Solid Bumpside: 1972 Ford F-250 Explorer

Several years ago, I found myself approached in a parking lot by a gentleman who asked me if I wanted to trade my 1965 Dart Wagon for a 1972 Ford truck. Although I had no interest in doing so, I sometimes think back and wonder why I didn’t give it a little more consideration. Why not…who doesn’t love a Bumpside? I doubt that the truck being offered in trade for my wagon was as nice, however, as this original 1972 F-250 Explorer, which is being offered for sale here on eBay in San Antonio, Texas. The high bid is currently $9,000, and it hasn’t yet met the reserve.

The best news of all? The seller has posted the door tag. Here’s what we can learn about the truck:

• F25: F-250 two-wheel drive
• Y: 360-cubic-inch engine
• K: Kansas City Assembly Plant
• N44006: January 1972 scheduled build date

And below the VIN:

• 131: Wheelbase
• X: Light Goldenrod Yellow paint
• H4: The “4” doesn’t show up in the documents I’ve found, but “H” is Medium Ginger Vinyl and Cloth Explorer trim
• G: Automatic transmission (a C6 in this case)
• 38: Dana 60 rear axle with 3.73:1 gears
• 52: Dallas, Texas, District Sales Office

Another piece of useful information on the data tag is the net horsepower rating of the 360 two-barrel: 156. (The gross horsepower rating was 196.) This truck has the original engine, “power steering, new power brakes, cold air conditioning, new tires, and a freshly rebuilt front end.” For those who don’t know, the 360 was based on Ford’s popular FE architecture, and owners are more likely to brag about its longevity and toughness rather than its power or fuel economy.

The “Explorer Special” package seen on this truck was fundamentally a marketing campaign designed to drive sales; the most common features found on “Explorers” were air conditioning, power steering, and automatic transmission, all of which can be seen on this F-250. The seller says that everything works, including all gauges, lights, wipers, and horn.

The interior appears to be in good shape, and both the paint and interior trim seem to match the door tag; in fact, the seller says that the truck is original down to the paint, drivetrain, and even the hubcaps.

While some of the photographs in the ad seem to be taken at wonky angles, it’s clear that this is a nice, solid Texas truck that would be perfect for hauling loads, showing off, or driving around. It would be tempting to message the owner to see if they’re willing to trade for a ’65 Dart, but I don’t think I’ll get that lucky twice.