Ever pass by a garage and wonder what is in it? Most garages are probably packed to the rafters with stuff that wouldn’t sell at your aunt’s garage sale and various other things that are too nice to throw away but have little value. Still, there are a few surprises. After reading the ad for this 1975 Ford F-250 for sale on craigslist in Yakima, Washington, you won’t look at closed garages the same way. Can you believe that this possible Camper Special, priced at $12,500, has just 58,000 miles on the odometer and has been garage kept since new? Add to that the obvious understanding that this truck has been meticulously cared for and still has every scrap of paperwork. Thanks go to T.J. for this behind closed doors find!
It is simply amazing what is out there. You can go by a house thousands of times and never see anything that even hints to a vintage car or motorcycle behind the door. Then, of course when you are running late to work, you see the garage wide open, and you catch a glimpse of an amazing car just as someone with a car trailer pulls up. One of the benefits of Barn Finds is that the site allows all of us share in new discoveries all across the country. The stuff that shows up on this site amazes me daily.
Here we are with another amazing garage find. This 1975 Ford F-250 has recently emerged from its garage and is on the market because Grandpa is selling the house it was parked in. The seller advertises it as being kept in the family throughout its existence and garage kept throughout that time. The truck is said to have no rust and a flood of documentation comes with the vehicle.
We can also see that this F-250 was outfitted for towing. Strangely, we are not told what engine is under the hood. It also says that it is an automatic in the ad, and the interior picture clearly shows three pedals and a shifter. Is that third pedal a parking brake and the sifter one for 4WD? I do wonder about the brake pedal. Most manual shift vehicles have a brake pedal that is roughly the same size as the clutch pedal. This one looks like a brake pedal for an automatic transmission. Is this the way they came from the factory? Regardless, the interior looks almost brand new down to the factory radio to the amazingly perfect upper upholstery and door panel. Too bad the softer material in the seat has started to rip. The taped together horn also distracts but would be an easy fix.
Another question I have for our Ford truck experts is the badging. It is advertised as a Ranger and has that badging, but I think that the rectangular badge on the fender signifies that this is a Camper Special. Do any of you believe that it is a Camper Special? If so, what engine and rear gear do you think this trick came with?
When you look at the truck as a whole, there is a lot to like here. The Seventies green paint looks fantastic, the camper top is something right out of an episode of CHiPs, and the overall condition is near museum quality. Add to that the fact that it is a rare extended cab model, and it is hard not to want this truck in your garage. The only areas I would like to know more about are what is under the cover on the front seat, what is the engine type and condition, and I wonder why there is no gas cap on the rear tank?
At $12,500, this truck may be a bargain. Are any of you ready to add this workhorse to your stable? Let us know what you think of it and any expert opinions on the questions above are appreciated!
Gone already.Cool truck,but that color….
To answer the brake pedal question. Yes, that’s factory for a manual transmission truck. That generation of Fords actually used what appeared to be an automatic brake pedal, even if it was a stick. ( I’ve driven a number of them)
I think if they had power brakes they used the wide pedal.
I liked IH, they used a wide clutch pedal.
As the former owner of a 1975 F250 Super Cab camper Special The Ranger is a trim lever. Mine was a 390 4 barrel, oil bath air cleaner, NP435 4 speed, 3.73 Dana 60 rear. With the same green upholstery. I had the same cracks in the steering wheel. I had that truck for over twenty one years.
Odds are it is not the 460 as that was only available with the auto box.
I prefer the look of the 75 to that of my 99’ F350,SC, PSD, 6 Spd 4X2. But I don’t miss the 9MPG. The deer that ran across HWY 17 north of Scott’s Valley probably did me a favor. That is as twenty four years ago and over 500,000 miles on my “new” truck.
Sites like this are amazing for being able to share discoveries of cars world wide. Unfortunately, if it’s advertised on a local platform like cragslist it makes it hard for anyone not local to buy it before it’s snatched up like this one. Although, long distance deals do happen and I’m still not sure how. Do they just wire them the money and trust the owner of the car is legit and trustworthy?
The wonders of modern car buying, you gotta be quick. Many times, the vehicle is sold before it even hits the screen. When I bought my Jeep, off of FB Marketplace, I happened to be online when he posted it, and was about 10 miles away, I wasted no time. By the time I got there, he said he had 10 inquiries. I don’t think anyone is dumb enough to buy a vehicle off the innernet[sic] without seeing it, more of a TV auction thing, where the vehicle is obviously better than new. We forget how many people this marvelous/awful machine reaches. Think a football stadium,,,besides, I think I can speak for many here, most are here for entertainment, and the writers descriptions, few actually buy anything here, that we see, anyway.
In the 70s, the auto paint dealer I worked for, had a green, standard cab F-150 like this. As a city delivery truck, naturally, it was bottom of the line. 302, 3 speed, day after day, it took the “stoplight express” with ease. It was one of the many Ford pickups I either owned or did work with. None better. Been my experience, most 250s had a big block, and some early riser got a nice truck, fo sho!
this is near perfict for me. My fav vehicle (yes over buncha ‘cars’) is these 6th gen (73/9) F250 4WD short box step side. The extra cab (not crew) is ideal as U sit in these like at ur kitchen table – all right angles, shoved against the dash. With this one I could slide back. I’d B tempted to buy the other chassy’n bed to/or/to convert this one to achieve what I’ve listed.
Being 6’2″ I agree with you about owning an extended cab. Not a fan of folding myself up to drive. Knees & back aren’t made for that anymore. Love the 6th gen trucks. F250 4wd is on my short list right now. Only difference is I need a long bed as I actually plan to use it to do work at the family ranch. So a pretty truck like this is little too nice. Don’t want a beater. Would even be tempted by a reliable truck with a straight cab & front end but a bad bed. My neighbor’s a welder so I can get a custom flat bed at a decent price.
Wow this is something. As a 6 year old, my dad ordered a new 76 F250 Ranger Camper Special in this very same green. 460 and auto. I remember the day he picked it up at the dealer and the wheel covers were in a box in the back seat.
Ranger was a trim level in 75 and 76, and the camper special could be ordered on the Custom or Ranger trim levels. We called ours Big Green. At first it was extremely doggy along with very poor fuel mileage, even considering the engine. Dad’s buddy was a tech at the Ford dealer, and after hours he did some car work, some changes to the timing and man did it wake that truck up. Even remember one day dad and I installing dual exhaust with Orange Peeler glasspacks. Those were the days.
Should have bought that pickup back when it came for sale once I was an adult. That being said, his next truck a 78 F250 supercab was sitting in a spot for many years after we sold it in 1985. I kept an eye on it and a couple years ago contacted the owner. They were willing to sell it back to me. While not as good a truck as “Big Green” was, at least I still have something of my dad’s to remember.
As of the time of this writing, this pickup is gone so I cant see all the photos so I can’t advise which engine is in it. Typically the 460’s had the huge 4 core radiator which was very visible in photos. Also typically the 460 had an auto transmission, so I suspect this one has a 390.