An honest work truck in decent condition retains a certain minimum value forever. Ford built pickups like this 1969 Ford F-250 4×4 to haul firewood, and fence posts, and loads of gravel… with no thought to them ever becoming “classics.” This Fort Harrison, Montana four-wheeler appears to have dodged significant damage at the hands of weather, neglect, and drunken forays into the dessert desert, and should sell to the lucky high bidder here on eBay. Thanks to reader Adam C. for spotting this farm-ready long-bed.
Thanks to their heavy-duty suspension, Ford’s 1967-1977.5 F-250s became known as “Highboys,” though only in comparison to similarly-equipped later trucks with lower-riding suspensions. Check out blueovaltrucks.com for more details. This F-250 comes with a Gem top. It’s a Gem! Having owned an F-250 4×4 with a manual transmission myself, it’s hard to overstate the solid simplicity with which they exercise themselves in myriad situations while isolating passengers from the elements. I have no need for such a dutiful servant these days, but oddly my daughter imagines owning a Ford 4×4 of this vintage some day.
The rubber floor mat and mostly metal interior lends itself to the occasional hosing, as I can attest. The simple, sturdy controls require no explanation, readily offering their functions to familiar and unfamilar drivers alike, even in the dark. The “Western” seat-covers no doubt hide worn original vinyl seat covers, both being equally authentic.
Though not identified in the listing, the presumably-original V8 would displace either 360 or 390 cubic inches. Notice the lack of a brake booster. With a believed accurate 123,000 miles on the clock, this F-250 could easily server an entire second life while looking much the same in another 50 years. What future do you see for this high-dessert workhorse?
I’d snatch this in a heartbeat we’re I able to
I hope the drunken foray into the dessert was into a chocolate eclair. I think you mean desert.
Thanks, Paul. I like the visual though. Mmm Giant Chocolate eclair.
Wow after the Mercury pickup I click on this, nice old Ford. My brother inlaw bought a red one of these in 69 brand new and put a slide in camper on it and where did he take his family on vacation to MONTANA. I sure would love to have this one as well as the old Mercury but living in town they frown on too many vehicles parked at your residence.
Nothing fancy here. No automatic this or that, no adjustable ride control or chilled cup holders ( but it does have a straight forward heater control) The ad states it’s a 390, not the most efficient motor, maybe 10-12 mpg with this setup, gallons per mile with all the hardware spinning, but dependable as a washing machine. I hope the new owners know, for 4 wheel drive, no buttons to push, you got out and MANUALLY locked the front hubs.
Only thing to confuse newer drivers more than manual hubs, would be 3 speed on the column.
Jeffro don’t forget manually pulling the floor shifter into 4 wheel HI/LOW/2 wheel HI instead of just turning a knob on the dash.
This is a proper truck. Just like they are meant to be. Guaranteed that 1st is geared so low at idle it will pull the house off the foundation.
The seller is a dealer/flipper.Seems to find a lot of nice
older trucks.
Ill say again….door panels not friggin door cards….im getting pissed…
Really nice rig. If it’s a 390, it’s been swapped as the 4wds only had the 360.
My grandpa’s 71 Highboy is what ignited my love of 4wd trucks as a wee lad in the early 70s
Nice truck! Practically indestructible. We had a ’67, then a ’71.Very little difference between them except the ’67 was geared lower, I suspect a 4.56 ratio. If this one is running a 390, it was installed down the road from when it was new, as the only V-8 you could get in a 4×4 was the 360. You couldn’t get a larger engine in a 4×4 until ’77, when the 400 came out. This I know because Dad wanted the larger engine to better pull the 5th wheel stock trailers. He had a 390 in his 3/4 ton 2wd and it handled the trailers quite well. The dealer said, “NO!” to the 390. But there was an economical way to get a lot more power out of the 360 anyways.
I went back and read the entire description and learned the 390 was swapped in along with power steering and ’76 F250 front end with disc brakes. So all the ‘weak points’ in the stock configuration have been addressed. I wish the stock ’76 ‘big hubs’ had been retained – they’re huge and so cool. Most would probably want to add a power booster as well. These days, I’d put a hydroboost in it.
The fourth digit “Y” in the VIN says it is a 360. Even so still a nice truck.
Uh oh, my 2015 f250 has manual hubs and a 4wd lever the same as this one.
Scott that must be a F-250 option then because our 2010 f-150 had the stupid knob on the dash, the same as our 2016.
Jimmy you can option the Super Duty’s with manual hubs. They don’t have that option with the F-150s.
Although in the ad it states a 390 from a 68 F250 4X2 was installed.
It looks like a ’68 truck body. No reflectors under the rear lights.
I just knew it would have Big Sky Country mud flaps. Right up there with WA trucks with Evergreen State flaps. Do they still make them?
Just toured montana. Old rust free trucks everywhere. this is a gem, if u need a good truck and don’t want to spend 50k, think about this one.
Good luck to the new owner!
Best truck ever built! Simple, tough, good looking!
F250 Ranger High boy, my favorite trucks of all time. What a great truck, if I was in the market I would not hesitate to purchase this great example.