Sales catalogs for their 1977 pickups advertised the Ranger XLT trim level as “Ford’s finest!” As modern pickups get more luxurious, more capable, and more expensive, it might seem quaint that in 1977, this line topper’s luxuries includes such things we take for granted today: wall-to-wall carpeting, a vinyl headliner, “long-wearing cloth and vinyl seat upholstery,” intermittent windshield wipers, and even a day/night rear view mirror. But that’s the charm of driving a 48-year-old truck rather than a new one, and this F-150 will certainly grab more attention. It’s posted on eBay at a dealer in Pleasanton, California, as an 82,000-mile “Texas barn find” that has been cleaned up for sale, and the high bid currently sits at a paltry $2,550, which has unsurprisingly not met the reserve. But is this truck exactly as it seems to be?
The selling dealer has kindly posted the door tags for us to decode, and here’s how it shakes out according to several internet sources:
- F15: F-150 with two-wheel-drive
- H: This is the engine code for a 351 two-barrel (the pictures show a 351M if this is the case)
- L: Assembled at “Michigan Truck”
- Y82476: This is the unit number, which aligns with the 1977 model year
Moving to the door tag’s lower row:
- 133: That’s the truck’s wheelbase.
- Z: Copper Metallic paint
- F150: These codes aren’t always this obvious; this code means that it’s a 2WD F-150.
- CU4: This is a trim code, denoting a Ranger XLT with tan vinyl and tan cloth.
- G?: I’m having a hard time making out the transmission code, but it’s an automatic, so it should be a G.
- 460: This is an axle code. “46” means that the rear axle is a Dana 44 with a 2.72:1 gear ratio.
OK, so far, so good, but wait—the seller mentions that this truck has a 400. A 351M and a 400 are fundamentally impossible to tell apart by looks, and there aren’t any pictures of the emissions sticker on the valve cover to see what it says, but without measuring the crankshaft stroke through a spark plug hole, we may never know. It’s possible that someone swapped in a 400 at some point. It’s possible that it ended up with a pair of 400 valve covers (they’d be the same as the 351M’s). The power difference was minimal (163 for the 351 and 169 for the 400), so it doesn’t really matter too much, but it is an interesting mystery for a cold winter’s day.
Additionally, although the door tag tells us that this is a Ranger XLT, it is not carpeted. The rubber mat looks new, so that’s easily explained, but XLTs also had woodgrain trim on the dashboard and steering wheel. My take? Being a Texas truck, it’s quite possible that the interior has seen some sun, and that woodgrain trim may have been completely baked. Finding F-150 parts isn’t that difficult, and these parts, plausibly from a Custom trim truck, might have simply been in better shape. Not a big deal, in my opinion.
What is a big deal is the almost complete lack of rust anywhere on this long-dormant Ford. Here, we get a worm’s-eye view of the Twin-I-Beam front suspension, the C6 automatic, and those clean, clean floors and frame. What a treat.
The bed looks as if it’s been knocked about a bit, but it’s still in very good shape for a 48-year-old truck that hasn’t been restored. You could throw in a bedliner and nobody would be the wiser, or you could leave it as is and not worry about it.
OK, so there are a few anomalies to consider with this truck, but it’s not like we’re buying a Ferrari GTO or a Cobra Daytona Coupe, so the word “provenance” shouldn’t really be crossing our lips. The selling dealer has gotten the engine running, but they explain that the rest of the mechanical bits and pieces should really be gone through before making this solid F-150 a daily driver. I for one think it would be a great truck for doing truck things in high style.
Looks like an honest truck in good driver condition. I can believe it had normal use for a dozen years, then wasn’t used for decades, and has now been brought back to life. As noted, it likely needs some more sorting out.
It’s not a jacked-up 4WD or the preferred short box, nevertheless it does look to be a good example of the popular 70’s Ford pickups.
I’m confident it’s legit because— the steering wheel spokes are cracked. Seems like all of them did this.
Thanks Aaron.
Mine did Bob… was a 4wd model shortbox, w 300 and a stick
Long live the long beds. The real guys have long bed trucks.
Lol Rex, love both models. 👍
bought a F250 2WD 390/4spd, locking rear end (camper special), Also an XLT. Was a great truck, took all 3 sons a significant amount if effort but son #3 managed to “put it to rest”. It was a great work truck with pizzaz, the truck I always wanted but with 3 sons, good things manage to “go with the wind”.
I remember using my ’78 F100 shorty to haul wood. Bad move, as it spit the rear springs out soon after. These longbeds were the workhorse. But this one will haul the owner down to the Cars and Coffee, with no problem.
I grew up in a ’77 F250 SuperCab (Custom) that was this color. It came with a 351M that burned some valves by the time 80K rolled around so it got a 400 as a replacement in the mid ’80s. The 400 had a lot more torque than the 351 did but it wasn’t a quality rebuild and burned a quart of oil about every 300 miles. Dad’s still torqued at the mechanic that led him astray on that one.
Lovely looking truck. I’ve always loved the 1976-77 Ford F series trucks. Although I was way too young at the time, I remember my grandparents owned one. I can’t remember whether theirs was an F250 or an F350. I can remember that it was a Camper Special. They would use it to tow their 5th wheeler around the country, usually between Montana and Washington state.
I had a ’77 like this one (in red and 4 speed) and the interior was as nice as this one, as was the underside. And I would always get positive comments when ever someone got in. BUT, it had belonged to a construction company. I got it with 80,000 miles and 80,000 dents. It looked horrible and the bent bumpers didn’t help the look either. When driving the truck, people would give me a “wide berth” thinking I didn’t care about what I hit. So, I drove it that way! Get out of my way! I’m coming through! It had great bluff quotient! I was always the first to leave the 4 way stop. And NO BODY argued the point. Sometimes it’s fun to be nasty! (lol)
Drove a 77 F150 with full time 4-wheel drive as a daily driver for 23 years, bought new in Denver in 77. Full time 4-wheel drive was changed to part time and the 351M was changed to a built 400 and it even went to Taiwan with me for a while. Great truck, but a standard cab became obsolete and I had to upgrade. A 2-wheel F150 is pretty worthless except as a weekend garbage hauler.
This is a very clean survivor truck with a lot of pictures top to bottom which is how an add should be. Dual gas tanks, A/C, and a 400 engine and the bed and interior is super clean. The price is right and surprised it has not been sold yet.
As I recall, the emission stickers on this gen Ford will say “351m/400 “