This 1979 Ford F150 Ranger is a genuine Indianapolis Speedway Official Truck package model, which featured a variety of add-ons to commemorate Ford’s role in providing the Mustang for pace car duties in the 1979 Indy 500. Basically dressed up in concert with the pace car edition Mustangs, the Speedway package consisted of a variety of cosmetic tweaks, dual tanks, a rear bumper, and more. Find this 77,000 mile example here on eBay with an opening bid of $2,500 and no action yet.
The seller notes he has known of this truck for much of its existence, belonging to a local individual who parked it in his barn after he relinquished his driving privileges. The truck retails many of the original features that set it apart from lesser models, like the roll bar in the bed, rear bumper, side graphics kit, and ten-hole aluminum wheels. The seller notes that the bed was damaged on the passenger side due to the truck being stored with the original owners’ livestock, who evidently didn’t take kindly to the four-wheeled interloper in their midst.
The Speedway package trucks had to be outfitted with the Ranger trim line, and the special edition F150 came with a few other constraints regarding which boxes needed to be checked as it related to factory options. The interior shows off one of the major changes from the standard F150, which is that of the woodgrain trim being deleted in favor of red inserts on the face of the dashboard. This particular truck is slightly tired cosmetically, but the bench seat at least appears untorn and the door panels look decent.
The 302 runs well, according to the seller, who notes he performed the usual first-time start-up procedures including a tune-up, oil and filter change, and a new battery. It will still require new tires to drive any sort of distance at speed, but the seller has been using it on short drives without issue. If you’re the sort of person who needs a pace car tribute vehicle in their collection, I like the idea of going the slightly more obscure route with a commemorative truck, or the super elusive Speedway package wrecker.
Definitely worthy of restoring to it’s former glory…IMHO Ford had some of the best looking trim packages back in the day.
As it is a 2wd truck, I would remove the running boards and although part of the original trim package, I’d remove (but store) the light bar. Having a pace car packaged ’79 Mustang to accompany the truck would make a cool pairing.
Country Hoopty!! C’mon
I see a really rusty confused 2 wd half ton pickup that has a roll bar, WHY? That looked like a away back in the middle. Not for me!
I always liked the look of these, they were eye-catching without looking gaudy. They do seem to turn up, in better condition than this one? Like Canuck says, a restored specimen with an accompanying Pace Car would be cool.
Absolutely a rare truck.
Great article here
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-1979-ford-indianapolis-speedway-official-truck-package/