If you read Barn Finds long enough, you are going to see every type of vehicle under the sun. That includes the custom ones you never knew existed. Take for example this 1978 Ford F-250 Super Cab for sale on Craigslist in Moscow Mills, Missouri. At least we think it started as a Super Cab. Somewhere down the line, someone decided a Super Cab wasn’t big enough for their tastes and added a set of doors in the back behind the Super Cab. Was this a homemade job, or did an aftermarket company create these conversions? Confused yet? Regardless of this truck’s origin, it is looking for a new home and would be the most distinctive vehicle at your local Cars and Coffee. That is if it would fit in the parking lot. If you are skilled in the repair of rust and ring gears, this truck can be yours for a mere $5,000. Is it worth the cost of admission and restoration, or should this oddity return to the Earth from which it came? Thanks to Chip S. for the king-sized tip!
The big question on this truck is who converted it? Was it an individual with a torch, welder, Bondo, and some awesome auto-body skills? Was it an early conversion by a company like Centurion, who became semi-famous for making four-door Broncos before the Expedition came along? If I had to guess, this struck started as a rare Crew Cab model with a long bed to give you enough wheelbase to perform the conversion. Then, the long bed was switched out for a short bed, and a Super Cab was grafted onto or into the Crew Cab body. Anybody else get a better grasp on how this was done?
Inside, we see that whoever did the custom work would have gone to a minister’s funeral dressed in feathers. Or this was representative of the late seventies regarding style. The white carpet and what looks to be white velour seats would preclude this being a truck customized to haul a big crew to work. That is unless it was a crew of colorblind interior decorators. One can’t help but be drawn to the partition area. When was the last time you saw a stainless-steel sink in a truck? The drive-in movie speaker is a unique touch as well.
A picture of the rear part of the cab shows that the red and white theme carried through to the partial headliner. The additional map lights are a nice touch, but they may be from J.C. Whitney rather than Ford. Perhaps they are units from a Lincoln. From what we can see of the area forward of the door in the rather grainy photograph, the area where the cut was made doesn’t look too bad. It would be great to have some better pictures to historically document this unique truck, but the seller is interested in cash, not history.
As for the rest of the truck, the ad states that it is powered by a 400 cubic inch V-8 and backed by a four-speed manual transmission. The seller states that they talked with the builder and that the engine was rebuilt and has around 10,000 miles on it. Whether that was the builder of the truck, or just the engine is unclear. Regardless, there is a dead spot on the flywheel where the teeth are ground down causing starting issues. It does have a new starter and solenoid, but the clutch fork has snapped. As for the body, the seller tells us that “Both passenger and driver’s floors and bedsides are crusty.” However, they report that the mid to rear cab is solid.
It would be interesting to hear reader opinions concerning this truck and your ideas as to who did the conversion and how it was done. Please put your thoughts in the comments.
A 2 part opinion, let’s get the negative out of the way. In the opening photo, see what appears to be mud caked on the wheels? Sharing the land with cows, brother, that ain’t all mud. Then factor in driving it out of the field, and that “mire” all up in the wheel wells, nice. Disgusting, and in part, why I left a farm setting. No, you don’t get used to it, 2nd, can’t find much on the super DUPER cab, so I’m thinking homemade, and really well done. There are 4 door pickups, but none I found with that center section. I suppose custom van builders could make anything you wanted. I think the sink is a bit much, and better like the smell of , um, country with this one.
I got used to it, grew up on a farm, I never minded wallowing around in cow pies, it’s the smell of money. Always remember, if ya like a nice juicy steak, or big glass of cold milk, you gotta take the bad with the good lol. Farming is the best life there is, wish I still had it
That ain’t mud, commander.
Unique indeed but looks nicely done.
I’m going with “portabordello”.
I don’t know. I am scared!
Nice smokey and the bandit reference. As far as the truck goes, it’s very unique. But I don’t think the 5 grand price is worth it unfortunately.
The floors aren’t the only crusty parts. The roof above the drivers door is rusted through and separating.
Looks like it was painted in the mid 80’s with “new” Ford paint. My dad bought an ’86 F-350 crew cab used, it wasn’t very old and I was pretty young, but it looked exactly like that paint wise. (Same colors) Every Ford with original paint from that Era has that distinctive missing center color around here.
Good people, this truck is a “show winner” let the bidding commence!
Careful now, you’ll get deleted
I worked in Gary Indiana. Maybe 7 or so years ago, I often saw a blue one similar to the truck pictured. It had a ladder rack and was pretty beat up. It’s been at least 5 years since I saw it.
Those shows in which it supposedly won trophies must have been quite a few decades ago.
Have owned both a super cab crew cab fords of this vintage, I’d say super cab truck to start, cut back wall and extended it. Used back half from another truck, possibly a crew cab but most likely just some doors. The rear doors seem to be a little narrower than a stock crew cab, so the doors were cut and narrowed slightly. Sitting on standard super cab chassis of 155’’ inches for a 8’ foot box. Cut box to fit. Fact ! a stock ford crew cab , short box truck has a 5 inch shorter wheelbase of 150 inches than a super cab long box truck. ! So this truck was not thought out very well, so probably not a professional build in my opinion. Built in someone’s barn, so start again with something in better shape.
She’s a really beauty! Fine conversion right there.
Look closer the front of the bed has been shortened also. If I was closer would have look at it in person. In my opinion this is the best year of F series
Is it just me?
Bad photos, but it looks like they grafted a super cab between a dual cab and a standard cab.
The photos seem to show a join on the roof between/after the front doors and the supercab section.
If I was to build this frankstien, I’d at least make the 3 windows match.
I believe you’re right. I was originally thinking that they grafted the rear of a crew cab to the back of a super cab truck. When I seen the rusted roof with a seam in front of the super cab section, I just thought “that is odd” as the seam should be in the rear. Thanks for the insight.
I would say it was some coach builder as the bed is shortened for the extra living space. This is likely the same chassis that my rollback of that era rides on just without the dual wheels. This unit has the same driveline as mine. A definite cowboy Caddy here. The seller may even throw in some steer horns with the deal. There have been tons of conversion companies that did limos and things like this. There is likely a plate or tag affixed somewhere as to the conversion. Shipping it is a nightmare so it likely isn’t going anywhere soon. That coupled with the price means this cow patty is likely to dry right where it is. Sad as there is a dump body style at the u-pull-it right now with all the mechanical items needed for this unit. Conversion units like this are a labor of love. If your in flipper mode this is not for you but if you are into different, this is it but it is no money maker, just a money toy or pit. Finally this fellow is no barn stormed. Slow is its middle name but once the mechanicals are straight, consistent falls into place.
Red neck limo !
I find this truck very interesting, probably because I am just finishing a 73 F-100 , short box. Hopefully, it will be my everyday driver, I think this truck might make a great stable mate. I honestly don’t know what the history might be. The only thing I can remember is the railroads has some vehicles that looked similar to this truck.
Mexico and South America had all kinds of Ford and Chevrolet trucks that weren’t available in the US, personally I have never wanted a 4 door truck. I can deal with the extended cab with the suicide like door but no thanks on 4 doors.
Ok, this ad caught my eye because there’s a white one just like it in my neighborhood. Longest truck in town. I’ll have to hunt it down and get some pics to post here. The one around here looks factory, but hard to say without a closer look
Cowboy Cadillac
Ugh. Light it on fire and collect the $500 insurance.
“Portabordello”! Classic. Well done Sir!
When you need to convince the wife to get out and milk the cows in the back 40 she wants to ride in style to get there. Afterards she wants to wash her hands. It all makes sense.Except it doesn’t.
I’d say this puppy is toast.
I would guess that it might have been used as a hot shot hauler with a gooseneck hitch in the bed. When I was driving over the road I used to see some outlandish modified trucks hauling boats out of Florida headed up North for the Spring Boat Sale season, usually 3 boats on a gooseneck boat hauler.
I would guess that it might have been used as a hot shot hauler with a gooseneck hitch in the bed. When I was driving over the road I used to see some outlandish modified trucks hauling boats out of Florida headed up North for the Spring Boat Sale season, usually 3 boats on a gooseneck boat hauler. Especially because there is a notch in the tailgate visible in one of the pix.