Have you ever looked at a classic 4×4 and felt it is way too nice to be subjected to the rigors and hazards of off-roading? That could be the case with this 1981 Ford F350 Ranger 4×4. Its exterior presentation is exceptional for its age, guaranteeing it can turn heads over forty years after it left the showroom. The story is the same when we delve inside, and its V8 engine will provide the buyer with plenty of power and torque for towing or delving into the wilderness. The only thing it needs is a new owner, and with No Reserve in play on its auction, that new life is only days away.
Ford’s F-Series would be a strong contender if there were ever an award for longevity in the motor industry. The first vehicles rolled off the line in 1948 and the F-Series has remained a constant in Ford’s product range ever since. The Seventh Generation graced showroom floors from 1980 until 1986, with the company following the well-developed practice of offering something for almost anyone. The first owner ordered this F350 Ranger in 1981, choosing Dark Chamois Metallic and Gold to cloak its panels from that year’s selection of thirteen paint shades. The seller claims the paint is original, and if that is accurate, its condition is impressive. They supply an excellent selection of shots in their listing, and the close-ups reveal minor chips and scratches. However, they aren’t enough to detract from the overall presentation because the paint holds a rich shine, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The bed is lightly scratched, but there is no bare metal or evidence of abuse or developing rust. The underside shots reinforce the rock-solid nature of this Pickup, and the trim and tinted glass are spotless. Somebody installed a lift kit and larger wheels, accentuating this classic’s off-road ability and sense of presence.
The seller supplies several engine bay photos in their listing. However, these are all close-ups of specific components that don’t provide a decent overview. Therefore, I felt this shot of the F350’s underside was worth including to demonstrate how clean this classic really is. Lifting its hood will reveal a 400ci V8 producing 153hp and an impressive 309 ft/lbs of torque. A three-speed automatic transmission feeds the ponies to the road via a dual-range transfer case, and with those larger wheels and tires, this Pickup should be able to climb every mountain and “Ford” (sorry!) every stream. This Ranger features a tow hitch, and the engine’s excellent torque should put that to good use. Unfortunately, the seller supplies no information on how this Pickup runs or drives, but the visual indications are positive. They claim it has a genuine 27,000 miles on the odometer, and while they don’t mention verifying evidence, the overall condition makes the claim seem plausible.
This Ford’s interior has the “wow” factor. Nothing deserves criticism, from its unblemished seatcover to the immaculate faux woodgrain and spotless dash and pad. It carries the hallmarks of a vehicle treated respectfully, with no signs of abuse. Nothing has succumbed to UV exposure, and there is no cracked plastic or evidence of aftermarket additions. The comfort features look pretty basic by modern standards, but the first owner’s decision to order the Ranger with air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM radio made it pretty high-end in 1981.
The seller listed this 1981 Ford F350 Ranger 4×4 here on eBay in Nampa, Idaho. Frantic bidding has pushed the price to $15,100, and with a reserve not a factor in this auction, it will head to a new home in a few days. It is easy to see why it has generated interest because it is a tidy classic that has survived remarkably well. A new life beckons, but are you tempted to give it that fresh start?
Very nice truck ! …..A little low on the HP. …..I would love to have this in my driveway.
Am i alone noticing the shifter looks in neutral but the prndl shows park. Aside that its beautifull
153hp? From a 400cid? Hell my 98 inline 6, 4L single over head cam,, 4 speed auto, falcon wagon produced 245hp (at the wheels), naturally aspirated and completely stock. I owned the wagon for 13 years, never lost against a stock LS1 in a Commodore.
I get torque, torque beats HP any day, no idea what the torque was in my wagon, but she’d smoke the tyres all the way into 3rd.
I’m a Ford lover, and I love to own this, but with some serious mods
Are we sure this is an F-350? I thought the regular cab/shortbed combination was only available as an F-100 or F-150. Ditto the twin I-Beam suspension on this example.
@CCFisher I’m with you on the reg cab/short bed on an F-350. I believe F-250s came with a twin I-beam and leaves like this one has. The F-150s came with twin I-beam and coils, sometimes with single shocks, sometimes with duals like mine had. Regardless, don’t ever remember seeing another short bed with dual tanks.
Hopefully some true Bullnose Gurus will weigh in here here and let us know if this is a real F-350!
Would like to see a Marti report. F350 should have a solid front axle. But what do I know, I’m a chevy guy lol
Well, they certainly went nuts with the Armor All, but there’s no question on the mileage. Trucks like this were sold with one purpose in mind, to be worked, and no other reason. I read, this truck was one of the 1st trucks to cost over $10grand, and the beginning of the cushy pickups we know of today. The box shows use, but probably dads “fissin” truck, that nobody else drove. The dent in tailgate, very common before backup cameras.
Now, it’s still a 1981 truck, will ride rough, and yep, single digit gas mileage, and if you are buying a truck like this, it’s not all collectible intent. Remember, they had 2 gas tanks for a reason. You won’t find one much nicer than this.
Only F 350s had the straight solid front axle and only 1980 models did not have the blue oval in the center of the grille and I’ve never heard of a 1981 with a 400 in it from the factory,just saying. Truck looks great but I would not own the twin I beam front suspension,thank you
A Ford VIN decoder shows it was originally a F350, but I didn’t decode than that. According to the original 1981 brochures, only F-150 regular cabs were available in short beds, so I think this one has had the frame shortened.
https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/FMC%20Trucks-Vans/1981_Trucks-Vans/1981_Ford_Pickup_Brochure/dirindex.html
https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/FMC%20Trucks-Vans/1981_Trucks-Vans/1981%20Ford%204-Wheeler%20Brochure/1981%20Ford%204-Wheeler-07.html
Or the VIN was swapped, which would be a whole lot easier than shortening the frame and fitting a twin I-beam front suspension.
This thing has the f-250 twin ibeam with leaf springs, not the f-150’s w coils. So frame shortening, suspension switching or VIN swapping…there’s definitely been some monkey business going on with this truck. None of which was disclosed in the eBay listing.
I bought a 1966 F-100 a few years ago, the second year of the twin I beam suspension. I only spent about $500 to have a suspension specialist replace bushings required. The ride is much nicer than the earlier solid axles. I have used it mostly this year to haul firewood, but it was in the local Memorial Day parade.
Due to the shorted and front axle issues, truck is definitely not original. But it is definitely a good looking truck!
Looks like leaf springs in the front.