Not every old F-150 gets remembered for hauling lumber or pulling trailers. This 1981 Ford F-150 listed on eBay spent its life doing something a little different. According to the seller, this truck has been a dedicated drag truck since 1996 and carries a racing history tied to the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. It’s being sold as a roller, meaning there’s currently no engine or transmission installed, but the truck already has much of the hard work done for someone looking to build a serious strip-focused machine.
The listing describes the truck as tubbed and fitted with a Ford 9-inch rear end equipped with a Detroit Locker and alloy axles. Suspension duties are handled by an S&W ladder bar setup with coilovers, which makes it pretty clear this truck was built with straight-line performance in mind. Rear disc brakes have also been added, and the truck includes a fuel cell along with fuel pump, filter, and fuel lines.
According to the seller, the truck has also been converted to manual steering. A radiator and electric fan are included in the sale, though the listing repeatedly notes that the truck does not currently have a motor or transmission installed. It is said to be set up for a small-block Chevy and TH400 combination, though the seller also mentions having mounts available for a small-block Ford.
Inside, the truck continues the drag-race theme. The listing notes a roll bar, B&M shifter, and a large tachometer among the interior equipment. It’s also wired for nitrous, which gives a pretty good idea of the kind of performance setup previous owners had in mind. The seller doesn’t go deep into the truck’s competitive history, but they do include one interesting bit of local lore. According to the previous owner, this truck allegedly raced against Farm Truck from Street Outlaws on a regular basis in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The seller also points out that the fiberglass bed cover shown in some photos is no longer included with the truck. Aside from that, the ad stays fairly straightforward about what’s here and what isn’t. From an enthusiast standpoint, rollers like this tend to attract a specific kind of buyer. Some people want a completed truck they can drive immediately, while others would rather start with a proven chassis and build the drivetrain their own way. This one seems aimed squarely at the second crowd.
There’s also something kind of cool about a truck that spent decades at drag strips instead of car shows. Even unfinished, it sounds like this F-150 already has a story behind it.
Meh,,,yawn, trucks have come and gone in the drag racing scene, years ago, I figured to help with trucks sales on Monday, but now everybody drives a truck, and like it or not, drag racing is a fizzlin’. I know, your local so and so strip has a great turnout, but professionally speaking, I feel the end is near. Toyota already dropped out. In 2014, I attended the Winternationals in Pomona, BOTH SIDES of the track bleachers were packed. Last race, fans barely filled one side. And the fumes, just a matter of time, think the EPA guy in Ghostbusters, will put an end to that.
The truck here, put a 300-6 back in, be a nice truck, but not sure about sticking any more money into it for drag racing purposes. 3 people watched( 2 and me), and $3100 bid tells all.
That’s a short bed 2-door, the kind of pickup that there isn’t enough of. If I bought this, I’d put a 302 with four speed and do whatever is necessary to make it streetable again, and call it a day.
No mention of what it did in a 1/4 mile.
Depending on the reserve this could be a good starting point for someone running brackets or wants to run grudge nights. Trucks are popular in slower bracket classes (Sportsman and Pro) partly because they can be bought at prices much lower than many popular cars and often have some heavier duty components than passenger cars. As for what it ran with the old engine, it doesn’t really matter, all that matters is what components remain on the truck and how fast will it be allowed to run based on its installed safety equipment.
For a beginning racer or someone with an engine and transmission looking to get on the track in a potentially budget oriented combination this truck is worth a look.
Steve R
Shades of Farmtruck and Azn. Look at the ridiculous camber when it pulled the front wheels, lol. Twin I-beam suspension, LOL!
Introduced in 1956 with all sorts of fanfare. Got it on our 2005 motorhome and it drives like crap. Sure got some twist out of that chassis in the first picture.
Twin i-beam first appeared in 1965. And having owned two, you can’t make the things track straight without holding on to the steering wheel. They always tended to wander.
Right on the date. I don’t do numbers well that early in the morning.
Built Ford tough with Chevy stuff.
That grill and hood are a 1980 model. 81-86 didn’t say ford across the hood and had the blue oval centered in the grill.
i hate having to click over to wherever a vehicle is being sold just to see the price… how bout making it a rule writers ‘must’ put the price in their BF writeup…
The seller ended the listing due to an error and relisted it it at the same opening price:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306924592499
Something so sacrilegious about installing a competitors drivetrain, in a vehicle. There are so many excellent choices from the blue oval to choose from, why run a Chevy motor in a Ford truck?
They’re too cheap to run a Ford/Drank the Kool-Aid.