In 2003 Motor Trend said, “…while the Lightning may be the most-expensive regular cab half-ton pickup sold at $33,555, its calculated horsepower/dollar ratio makes it a solid dance partner at any Top-Speed Boogie.” Of course, they were talking about the latest offering from Ford’s SVT (Special Vehicle Team) and the 2003 Ford Lightning Pickup. If you’ve ever wanted something close to a new lightning, this one has less than 30,000 miles on the odometer! It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $26,200. Have a closer look at this beautiful pickup.
The engine that powered the Lightning in 2003 was a 5.4-liter V8 that pumped out 380 horsepower with single overhead cams. In 2003 you couldn’t get a manual transmission in a Lightning, so this one shares an automatic just like all the others. While 380 horsepower is pretty standard in pickups in 2021, nearly twenty years ago, this thing was a beast. It was capable of running 13.7 seconds in the quarter-mile with zero to 60 times just over five seconds.
The interior on this one is very handsome with the two-tone grey upholstery. The ad claims “two senior citizen owners” which may or may not be true, but that may explain the low mileage.
Overall, this truck shows really well. I believe there were a couple of wheel options for the lightning in 2003 and this one appears to have the less-aggressive looking grey rims. Once again, this is a really nice survivor and will hopefully be enjoyed by a new owner going forward. Would you like to see another run of single-cab performance trucks from the Big Three or are super-cab/quad cab configurations too dominant?
These had a strong following when they were new, and it seems like they still have a strong following. I think many were modified for more performance. A co-worker had one and he “aired it out” one day when we were going to an offsite meeting; it was a fun ride. This one looks like a clean stock example and will bring big bucks.
My favorite SVT Lightening memory: One participated in an autocross I attended a few years ago. It wasn’t that fast around the course, but it was entertaining to watch. On the final straight leading to the finish line, the driver went full throttle and lit up the rear tires all the way to the timing lights. As I said, it wasn’t the fastest, but every time the truck took to the track a crowd gathered near the finish line to watch the show. The owner probable took 10K miles off his rear tires that day!
Rims /tires look small like iroc-z
I was just about to comment on that LOL! That is some massive rear wheel gap. It looks like there are little toy wheels on this thing. Was that stock?
Back in the day we got fast, cool SVT trucks, now all we get are baja trucks.
“a 5.4-liter V8 that pumped out 380 horsepower with single overhead cams”…
and a supercharger.
I like this truck, had the same year, it the 50th Aniversery Ford/Harley Truck. It was a luxury ride, in fact my wife claimed it was hers. I just mis spoke ,it was hers.
I’m going to use this space to state my dismay at the concept of the performance truck/SUV. I just don’t get it, lots of power, heavy, poor dynamics, and automagic transgressions. It has always been, in my mind, that high performance vehicles should be a s light as possible, handle well, brake well, have direct steering, balance, and a low center of gravity.
I’m not knocking any one who likes these, may you live long and prosper, but it is just about the only category of collector car that holds no interest for me.
More power for towing and hauling I get, but this seems to compromise that mission.
My Wife’s Aunt’s husband who passed away 18 mos ago, has a White beauty sitting in the garage with only 19K original miles. I’ve known him since the 70’s and he pampered every vehicle he has owned. He was offered 30K back in July of 2019, a month before he passed, but turned it down. His truck is absolutely perfect.
I’m w/Marve – reminds me of racin lawn mowers, a grass wip cocktail mixer, etc. I like accents further toward purpose of concept (only way I can wrd it w/o more time/consideration). A truck is for wrk – haulin, towin, carrying. So I’d like mods in that direction (shows a guy’s/a companies’ innovation) that improve over the other guy’s. Luxo trucks, race trucks, etc? Not what I seek. Now the ZF/5 & 6 hasa 2nd PTO…I like THAT. AND I do not suggest other’s stop the off models or mods. U go ur way, me mine 8^ )
Does this version of the 5.4 engine spit out the spark plugs like all the others?
Low mileage?? LOL i have a ’01 with 9600 miles! I drive during the dry season only. (Bought it with 3900 10 years ago)
This is a super nice totally original specimen, yes even the wheels. These are a blast to drive. They handle better than any “work” truck. Well worth the experience of ownership. GLWTA
A friend has a red 93 that he bought new and it has about 1100 miles on it. Always stored in garage with a cover on it. They are out there just waiting to be sold
If I didn’t have a Raptor, I would bid on this.
A friend of mine and myself are in Rome Georgia for a conference we went to the Ford dealership and tried one of these out we were doing burnouts and run up to about 95 miles an hour in residential zones these things will stop amazingly this is one bad truck when we brought it back the tires all the gravel sticking to them and the smell of burnt rubber the salesman just grinned at us when we dropped it back off