One of the more pleasing trends in this hobby has been the increased interest in fifth and sixth-generation F-series Ford trucks.  Sometimes overshadowed by the handsome Chevrolet and GMC offerings of that era, these handsome trucks are purposefully styled, rugged, and affordable.  In short, they are a great entrance into the hobby and can still serve as your Saturday morning Home Depot ride.  If you are looking for an example with hard-earned patina, then carefully peruse this 1972 Ford F-100 for sale on eBay in Winston, Montana.  With minimal rust damage and a topper that screams early seventies, this truck is currently sitting at $4,051 with just two days to go.  Is this a potential bargain for someone looking for a fun but useful classic truck?

The truck you see here has a lot going for it.  According to the seller, this is a truck that served its time on a ranch out west somewhere.  That work has given it a well-worn patina that just seems to fit.  We are further reminded by the seller that of the nearly 400,000 pickups with this bed option, only 18,323 were also equipped with four-wheel drive.  While that may be an interesting fact, it is also telling of the relative rarity of this traction enhancing option back then compared to now.  We are also reminded that the truck comes with a set of five-hole wheels, which are seldom seen anymore.

As you can see, the truck has some surface rust evident.  There is some structural rust as well, though it may not be to the point that it needs to be immediately addressed.  We are told that there is rust in the driver’s side floor and the inner fender near the hood hinge.  The good news is that the frame is free from rot and the cab mounts “look okay.”

Looking at the bed reveals a truck that has definitely seen some hard work.  The tailgate has been replaced with a non-matching, but solid example.  Sadly, it is missing the passenger-side tailgate latch.  The tailgate and topper door are reported to open and close securely and without issue.  One problem the seller reports is that the gap between the tailgate and the rear panel is wider on the passenger side.  They speculate that this minor issue may be the reason that the tailgate latch is missing on that side.  As for the topper, it was stored separately for the last thirty years and is in very good condition.

The seller describes the interior to be “original and useable.”  They further assure us that there are no rodents or smells created by said rodents that will be included in the sale.  While if you are looking for perfection, a restoration would be in order.  However, the patina continues inside from the covered but cracked dash pad to the ubiquitous parts store bench seat cover hiding the usual tears.  We are told that the radio doesn’t work, the fuel gauge reads low but functions on some level, and the heater blower switch is now a toggle switch under the dash.  On the plus side, the crank windows, door locks, lights, wipers, heater, and parking brake are all in good working order.

Under the hood is a rebuilt 360 engine plucked from another 1973 vehicle.  This engine is said to pull strong with no smoke or noises to be concerned with.  Unfortunately, the seller has no idea when the rebuilt engine was refurbished or installed.  It is backed up by a standard four-speed transmission and a factory four-wheel drive system.  All of these robust driveline components are said to be in good working order.  The radiator has been replaced with a newer brass/copper core unit and the truck has been updated with a likely much-needed power steering system.  We are warned that the master cylinder and the transfer case input seal will need replacement if you plan to press this truck into daily use.  A set of new tires probably would be a good idea as well.

One of the more interesting aspects of this sale is the Marti Report.  While these are commonly seen as documentation for muscle cars, it is not common to see them with trucks.  There are some interesting nuggets of information to glean from the report, but the pictures in the ad tell a better tale.  This is a solid old truck that has somehow managed to survive for 51 years and is still in good enough shape to serve its new owner.  There is not much more that can be said.  Surely it will find a good home soon.