There’s something to be said for old-school pickup trucks that don’t necessarily have any immediate reason to be considered collectible, but just check the boxes in such a way that they become immensely appealing regardless of perceived value. This 1979 Ford F-150 is such a vehicle, as its preserved condition and factory options make it a winner for a fun hauler that will be a crowd pleaser wherever it goes. With just over 54,000 original miles and featuring the venerable 351 V8, locking hubs, factory tow package, and more, it looks like a potential bargain here on eBay where bidding is just over $5,000 with no reserve.

The colors are great, too, on this long wheelbase example. The F150 comes with a bed cap, running boards, and aftermarket wheels, but it all comes together to look like it was built this way at the factory. Body lines look good and the two-tone paint is holding up quite nicely, with no mention of a repaint in the listing. The Ford will come with a clean title, and the seller notes there’s just some minimal spots of rust and certainly nothing that needs to be addressed now. The bed cap is a take-it-or-leave-it affair, but I actually don’t mind it on a long wheelbase example like this. The F-150 is equipped with the “Explorer” package from the factory.

The 351 is a solid engine that has good power and parts availability that makes it possible to grab what you need at your local NAPA store. The seller notes the truck benefits from a recent engine and transmission rebuild, which should mean this example has many, many more miles left in her, especially considering the mileage was pretty low to begin with. From this vantage point, we can see the chrome bumpers still shine up nicely and the paint under the hood and inside the fenders appears to correspond with what’s on the body. Hopefully, some receipts exist that document the drivetrain components that were rebuilt.

The interior is holding up nicely, with some minor needs to sort out. There’s some additional gauges somewhat crudely mounted to the left of the steering wheel; I’d want to see if I actually needed those or if they could be removed. The bulbous steering wheel wrap is wholly unnecessary, even if the wheel itself is cosmetically-tired – almost anything would look better than that. The bench seat upholstery is charming and holding up well, and the seller notes the truck comes with later factory A/C and a CB radio. This seems like a lot of truck for the money, and one that won’t cost you much to own in the long run.