This 1986 Ford F-250 XLT 4×4 is a dry-climate survivor. That will be a significant consideration for any potential buyer seeking a rust-free Pickup to park in their garage. It offers a few luxury touches to make life on the road pleasant, and its engine bay houses the range-topping V8 that would make towing a breeze. It has 113,000 miles on the clock, but the bulletproof engineering means it should offer a new owner years, or even decades, of reliable service. The seller has listed the F-250 here on eBay in San Antonio, Texas. Bidding sits below the reserve at $11,100 as the end draws near on this auction.
Ford’s Seventh Generation F-Series range enjoyed what many would consider a relatively short production life. The first examples landed in showrooms in late 1979, with the final vehicles rolling out the door in 1986. Automotive technology and engineering were evolving rapidly during that period, leading Ford to release a new model to maximize the benefits of these changes. The original owner ordered this F-250 XLT during the final production year, selecting a paint combination of Medium Canyon Red and White. The impact is classy, with the vehicle’s appearance and practicality enhanced by the lockable camper shell. This 4×4 presents well, avoiding the baked appearance that sometimes plagues vehicles from this location. The paint shines nicely, and its overall condition is impressive for an unrestored survivor. Dry weather living has left this F-250 rock-solid, with prone areas like the lower cab corners showing no evidence of rust. The panels are as straight as an arrow, while the trim and glass look excellent. The seller acknowledges they removed its winch front bumper and that the chrome replacement is from the wrong model year. They quote a price of $289 for a new correct bumper, but many people might consider leaving well enough alone. They also include a nice set of side steps, which are safely stowed in the back of this classic. Leave them off or bolt them on? That is a decision for the successful bidder to make.
The 1986 F-250 is a reasonably heavy beast, but the original owner didn’t pull any punches when selecting what to slot under the hood. They opted for the range-topping 460ci V8 that churns out 245hp and 380 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties fall to a four-speed manual transmission that feeds the power to the road via a dual-range transfer case. The inherent torque delivery of large capacity V8s makes them ideal for off-road duties, and this Ford’s power-assisted steering and brakes should make such activities effortless. It will happily cruise at freeway speeds, and the available power and torque would allow this F-250 to make the best use of its hitch receiver. If a potential buyer plans an escape with a trailer in tow, this could be ideal in that role. I would describe the engine bay presentation as “honest.” The seller hasn’t cleaned and detailed anything, providing an insight into the vehicle’s mechanical health. There are no signs of long-term fluid leaks or other problems. The F-250 rolls on new tires and is a turnkey proposition for its next owner.
This is the XLT variant of the ’86 F-250, and that package brought some welcome luxury touches. The seats are covered in Red cloth and vinyl, with the remaining trim, plastic, and carpet finished in the same shade. The seatcover shows fading and minor wear, but I can’t spot any gaping holes that might prompt a retrim. The carpet is in good order, and the only apparent weakness is the door trims. The plastic is quite scuffed and marked, although the cloth and carpet inserts look fine. Whether that issue could be addressed without resorting to replacement is unclear. The dash and pad look excellent, the faux woodgrain shows no signs of deterioration, and I can’t spot any aftermarket additions. It isn’t weighed down with luxury appointments by modern standards, but the new owner will undoubtedly welcome the air conditioning, cruise control, and AM/FM radio/cassette player.
If you’re planning an escape into the great outdoors, doing so behind the wheel of this 1986 Ford F-250 XLT 4×4 might be the ideal choice. Whether roughing it in a tent or opting for a touch of luxury with a trailer in tow, the bulletproof nature of these classics means this Pickup should transport you to and from your destination effortlessly. Recent sales results suggest the price could hit $20,000 before the hammer falls, and the seventeen bids submitted so far confirm people like what they see. Even if this Ford isn’t the right choice for you, monitoring the auction to see the result could be worthwhile.
To reiterate the overall toughness of these trucks, when I lived in SC Wis in the 80s-90s, it was a rural farm community, and my neighbor operated a rather large dairy farm. He had a pickup just like this, sans camper, only a 351. That truck was the universal farm truck. It did everything from pulling feed and livestock wagons, service truck in the field for the many breakdowns to Sat. night dinner. It practically met it’s demise when his wife was pulling a feed wagon, turned into their driveway, and some punk t-boned the truck at speed , luckily right behind the cab, or she would have literally, “bought the farm”. They replaced the truck, but in true farmer fashion, pulled the frame back some, and still used it “around the farm”. What a truck!
Reg cab, 4×4, Heavy chasis, 460 w 4spd. 💪 🙌 Proper truck right here. ✅️
My first new vehicle was a ’86 150..2wd with the 300 6cyl. Had none of the toys this one has, but I’d be interested in this one if it was closer. One of the best looking FSeries…
Title… F240?
The 351 powered 1986 F-250 had an 11mpg combined EPA rating, I wonder what this gets.
Not denigrating, I had a 78 LTD with the 460 (it got about 8mpg) you don’t buy this for driving Cross Country
Get the lead outta yer foot
I agree the 351w HO would be preferable to the 460, only slightly less power and far better on fuel. Certainly an EFI 5.8L with a ZF5 could be geared to have every bit as much pulling power while turning lower rpms empty on the highway or towing in 4th and using less fuel.
Someone needs to tell them what a high boy is
I agree. These trucks were not Highboys.
I understand this particular truck is not actually a High Boy but why were High Boys F-250’s and not F-350’s?
There were no F350 4x4s during the “Highboy” years.
I agree, however, I’m willing to cut the authors a break as the banner headline is used to attract the viewer and sometimes certain catch phrases, whether true or not, catch you attention. In this case, folks, like me, that saw these brand new, knew what a Highboy was, and this wasn’t it. However, today, seemingly all 4×4 Ford F250 pickups of this vintage have become “Highboys” and clarifies it to the layperson, it’s not a lowly F100/150.
A ’67-’76 F250 with a narrow frame and divorced T case which sat higher than a later F250 4x4s from the factory.
Technically, an F250 4×4 dating back to 1959 could be considered a “Highboy”. Same setup.
Just cause I didn’t see it mentioned, this should be an efi truck, if I’m not mistaken.
If the GVW is high enough they were equipped with four barrel carbs &no cats. I owned a1986 F250 so Equipped
The 460 didn’t get EFI until 2 years later for the ‘88 model year.
7.5L got EFI in ’88.
No overdrive until 1990.
@Lothar – the F350 4×4 wasn’t introduced until 1979, and Highboys ended during the 1977 model year.
Todd- Thanks for the info… that makes sense now!
Highways had divorced transfer cases