliner is showing quite a bit of wear & tear.
Makes me think that this was used as a work truck for quite some time, & has probably been cleaned up (seat reupholstered, etc.) in recent years.
Bed liner is either a nice addition, OR it is hiding a full bag of sins (wear & tear, possibly rust) underneath. (I wish seller had included a picture “peeking” under the plastic liner).
Multiple dents on the roof seem to further support my “work truck” theory.
No AC is a big negative for me (& many buyers) as this will limit the usability in states where humidity is an issue.
I’d think that most buyers would want to address the multiple paint issues, either with some sort of “amateur” touch up (rattle can those areas?) or via a couple of days at your local paint & body guy.
All That Said, it IS a pretty solid California truck. Sure it shows some signs of past use, but probably less wear & tear than the average “work truck” of the same vintage. :-)
Pretty neat truck. Some wear and tear but overall looks good. One could either do some basic repairs and drive it as-is, otherwise it looks to be an easy restoration. I don’t know the last time I have seen this transmission in a F-series.
Kudos to the seller for a great ebay ad. But, a nitpick: again the Marti report has been mis-interpreted (it’s 36 Supercabs with this paint/trim code, not 36 of all F-150’s). But at least the data is used to illustrate the odd combination, not to try to use this tidbit to trump up value.
I have a 78 F250 Supercab long box with the standard 300/6 and this same 4 speed overdrive tranny. Don’t know for sure but I’m convinced this tranny in a 3/4 ton is pretty rare.
I’d drop a Cummins in it!
I,d adjust the clutch. The way it is now. Driving it a short time. Might wear out a hip joint. Hahaha Some times the clutch can be a pain to adjust when you are alone. I recall a time I had a new throw out bearing installed on my 78 BroncO . I had my cousin,s son do it. He did and called and said it was ready. I opened the door and seen the clutch pedal like this one and asked him. I thought you adjusted the clutch. He said he did.So I got in–left the door open and told him to watch my leg. I then asked him–did he not see it would wear a person out changing gears. Then I showed him what a pain in the kitester it was to adjust and I adjusted it. Then got in and showed him how it is suppose to be. NOT 6 OR 8 INCHES ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Check out the overspray on EVERYTHING… that’s why there’s no weatherstripping. This was done pretty quick and the bed liner is hiding a slew of things. Check out the rot at the bottom of the tailgate.
Body is really hammered, to say the least. I would say a hard used company vehicle or construction Tradesman’s truck. Either way, it has not led a good life.
There is usually a reason that a vehicle is being sold at no reserve.
My dad ordered our ’77 F250 SuperCab two years earlier than this with the radio delete and a fairly plain paint job too. I remember traveling to a lot of local dealers while he and mom worked out details of the purchase. Never did put a radio in it – we carried a little ’80’s ‘boom box’ when we kids wanted tunes.