Original paint? Check. Original manuals? Check. Factory jack and tool kit? Yes! This two-owner 1974 Ford Courier is as clean as they come, short of being restored. The “Slick Chick” aluminum camper top – installed when the truck was new – is likewise in excellent condition, and even the Kenco bug guard looks like it hasn’t been much bothered by insect collisions. Listed here on eBay with frisky bidding taking it to $7100 with no reserve in play, this well-preserved emblem of the ’70s is enough to make a Chevy fan take a second look.
The Courier was really a rebadged Mazda B-series, which was first launched in Japan in 1961. Ford needed a small truck to compete with offerings from Nissan and Toyota; a tie-up with Mazda solved its problem – almost. The fly in the ointment was the pesky “chicken tax”, a tariff applied by Europe to cheap chickens exported there from the US. As a retaliatory measure, President Johnson slapped a tariff on light trucks – this tax remains in place today and applies across the board to any light truck import. To evade the tax, Ford shipped the Courier without its bed attached. The truck was assembled dockside and transported to dealers. Despite ducking the tariff, the Courier cost almost as much as a Ford F100. But in a stroke of genius, Ford replicated the F-series grille for its mini-truck, conferring a tough look.
First-generation Couriers were fitted with a 74 hp, 1.8-liter overhead cam four-cylinder Mazda engine. A four-speed manual was standard; a three-speed automatic was optional. This one is a floor shift manual (yay). The seller replaced all the gaskets and seals, installed an aftermarket radiator (the original unit comes with the sale), and rebuilt the carb and the brakes. The fuel pump and clutch are new as well. As we might expect, she runs, drives, stops, and shifts perfectly.
While the listing doesn’t show the upholstery, we’re told that the blanket cover was installed when the truck was new. I’d want a peek, but considering the rest of the cabin, I’m not going to give it many demerits even if the seats aren’t perfect. The seller notes that an aftermarket radio was installed in the 1980s. Like the seats, the cargo area has always worn a mat, so its surfaces are pristine.
What is a high-quality Courier survivor worth these days? A few years ago, this ’74 – also in lime green – sold for $7800, sans topper. Given the documentation, repairs, and spectacular condition of today’s example, I’m going to guess the bidding has a ways to go. Anyone think it will push into five-figure territory?
Nice truck. Drive it as is.
This is an auction that is interesting to follow.
Steve R
Most of the time I don’t like the canopy on a truck but this one I think I would just leave it and drive the truck as it is nice find
My dad had one in the 70’s with a big topper on it like this. Softened the ride with a little weight on the tail but also made it slower on the highway…I always thought they would look good with a tonneau cover
My dad had one in the 70’s with a big topper on it like this. Softened the ride with a little weight on the tail but also made it slower on the highway…I always thought they would look good with a tonneau cover
I would take that camper top off on the spot.
This is an amazing find. Most of these starting rusting on the ship’s journey from Japan. A kid at work had one, you’d see the bed sides flapping as he drove away.
all the good solid decent trucks are west of the Mississippi river.
Wish the one I had was this nice… Cool truck!!
My second post on this thread, This truck is only Two hours away so going to get it would be easy, now the question is do I want it bad enough to pay that kind of money for it.
We had a ’74 Courier for a few years when my brother and I were in college. Dad paid $800 for it and sold it for $1000 a few years later. I think we put about 40K miles on it running back and forth between Prescott and Tucson AZ over about 5 years. Super reliable – I think we did a battery, tires, and brakes (they were lousy) and that’s about it. My brother and I are both tall (over 6′) and it’s amazing that we tucked ourselves into it for those long highway drives. A later model 5 speed w/OD and disc brakes would’ve been awesome to have.
As much as I don’t like the camper top, I’d leave it! Drive and show it how things were done in 1974.
What a Time Capsule. I don’t remember seeing a lot of these as a kid. For some reason it seemed like there were more Chevy LUV pickups running around. So to see this Courier, in this kind of condition, with a most likely original Cap from ’74 as well is a real treat. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I would be all FOR this… but that aftermarket radio kills it for me: I’m out.
Ok Barbara.
WHO’s BARBARA?
That’s what they make Sawzalls for….
I STILL don’t get it! Let me explain: I am Autistic, and I take things literally, and so “inside” jokes or irony (if that’s what this is) go right past me. I need to have it laid out literally, before I have any clue on what you are talking about: what are “Sawzalls”.
I’d love one w/the world famous Perkins (4.135). To have this w/the era correct topper would be quite a coup.
I think this model has the single sheet bed: no separate bed, sidewalls, fenders (ie double wall but it sure looks that in these pic). When I see the oe external tie hooks and the external/either side gate latches it makes me think of the single sheet.
I’d even buy one (junk) for that 2.2L diesel motor alone…
I searched local (this courier/the B2200/Thermo Kink 18 wheeler chiller) for it to re-power my bronk but came up dry (20 yrs ago).
What a near-perfect Courier specimen! I drove one of these in the late 80’s for a lawn care business and it was indestructible. I sure wish I bought it then. Had the same floor manual, lots of fun to drive. I doubt it’ll see five figures though nor should it IMO. Great write-up Michelle.