A 1969 Ford Ranger F100 short bed pickup is for sale here on Craigslist in Greensboro, North Carolina. The seller says it “runs and stops.” And just look at nature’s patina on the yellow! No need for paint work. The seller provides many pictures and plenty of information.
This truck has the high end Ranger package which included chrome bumpers, stainless steel trim down the side, and FORD placard across the tailgate. It also has seldom seen factory air conditioning. Ford designers became creative with the government mandated side reflectors. They just added them to the hood side and a small red reflector on the side of the bed. The engine is described as a “small block” so it is probably a 302 CID first offered in 1969. The three speed automatic would be Ford’s reliable C6. Power steering is a plus. Who can forget Ford’s TV commercials touting its I-beam front suspension introduced in 1965? From the photos I see the optional second gas tank with the filler neck in the bed of the truck.
“Patina” has become a popular word among car-nuts. But the dictionary does not use it when referring to cars and trucks. It has been adopted by the car hobby. I even like the patina on the rims. Find a good used grille as a replacement, re-upholster the seat, and clean up the engine bay and hit the road. Oh, don’t forget to buy a new set of tires. It is popular today to “slam” these trucks with air ride suspension. My grandfather owned a 1971 Ford F100 “Camper Special”. We made memories in trips from Cass railroad in West Virginia to fishing in North Bay, Ontario Canada with a slide-in camper.
Does this pickup have “just enough” or “too much” patina? At least it does not have faux patina! Can you go wrong for $2600?
I kind-of get the whole ‘patina’ thing, specifically on trucks. What I don’t get is faux patina, or clearcoated patina. That said, I think these trucks are so sharp when restored (or restomodded), that is what I prefer. I would even stick with the yellow paint.
Thanks for the write-up Ben.
Always called ’em “beaters”…..and, who could forget Mr Majestyk bouncing his twin I-beam Ford through the melon fields?
That’s right Dean. What a beating that truck took in that movie. It certainly sold me on owning two F150s during 22 years.
That’s not patina that’s rust. However you want to go with this one check the front cab mounts real good. In a salt environment the crap flies up off the front wheels and lies in the cab mount. Got most of em here in New Yawk. Sure would be cool done in the original yellow. Good luck either way. Great tow vehicle. Think that’s the last year for the 390. These were great, tough trucks.
Cheers
GPC
Hi GPC, ‘That’s not patina that’s rust.’ Thank you! Aged patina is on old copper. Call a spade a spade. Patina, just as bad as I got your back. If you are not in the line of fire, do not use that term either. Take care GPC, thanks again, Mike.
I’m with Gaspumpchas and leiniedude; I’m looking at rust on this neat old bumpside, not patina. Ever since I had my first “collector” car, one that I drove only on nice days and put away for the winter, my goal was to make it look and perform as good as I could afford. I drove rusty beaters to work and in the winter, not to my local show an’ shine.
I like this truck having had a ’72 shortbed with a dependable 302 and three-on-the-tree. The price seems really fair for a vintage Ford pickup that you can drive as you work on it over time. Obviously, address the mechanicals first, then put some stock rims with bottle cap hubcaps on it. Freshen up the interior with new seat covers and whatever trim/bits that need replacing. Then you tackle the rust and paint it. It will take time and money get this one to really sparkle but $2,600 is a cheap buy in for a 50 year-old pickup.
I’m not a fan of “patina” which I think is Latin for “paint it.” I want my collector car to look better than my daily driver. Always have.
Talk about a bizarre trip down memory lane. In 1987 I had a 68 F100, Ranger trim level. Same or incredibly similar factory yellow. Short bed. 390 FE series. C6 auto. P/S, P/B, factory A/C. Mind you it was only 19 years old at that time and well kept. Even though it was a year different this makes me think that this is how my truck could have ended up looking through the course of the years with a different owner. As far as I know it ended up in Mexico. Sure brings back memories.
Enough already! Patina is OK, but this is just a thrashed old truck. No doubt a good work truck . . . can we leave it at that?