When I look at any classic vehicle that comes onto the market, my favorite two words are “No Reserve.” That doesn’t mean that the buyer will necessarily score a bargain, but it certainly improves the chances significantly. That is part of the story with this low-mileage 1996 Ford F150 XLT. It is well-preserved, and it comes with enough optional extras to make any off-road experience feel comfortable and luxurious. Located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, you will find the F150 listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $9,300 in this No reserve auction.

The F150 is finished in Code UA Black Clearcoat, and it presents superbly. It has belonged to the same family since day one, and it appears that they know how to care for their classics. The paint holds a deep shine, with no evidence of significant flaws. The panels are laser straight, while rust is not a consideration. The owners have had the good sense to apply a spray-on bed-liner which has helped to protect that area from the usual wear-and-tear that you might expect in a vehicle of this type. The beauty is more than skin-deep with this pickup because photos of the underside show little more than a dusting of surface corrosion on some suspension components. The trim and chrome are in excellent order, while the same is true of the glass.

Going off-road in a 4×4 can be an arduous experience, but it shouldn’t be in this F150. Apart from some minor wear on the outer edges of the seat and the carpet on the driver’s side, it presents exceptionally well. There are no rips or tears, no cracked or crumbling plastic, and nothing is missing. There have been no aftermarket additions, which leaves this interior precisely as it was the day the F150 rolled off the showroom floor. As well as a driver’s airbag, the Ford comes equipped with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power seat, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. I can’t spot anything about that list that suggests a lack of comfort for the occupants.

When you take a look under the hood, you realize that the tow hitch attached to the back of this Pickup could be put to good use. The engine bay is occupied by a 5.8-liter V8 that should be producing 210hp and 325 ft/lbs of torque. All of that power feeds to the road via an automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The last thing that the driver needs on a rough track is a vehicle that feels cumbersome. Therefore, power steering and power brakes are welcome features in those cases. The F150 is in good mechanical order, and all of that power and torque means that it should be an effective tow vehicle. It also has a genuine 44,000 documented miles on the clock, which means that it should have plenty of life left in it. If you can hear the deepest wilds calling you, I can’t think of many better ways of getting there than in this classic.

I’ve talked in the past about the pros and cons of buying a classic pickup when compared to a new example. The key points have always revolved around the initial cost and the depreciation during the early years of ownership. Those rules continue to apply with this 1996 F150 XLT. The bidding has been healthy, but it hasn’t been crazy. I would be surprised if it went beyond $20,000, although sometimes these auctions can be unpredictable. At that level, it would be half the price of a new XLT, and there’s a lot that a buyer could do with all of that leftover cash. If you are looking to bond with the great outdoors, this offers a comfortable way of achieving that. You’d own a tidy survivor that is still capable of turning heads, and you wouldn’t be facing the crippling depreciation that you would have with the new XLT. I’m trying to think of a downside with that scenario, and I can’t come up with one. Can you?