Ford’s “Camper Special” trucks were designed for hard work, family road trips, and just about anything you could throw in the bed. Built tough, with heavy-duty suspension, stout drivetrains, and the kind of durability that made Ford’s pickup line a best-seller for decades, these models have become increasingly collectible in recent years. This 1973 Ford F-250 Camper Special, listed for sale here on craigslist in Oroville, California, is presented as a running, driving truck that has been kept close to original while receiving the right updates to keep it roadworthy. Thanks for the tip Barney!
Under the hood sits the original 390 cubic inch V8, paired with an automatic transmission that, according to the seller, is still in good shape. Recently, a new Holley carburetor was installed, ensuring reliable fueling and crisp throttle response. This combination provides the kind of torque and power these trucks are known for—more than enough to keep up with traffic while still pulling its weight when tasked with jobs around town.
While it’s not a restored showpiece, this Camper Special is a solid daily driver. The seller notes that it has new brakes, new tires, new rims, and a new battery, making it a truck you can hop in and use right away. The A/C system has been removed, but otherwise, the truck remains largely true to its original form. Its patina and classic factory stripes give it a period-correct charm that many enthusiasts value as much as shiny paint.
The F-250 Camper Special was engineered with heavy-duty suspension and reinforced components to handle the weight of slide-in campers, but even without one, they make excellent haulers and dependable workhorses. This one has continued to serve its owner for odd jobs and occasional use, always drawing compliments wherever it goes.
The seller emphasizes that values for these trucks have been climbing steadily, with similar examples commanding twice the current asking price. For someone looking for an affordable way into the classic truck market, this could be the perfect entry point, usable as-is, with plenty of potential for upgrades. You could preserve the weathered look and enjoy it as a time capsule, or take it further with a custom build, restomod, or even a period-correct camper setup.
Would you keep this F-250 Camper Special in its original patina and use it as a daily driver, or restore it into a show-stopping classic?
Torquey big block, 2wd long bed clean old Ford truck. All the telltale signs of a truck for working stiffs that hauled home project material from the local Ace Hardware or the boat to the lake on the weekends. A decent truck at a fair price in the Sierra foothills-good stuff, Elizabeth.
This truck doesn’t make a lot of sense. In the vast majority of California where rust is nonexistent trucks like this are a common sight. The problem is, the cheapest gas hovers around $4.00 a gallon and is likely to rise significantly over the next several years. This 3/4 ton truck, with the 390, will likely get around 8 miles per gallon, with an asking price of $12,500 there is an abundance of newer full sized V8 truck with more amenities and overdrive that will get at least 50% better mileage for significantly less money. As for sellers assertion that trucks in similar condition sell for twice the money, that’s just self serving. Where I live, in the Bay Area, there are several 3/4 Ford trucks with similar asking prices that run around with for sale signs in the window for so long you can’t read the writing. This is priced like it’s a 1/2 ton SWB fleet side. It will be a tough sell.
Steve R
Nice, well-built trucks. Run forever, if you look after them. This one will carry the loads and still be there for the weekend good times. An FE, well into the smogger times, will almost break you for gas, but a good tuneup, a better carburetor, and some tweaking to the advance curve and it will handle the loads better, plus pay off at the pumps. Dual exhausts are an absolute MUST. You will drop your combustion chamber temps down where exhaust valves will last longer than 60K miles. A Holley 500 2bbl (providing it’s a 2bbl–there was a change to 4bbl late in ’74 and a lot of drivers went with that) will also feed that engine more efficiently. And the advance curve, you need to work that one to get it to perform. I did a number of them out west and some of them are still at it. Not bad for 50+ years…
Agree with GEO, This is a great truck for an all around weekend workhorse. The only change I might make would be to get rid of the slush box automatic and put a manual 4 or 5 speed in it which would improve it’s fuel mileage..
Nice truck and I am old school when I say this I would put stock rims back on it nice to see it is a 390 engine and is a a/c truck
I still wish this writer would put the price in their article, I don’t like having to click on a different website to see the price when I’m already in a website that’s supposed to have vehicles for sale with the price already there
I agree.
that’s the One, cept for:
is long bed, no 4WD or ‘step side’.
Funny, I like this look more than many of the 50s, 60s Italian ‘jewels’ I had back then (60s/70s). But would not buy due to the driving stance (gimmie mini pu or a 106 inch WB station wagon). I feel like I’m sitting at the kitchen table when driving these (right angle knees, ankles. Elbows almost @ 45*…
Yup, No Thing looks like a 6th gen ford p/u F250/4WD, short bed/step side w/2 eighteen inch wide racing stripes ! (cept a 2nd gen bronco, other models using those parts). I’d also change over to the mill mi motor 4.9/300). For the above – bore out the motor to 460 & cam it — put ina race car. This needs the 12v.