This F-150 isn’t in the best shape, but if you look closely you’ll see that it’s something special. This short bed truck is outfitted with four-wheel-drive, a 400 cubic inch V8, and Ford’s Free Wheelin’ package. The option added cool sunset graphics down the sides, black bumpers, push bar, unique rims, and more. This one is going to need some work before it’s going to do any Free Wheelin’, but it does run and is claimed to have been a daily driver about six years ago. It’s located in Vancouver, Washington and is listed here on eBay for $3,300 or best offer.
This truck was really well-optioned! The 400 was the second largest engine offered in the F-150. The 460 was the next level up, but unless you were planning on towing something really big, I can’t imagine why you’d ever need more than this. Fuel economy probably isn’t too great, but with the four-wheel-drive system, you can probably go just about anywhere with this thing.
The Free Wheelin’ package included some nice interior upgrades too. The instrument panel, upholstery, and door panels were all unique. The floor coverings were too, but they are gone along with part of the floor! Obviously, this truck is going to need some rust repair inside and out. With older trucks this well outfitted getting harder to find though, I could see someone taking this project on. How about you?
There were Free Wheelin pickups, broncos, and tow trucks. There are diecasts w this color scheme. They did same next year with indy pace trucks w pickups, broncos and tow trucks.
That’s a beauty!
My neighbor growing up had a ’78 Free Wheeling truck – black with orange stripes. I didn’t know you could get F150s with 460s in them?
I had a 78 short bed stepside with the Midas touch brand new, it consisted of a roll bar with KC lights, 33″ B.F. Goodrich mudders with slotted mag wheels, custom interior with a cooler in between buckets and a 400 v8, boy do I wish I had kept that truck it was fast for a pickup and would go thru mud and climb hills with ease. If this truck was close to Missouri I would hit the buy it now button.
This is the first time I have seen a “free-wheeler” model. F-100’s sold here in Australia between 1969 and 1986 were mostly of the style-side tub type pickup, though there were a small number of flat bed pickups…we called them “ute’s”-an abbreviation for utility truck.. There were only three engine options; a straight six, or you could choose between a 302 or 351 Cleveland or Windsor; the most popular V8’s were Cleveland’s. A good example of an F-100 particularly the short bed are few and far between here with a reasonably good one fetching anywhere up to $30,000-aus…My current ride is an F-250 Super Duty regular cab…only because I can’t find a decent F-100.
In 73-79 You could only get a 460 in 2wd trucks not 4wd ones the biggest engine you could get in a 4wd was the 400 (77-79) prior was 73-76 the biggest engine you could get in 4wd was 360 or 390
Not a 390. The 390 was NEVER installed by the factory in a 4WD. No exceptions, no “special orders”.
I am an art student (comic book illustrator) and this is the exact truck I want my character to drive. Any chance you have additional photos of the interior (dashboard etc.) that you’d be willing to share? I appreciate it!