1968 Ford F600 - Completely Original and Like New Throughout!

Description

This 1968 Ford F600 Flatbed is really something special! It was sold new to Ryder, and was used as a fleet rental truck for its first couple of years. While still fairly new, it was sold by a truck dealer in Albany, Oregon to a gentleman farmer who lived south of Salem Oregon. He justified his purchase of the truck by stating that he was planning to run some cattle on his farm, and would need the truck for feed and to take his cattle to market. He even went as far as having a brand new 18' Omaha Standard Cattle Bed installed in 1973. However, he stated to me (as his son restated) that the real reason he bought the truck was because he liked the way it looked.

By all accounts, it might have had a cow or two in it once, briefly. And it did haul some hay bails from the neighbor’s place down the road a couple of times. But really, the truck was the old farmer’s toy. He was a member of an antique engine club, who restored and showed old gasoline and steam farm engines and tractors, and he used this truck to transport his engines to and from shows a couple of times each year. When not in use, he had a specific stall in his shop where he stored in, out of the elements. Both the gentlemen and his son have been absolutely meticulous in maintenance and care over the years, insuring the truck has received everything it has asked for and more.

At this point, the truck has only 46,760 miles on it. The original 330HD V8 is in perfect working order. It starts quickly and runs strong, with plenty of power. The factory 2bbl carburetor was very recently professionally rebuilt, and operates just as it should. The HD NP4 4 speed manual transmission and clutch are completely original, strong and right. The 17,500 GVWR single speed rear differential operates as new. The truck has received a complete brake rebuild (including a new vacuum booster) and six brand new tires within the last 500 miles. The hand operated, floor level parking brake functions as it should, but was never the best design. All lights, switches and systems work as they should, including the factory installed optional back-up lights. Nothing has ever been molested or altered – not even the windshield washers! The only mechanical flaw on the truck is in the exhaust system – the right-side exhaust manifold has a leak, and the factory header pipes and muffler are completely worn out. You will want to replace the exhaust system.

This truck was equipped from the factory with the standard heater and ventilation system (with complete in-cab controls) which operates flawlessly. It was also equipped with radio-delete (the plate is in place in the dash) and dash-pad delete. Also, it has a factory installed vacuum gauge, which is in perfect mechanical condition, although pretty unreliable. Most notably, the truck was equipped with one piece 22.5” wheels, NOT the standard split rims. The only thing not original to the cab and chassis is the gear shift knob – the original, like new knob is in the glove box, along with the original owner’s manual and some other paperwork.

The condition of this truck is amazing. I greatly enjoy old trucks and have had a few, but never one like this. It has hardly been used, much less abused. The seat, floor, dash, doorpanels, headliner – they are all like new. The truck even smells new inside! The body, trim, mirrors and the like are completely original and unmolested. There is no known rust anywhere in or on the truck, with the exception of expected exceptionally light surface paint chips on mirror bodies and such. The paint is very acceptable – even where the original labels were removed from the doors and it was touched up some 47 years ago. Everything works just as it should. The truck fires right up and drives wonderfully. Don’t hesitate to fly in and drive it home, no matter where you need to take it!

You simply will not ever find another one quite like this. Feel free to contact me with questions or for more pictures before you bid. Please know that a $1000 non-refundable deposit is expected within 24 hours of the auction’s end, and full payment is expected within 7 days of the auction’s end. Please plan ahead on transportation, and plan to have the truck retrieved within 14 days, unless we have made special arrangements ahead of time.

Thank you!