We’ve seen a rash of small vintage pickups coming across our collective desks at Barn Finds lately – some in extraordinary condition. Here’s another: this single-owner 1979 Ford Courier has covered only 59,000 miles from new. It is listed on eBay for $10,500 or best offer, and it’s located in La Jolla, California. While Ford utilized the “Courier” nameplate way back in the 1950s for its sedan delivery body style, by the 1970s, it took the form of a rebadged Mazda, shipped over to the US sans bed to beat the “chicken tax”. The gas-miserly compact pickup filled a niche that American makers had overlooked in the early 1960s. Even today, pickin’s are slim in this segment – choices are limited to Ford’s Maverick and the Slate, whenever it finally arrives. But for about half the price of a new compact truck driven off the showroom floor today, we have this second-gen Courier.
First-generation Couriers were equipped with 1.8-liter Mazda four-cylinder powerplants; later, larger displacement engines were offered, including the 2.3-liter Pinto mill. While the seller identifies this as a 1979, he also says its engine is a 1.8-liter, but in that year the 1.8 was retired in favor of a 2.0-liter. Could be that we have a truck made in ’78 and registered in ’79. Output ranged from 75 to 85 hp – not a barn burner but good enough when paired with the four-speed manual and even better with the five-speed available in 1976. The payload is around 1400 lbs all in; bed length options were 77″ and 88.5″ (the “long” Courier). The seller notes that the engine was overhauled, and the brakes and front suspension are new; it runs and drives very well.
By 1979, the Courier had gained 3 inches The interior is clean as a whistle, evidence of an owner/seller who cares about presentation and likely the details of long-term care. That glove box is decently wide – a nice feature. The seller says everything works. He does wax poetic about the spare never having been on the road, but doesn’t mention any receipts or manuals.
By the time this second-gen Courier was on the ground, it had received a styling update to harmonize the lines with modern sensibilities. Its “face” had always mimicked the F100, but now its body was squared up too. The tailgate lettering shifted from “Ford Courier” to “Courier” in 1973, and finally just “Ford” in 1974. If you need a simple, small truck for weekend work, this Courier is a great prospect. It’s nice enough to bring to the waning days of Cars ‘N Coffee, too!
There is another small truck coming. Gas, manual, basic and apparently under 25k. Reotrucks.com I did some reading and sounds really interesting.
This is as close to pristine as they come. What a find.
Michelle, thanks for the information about them being imported sans beds. I had never heard that before.
And as Rbig18 mentioned, there is one more small truck in the works… the REO. I can’t wait to see one. The market is in dire need of a small pickup truck!
Reo is a guy, an idea and a website for now. It has no manufacturing facility, no final design renderings and no prototype of course. The suggested price is just that – a suggestion. Its staff is still in recruitment. This guy also has to raise absolute masses of capital while interest rates are at multidecade highs and companies are pulling or delaying scheduled IPOs. In my mind, this is not a truck. I see Mavericks at the grocery store and Autopian test drove a Slate. Those are trucks.
I don’t mean to be Debbie Downer but a realistic estimate of the Reo’s arrival is probably 2029. These days, that’s an eternity in automotive production.
Also, I wrote to this dude with the Courier about its engine and he looked at the data plate and said by golly, this IS a 2.0. He’s going to correct the ad.
You’ll note I said “in the works”. Check out their website. I’ll wait until 2029 before I’ll buy a four door Maverick or an electric pickup truck, thanks. Those are not my idea of compact pickup trucks. Really surprised the Koreans haven’t stepped in and filled the void, but until someone does, it’s either buy a 10+ years old used truck or do without.
Read about the chicken tax – its existence has effectively barred small trucks from our market for decades. I know a fair amount about Reo – I follow the automotive stocks for our company. I also know that the barriers to entry in this business are very high. Musk managed to break into the market, but for everyone else it’s been effectively impossible. Hyundai makes the Santa Cruz but I consider that mid sized. Chevy sells the Montana in LatAm, but can’t make a profit here. Ford barely makes a profit on the Maverick – their strategy is largely to bring new buyers to the brand. I’ll be shocked if the Reo comes to fruition.
I do agree on gas-powered, but I’m not picky about doors. If I were in the market, the Maverick would be fine with me, plus my genetics have the Ford gene wrapped in my DNA.
Michelle, I think you are right. I’ll believe it when they become readily available.
Steve R
Thank you Michelle for your interesting and informed comments. We Barn Finders may find “simple” and “manual” appealing for small pickups, but most of the market doesn’t. The biggest selling Mavericks are mid and high trim models. Of course I don’t know how much money Ford makes on them, but I’m sure it is much, much less than on a F-Series.
We could discuss the Slate too…..
This is the first I’ve heard of the new REO truck. I like the concept as do many here in this thread. He speaks to many of us who would like a simple and practical vehicle. The only thing I would recommend to change is the screen. Use a mechanical controller for the climate and DIN radio. Provide a USB port and mount for a mobile device.
Not only will it require capital but also customers. Real live people to take a chance on a new comer. That shouldn’t be a problem given the number on this and other enthuiast sites.
He leans in heavily to the Ransom Eli Olds connection. That’s some heady stuff. I remember REO trucks. Dad was a millwright there from ’61 until they folded in ’75.
I found a couple of pictures on line of what it should look like gas engine 4 cylinder with a price of 21,500.00 to start. You can place an order now but could not find any delivery dates still should be a lot of people placing orders with that price.
The market is in dire need of vehicles that potential buyers can afford and aren’t loaded with modules, touch screens and tracking devices. And they’d do well to offer CD players, too.
I had a rusted out 79 manual with the 2.3 in HS that I used to drive out to the dairy farm I worked on. 0-60, I could usually hit it within the 10 mile drive. Front fender on the driver’s side was no longer connected at the bottom and would lift like a wing when speeds approached 60. The only good thing about that little pos was it was hard to get stuck. It would push through snow and mud where I couldn’t take farmer Brown’s C10.
My buddys mom bought a brand new Courier in 1978 that proved to be a rugged little truck. Love the f100 styling that F ord used on the Courier. Great little truck at a great price.
These, along with their Toyota and Datsun competitors, come to mind when I think about “vehicles that rusted quickly and completely.” This Courier, obviously, did not. Good to see one which has survived in excellent shape.
Aside: I’ve already become weary of the AI-provided (or AI-assisted) verbiage in ads.
Good job Michelle.
This is some find!!! Look at that pinstripe on the hood. Remember when pinstripes used to be so popular? This truck just looks immaculate. I don’t know how it managed to escape the tin worm, but glad it did. Hope it gets preserved as nicely with its next caretaker.
that has a 1977 grill and bumper. it was the only year they put the turn signals in the bumper, in 78 they moved them into the grill.
we had a 77, looked just like this one but had tan interior. It also had the Ford 2.3L
I would love to have this little pick up so much. I can’t believe how good it looks, love to see people take care of things.
Plus it has a 1977-1978 dash
Whole lot nicer than the one I had!! NICE!!
This brings back memories off my time at Holloman AFB in the late 70’s. A friend of mine on base had one just like the unit listed and it was fine for tooling around on the high (5,000+ ft) mesa we lived on, but it really struggled when confronted with the mountains of which there was plenty. We drove it to Las Cruces several times and had it in 2nd gear before we reached the top of San Augustin pass which is only an extra 500′ of additional elevation. I never road with him up to Sierra Blanca (12,000’+-) but I imagine he would have needed first gear for that one.
My Dad had one in the early 80’s. Not flashy or comfort laden. Prone to Michigan rust, but man, that little bugger was tough as nails. Loaded up the back with rolls of sod as high as the roof. Squatted on the springs but made the 15 mile trip with no problems. Saw one at Milan Dragway once with a Cleveland motor in it. Cool truck. I hope it finds a good home.
A very beautiful, super rugged, super slow truck. Worth every penny!
Already sold and gone. These little Ford trucks just didn’t survive like the Toyotas did. Someone babied it and cared for it all its life for sure. Makes you smile. Sometimes you see the little Datsun trucks for sale occasionally.
I see this asa face lift of sorts; ie think it had the single sheet (not double) bed in back. Ilike em better as more basic/utility oriented). One can repair easier… also might have left off the fantastic Perkins diesel it had (in other areas) in your list above. Altho not a 4.192 (in CJ) or 4.236 (Checker) the 2.2L was still something many of us in usa would like to see here. I take either the 104 or 112 inch WB miniP/U today. Not sure I’d go 10K$ w/no 5speed/auto, extended cab, 4WD or ‘topper’. Awfully clean fora 45 y/o rig~
Man, this is crisp and clean. How do people do it? That’s from a rust belt, gravel road guy. Nice truck.
Sold!