While not a survivor, at least cosmetically, this Bicentennial-year Ford Highboy is one good-looking truck. The seller touts the silver paint as being somewhat rare, and the attached Marti Report says this is one of 638 with this paint code and one of 110 with these paint/trim codes. They have this 1976 Ford F-250 4×4 listed here on eBay in beautiful Hayden, Idaho, and there is an unmet opening bid price of $14,995 that hasn’t been touched yet. There is still a reserve after that first bid, so we don’t know what the final price will be on this one, as with most auctions.
A lot of sellers tend to overemphasize Marti Reports and other organizations or companies that list features and colors. “One of one with a crooked passenger side door panel!!!!!” I tend to treat a Marti Report as the gospel for FoMoCo vehicles, and this brochure doesn’t even list silver paint. Nor does this specific 1976 Ford pickup color brochure.
I’ve mentioned my disdain for “big” wheels on pickups too many times, so I won’t (directly) say it again here. Ok, I will: some nice, factory-sized skinny-high tires would look great on this truck, but I’m in the vast minority on that, as I never see pickups with “regular/normal” factory tires and wheels anymore. The seller has provided great photos, so kudos to them for showing so much of this truck, inside and out, topside and underneath.
The interior has been redone/refreshed as much as the exterior has. They mention metalwork on the body, and of course the new silver paint. Inside, the seat cover should be more of a woven-type vinyl than smooth, which is a bummer. The carpet is new, as is the steering column. There’s new weatherstripping and new front and rear window seals, the big tach seen above, some other gauges, and this truck has power steering, a nice feature not found on all Highboys. This is a Custom, so the lowest trim level.
The engine is Ford’s 360-cu.in. OHV V8, which is obviously wearing an Edelbrock carb in this case, a two-barrel. The horsepower rating would have been 143 for this truck, not a lot for a truck with all four wheels providing power and an automatic transmission. We don’t know much about the modifications under the hood, or if they’re just cosmetic. They say it runs exceptionally well, and Hagerty is at $26,233 for a “lo” value, just as a general starting point. How much will this truck sell for?
Where have you been hiding out, Scotty? I haven’t heard from you in a long time. Thanks for coming back into the lime light.
Lots of these out west so there are lots of good examples in the Chinook Belt. i can’t say that I’m all that fussy about an automatic in a 3/4 ton 4×4 but I sure wouldn’t try to change it. Put a cooler on it and you’re okay.
I’ve tuned a lot of FE engines over the years. Probably the LAST thing I would drop in one would be the carb that’s on this one. Nothing really wrong with it but a Holley 500 2bbl will supply everything that engine can burn. Add dual exhausts and re-curve the ignition and you’ve got something that will everything you can attach into the next decade. On my own, and a couple of customer’s trucks, I installed a Crower Torquemaster camshaft.
They ran better, revved higher but I can’t say that I felt anything really different when pulling a trailer. Of course, getting rid of the smogger valve timing did wake them up and make them more responsive, not to mention increasing the distance between fuel stops.
Whoever gets this is bound to enjoy it although it’s quite a leap to get into the cab. My wife could never achieve that unless I carried the portable multi-step. But this truck, as it is, is pretty much indestructible. I’d put the original 7.50 X 16 wheels and tires on it and call it good.
Then go through the back country like a striped-a$$d ape!!!
Ha, I can’t believe you noticed that I was gone, Geo! Dang, that makes me feel good. I’ve been on the road for a few weeks, but I should be back in action now for the most part, at least until October, showing a range of oddball vehicles and hopefully a lot of vintage pickups again. Thanks!
Was Howard with you? He’s been absent as well.
When did Edelbrock make a 2bbl carburetor in this style? They make one that is more like a Stromberg 97 and looks nothing like the one on this engine.
Steve R
I’m a little inclined to think that they dropped a 4bbl manifold on it. I’ve seen lots of them on FE engines and they’re out there…
Exactly.
Steve R