First things first, this 1982 Ford F-100 Flareside shortbed pickup is wearing Jeep shoes. I don’t know why the former owner put Jeep wheels on a Ford but they don’t look bad, it’s just that embossed JEEP on each one that may raise a few eyebrows. The seller has this one listed here on eBay in Gurnee, Illinois and there’s a $2,995 buy-it-now price or you can make an offer.
Second things second, Ford called this bed design a Flareside in this era, although most of us refer to this design as a stepside. Yes, it clearly has a “step” visible just behind the cab, but it’s still a Flareside. The seller says that this project pickup has been sitting in a barn since the late 1980s, and there’s a lot of rust on it in some areas, so that’s probably why it’s still for sale. The price made me audibly gasp until I looked at the photos and then I understood why. This truck needs a lot of work.
Ford made the seventh-generation F-Series in late 1979 for the 1980 model year, until 1986 here, and a bit longer in other countries. This appears to be a base model, as opposed to a higher XL, XL Lariat, or XLS. What an era, can you imagine the minds being blown today if a truck manufacturer offered a tailgate with an exposed chain on each side?
The Standard trim level had a black dash as seen here as opposed to a woodgrain or brushed aluminum. According to the data tag, this truck has a four-speed overdrive manual transmission, probably what the majority of Barn Finds readers would want in this truck. You can see some scary rust around the rear window, on body parts, and especially underneath. The seller says that the bed floor is basically gone, but sadly they don’t poke the camera lens back there to show that.
The engine is a Canadian-built Essex 232-cu.in. OHV V6 with 112 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque when new. This one, I’m guessing, will need some work after sitting for over three decades in a damp environment. The seller hasn’t tried to turn it over and that’s probably a good thing. Hagerty is at $4,200 for a #4 fair-condition truck and this one is a long way from that. What’s your offer on this Blue Oval?
The 3.8 was really there for e.p.a rollers because 112 ponies aint much. Thats why it was only offered on the base F-100. I remember a customer that brought his at the service bays i worked for in the late 80’s. 3.8 with 3 speed auto short bed. Never had major issues and was reliable, he used it mostly for in town grocery getting and stuff.
The 300 six only made 120hp yet it was the ideal engine to get in these things. I have an 85 with the wide ratio 4-speed manual, 300 six, 2.49 rears, and I honestly wouldn’t change anything about the driveline except adding an e-locker in the back for wintertime.
What made the 3.8 so gutless is its lack of torque. The 300 basically identifies as a diesel engine, so it will outpull the 302 V8 any day of the week, but the 3.8 identifies as a boat anchor so it couldn’t pull itself out of a wet paper bag…
A dog though. I had one so I’m speaking from experience. A 300 inline 6 is far better.
This strikes me as some dealership’s price leader. I can see the dealership ad now: “Brand New F-Series For $5995! Power Steering, Power Brakes, Radio, Sport Stripes!”
Good job Scotty. My dad’s last of a series of stripper Ford company work trucks was a 1982 Flareside (most of them were Flaresides, and thanks for reminding us of their proper name). And in recognition of his 25 years of service, he was rewarded with this truck being equipped with a 302 and an…. automatic transmission. Even had power steering and an AM radio. He was really in tall cotton with that truck, which he drove until he retired a few years later.
So you can tell why I have a soft spot for low-option Flareside pickups, even ones in rough condition like this example.
I’d swap a 300 into this one so it would actually be able to do truck-ly things, but beyond that, retrofitting air conditioning, improving the radio situation, getting those Jeep rims off and some proper 15x7s on it, and rust repair, it’s a pretty damn nice truck. Has the correct transmission already.
Saw this truck on YouTube on a channel called auto parts city. It’s a junkyard and if they don’t sell it, it’ll go in the crusher.
Definitely a fan of the 300 six. Dont let the numbers fool you. It performs way better than they would suggest. Very nice low end torque, you dont have to work them hard. And with a 4 speed overdrive manual trans like this, perfect. I think its worth restoring. I really do. I know it wont be cheap or easy dealing with the rust. But it will look phenomenal when done.
Correct me if Im wrong… But are those Jeep Grand Cherokee or Wagoneer wheels? I think Id deep six those and just go with a nice set of painted steelies and maybe trim rings.
I had 2 Ford’s similar to this one was a black 1980 with the 300 6 cyl. F150 with auto. The other was 1984 F250 with the 351M and 4speed with the granny gear. Both were fleetside. I drove them as daily drivers for years they preformed excellent were reliable to the point they never left me sitting alongside the road. The big question here is this one savable?? If it is it will make a great project. GLWTS
Those were aluminum heads on iron blocks and were absolute junk. If I remember correctly the valve covers were plastic…
Auction update: someone grabbed this truck for an unknown offer.