It’s possible that not enough of us car collectors put enough thought into the stance of our cherished possessions, but if it’s wrong, it sticks out; and if it’s right, it sticks out. Whoever built this ’69 F-100 has clearly gotten it right, creating a buzzing six-cylinder “hot rod” truck with just enough wear and tear to be usable and practical, but not enough to need a new paint job anytime soon. For sale on eBay in Nine Mile Falls, Washington, with a current high bid of $7,000, this Bumpside comes with a Marti Report showing that it is an original California truck that’s endured the last five-and-a-half decades remarkably well.
So what about that buzzing six-cylinder? The Marti Report says that this truck was born with a 240, a Borg-Warner T-85 three-speed manual with overdrive, and 4.11 gears (with a limited-slip differential) out back. Along the way, someone swapped in a “very spicy 300” that “runs very well and pulls very hard.” Although that’s the extent of the engine’s description, the pictures show an Offenhauser four-barrel intake manifold with a Holley vacuum secondary four barrel, in addition to an aftermarket HEI-based distributor. With the 4.11s, that must indeed make for a torquey little truck with a little extra lung capacity up top.
The seller says that the truck has a “new custom interior,” but since these trucks were about as simple as it gets, that boils down to a new seat cover, headliner, and dash pad. The bench seat was originally black vinyl, a nice complement to the F-100’s “Boxwood Green” exterior. The truck does have the “Custom Cab” package, which included a “color-coordinated floor mat, custom instrument cluster, horn ring, cigarette lighter, bright-metal headlining retainer and door coverplate moldings,” in addition to a “bright-metal front bumper, grille, windshield molding and taillamp bezels.”
The seller represents the truck as having original paint, fresh manual brakes, a frame-mounted fuel tank (which was an option), and a “new plastic wood bed floor with hidden fasteners and stainless strips and hardware.” With true dual exhaust hooked to its souped-up 300, it must have that snorty sound that only an inline six can produce. But most important is that stance, with those wide back wheels and tires, along with standard Ford hubcaps on gloss black steelies. In the world of trucks, this one is perfectly not perfect, a truck you can drive and enjoy in almost any driving situation. The seller says it needs nothing, but over the next few days, it will be getting a new owner if it meets reserve. Are you that new owner?
This is very cool. It has that “basic” look and level of equipment which appeals to me. Short wheelbase Flareside, 6 cylinder 3 speed, several practicality-oriented options, and it’s even Boxwood Green (my dad’s 1970 was this color). I’m fine that it looks a little rough here and there. Lots to like.
I remembered you mentioning your Dads shortbed stepside Ford Bob. I thought of you right away when I saw this.
Really nice truck. Love the healthy 300 with a manual trans. And the color too.
This truck is great!!!
Nice truck. One of the better looking trucks Ford made and well tweaked by the owner. And yes, a dual exhaust on a 6 is a great sound. You ought to hear what a straight 8 Pontiac flat head sounds like with dual exhausts.
Buddy of mine had the exact same driveline setup in his Ford pickup back in the day and I can tell you that thing pulled. It’s basically a 5.0 in a different configuration. Neat truck.
Sweet. I had a ’69 F-100 styleside longbed with 240/auto that had been my Dad’s. I learned to drive on it, then bought it when we moved to our former Middle West farm and both my sons learned to drive on it out in the hay field.
I purchased a 300 with the intent of building something similar to the subject truck, but “never got around to it.” The 300 will make the same/more HP as a 302 with very little effort – mainly freeing up breathing.
My truck finally accumulated enough serious repair issues that I had to make the call and sold it after 42 years in our family. A high school kid bought it and he and his Dad got it back on the road again.
This will make a cool and fun truck for someone. Take it to C&C and pop the hood – sure to draw a crowd!
I like this truck but the wheels on the back are too wide for my taste. I’d also find a Ford air cleaner housing.
Otherwise… I wouldn’t mind owning it.
No under truck pics,also how is it lowered??? PS who says Very Spicy 300 inline 6? I bet Howard doesn’t..
Having just sold a 1973 Ford 1/2 ton ,short box,2W-D, 302 , 3-speed, column shift, Factory A/C, I have mixed feelings about this truck. I put too much time and money in My 73 and it was very nice. And I lost money when I sold it. My first thought about this truck it is BUTT ugly. However when you look close and think about it, you could have a great driver. The 300 six is a great choice, some cosmetics and it has a good start to be a fun driver truck and look fairly good.
Nice! Put a 360 and 4 gear top loader in it and have some V8 fun at low cost.