Camper Trucks became more mainstream (no pun intended) in the mid-1950’s and were good options for the outdoorsman type, especially fishermen, who could pull a boat and camp off-road in their slide-in camper without roughing it. They’re still being manufactured some 70 years later and can match RV’s in such creature comforts as refrigerators, stoves, furnaces, ovens, microwaves, bathrooms, showers, and some even have movable exterior walls that slide out for a dinette. Probably the most famous truck camper was owned by author John Steinbeck who wrote a travelogue of his tour around America in a 1960 GMC (along with his dog, Charlie). Steinbeck’s camper truck is actually on display at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California. I’m not sure if any dogs named Charlie ever rode in this 1969 Ford F-250 Ranger Camper Special, or how much of America it has seen, but it appears to be a solid survivor that’s in good shape for a 54-year-old pickup truck. Currently residing in Bellevue, Nebraska, it’s for sale here on eBay at No Reserve. As I’m writing this, the F-250 has generated 20 bids with the highest being $5,100.

The seller is very scant on descriptions and the truck’s history and say’s “it’s definitely a barn find. Original parts,” but doesn’t go into details about those claims. Based on the photos, it looks like a good, solid, old unmolested truck. I’m not sure, but that could be the original two-tone paint (I believe it’s Caribbean Turquoise and Wimbledon White) and it looks presentable. You can spot some surface rust, chips, and other imperfections but nothing major. It has the tool stowage box for the 8-ft. Styleside and the western-type mirrors, and the Ranger-level trim looks good as does the glass, tires, and bumpers. The front grill is nice but the headlight surrounds have a Max Scherzer-effect as one surround is black and the other is a rust brown in color. There were no photos included of the pickup’s bed.

By the late 60’s, pickups were far from the utilitarian vehicles of the previous decade. Ford advertised their Ranger trim level as having “high-styled interiors with woodgrain inserts in the instrument cluster and door panels, bright-metal instrument panel molding, pleated vinyl door trim, and deep-foam seat cushions.” The driver’s seat cushion is definitely showing wear and the black leather wrapped steering wheel over could be masking cracks, but the dash is crack-free and, overall, the interior looks clean and in good shape.

Like the rest of this truck, the engine and engine bay area is clean. The seller lists the mileage as 120,000 and says that the pickup “runs and drives good.” The seller isn’t specific on the engine size, but two V8’s were offered in 1969: a 360 and a 390-cubic inch. The truck also came from the factory with a Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. So, on the surface, this looks like unmolested pickup that still has more miles and camping adventures ahead of it. Happy bidding!