SOLID SOUTHERN TRUCK, RECENTLY FINISHED, 289 V8, AUTO, PS, PB, SHORTY/FLOWMASTER

Description

It's no secret that we love old pickup trucks, and the honest ones like this 1969 Ford F-100 are our favorites. Not heavily modified, not slammed, not wearing 20-inch wagon wheels, it's instead pretty close to what you would have driven home to the farm from the Ford dealer in 1969, and we like that a lot.The medium blue finish is quiet and clean, just the way trucks like this should be. Ford wasn't doing flashy in 1969, this was a working man's tool, not a fashion statement, so it was attractive but not over-done. It's been repainted at some point, and while it has a few signs of age and use, it's about what you'd expect for a working-class hauler. Nice, but not perfect. It actually doesn't look like it's spent its life at hard labor, because the bodywork is straight, the panels line up nicely, and the bed hasn't been bashed. The chrome and stainless trim gives the upscale Ranger its more sophisticated look, particularly with the bright streak along its flanks. A nice-looking grille, shiny chrome bumpers with oversized bumper guards, and a tailgate with big bold FORD lettering all tie it together quite neatly. Basic black is clean and elegant against the blue paint and it sure appears that just about everything inside this truck is recently restored. The door panels and dashboard have been replaced and look almost new, while the black vinyl bench seat is just about how it would have been when it was new, offering a commanding view of the road and good comfort for longer hauls. There's an industrial-strength rubber mat on the floor, which is perfect for a vehicle designed to work in the field, and a few bright splashes of blue help brighten things up a bit inside. There's an AM/FM/CD stereo radio in the dash, but otherwise it's quite stock, from the unique instrument panel to the sliding heater controls. They did a really nice job getting it back into shape.While most of these trucks got torquey inline-sixes, this particular truck sports a snarling 289 cubic inch V8 that's more Mustang than F-Series. There's a Holley 4-barrel carburetor living under the stock air cleaner, which has been dressed up with proper '289' decals. Ford Blue engine enamel on the block stands out against the satin black engine bay and it has nice options like power steering and power brakes so you won't have any problems driving it every day. Shorty headers feed a 2.5-inch exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers, so it's got that familiar Ford small block rumble and the 3-speed automatic transmission always seems to know what gear you need. The undercarriage appears to be wearing a light dusting of undercoating, but nothing heavy enough to hide trouble; it's just there to keep things looking neat. The heavy-duty 9-inch rear end hangs on sturdy leaf springs that actually ride rather well. Rolling stock consists of the factory steel wheels and hubcaps wrapped in fat 255/70/15 blackwall radials.As you can see, there's a lot here that we really like. The work is recent and nicely done, the engine is very strong, and the truck is a blast to drive. Still very affordable and still willing to work now and then, a hobby vehicle like this makes a lot of sense. Call today!