For Sale: 2000 Ford F150 in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Someone forgot to tell this 2000 Ford F150 Lightning that it isn't a Mustang. However, with the big, bad, blown 5.4 liter V8, a suspension that isn't afraid of going around corners, and a stunning bucket seat interior, maybe that isn't a mistake after all. Nothing this big should be this fast.

The Lightning was a brilliant concept twenty years ago and is probably the reason we have 500-horsepower SUVs running around today. The most recent versions like this one were truly no-compromises vehicles with astounding performance and a good dose of truck-like utility, and they looked flat-out awesome. Using the regular cab and stepside bed, they kept weight to a minimum (well, relatively) and gave it proportions that made the Lightning fast and agile. Brilliant white paint means this is no shrinking violet, but with more than 400 horsepower on tap, there's really no point in trying to keep a low profile. The deep front air dam with integral fog lamps was the Lightning's most obvious styling upgrade, but it also offers a modest set of lower body moldings, a body-colored rear bumper, and that ultra-cool side exit exhaust system. This one, with only 45,072 original miles, still wears factory paint and has obviously been a toy, not a daily driver or, God forbid, a work truck, and it shows off the careful attention it has received for more than a decade. It looks 17 months old, not 17 years.

SVT gave the Lightning the finest interior available in any F150, with twin buckets that look like they could have come out of a Cobra Mustang. The grippy cloth and leather seats replace the park bench like seat found in lesser trucks and are split by a wide and functional center console. White-faced gauges have been an SVT trademark for years and show the vitals of the supercharged V8 under the hood at a glance. Just about everything was standard on the Lightning, including A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, a tilt column, power seat, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo with a CD changer. Like the body, the seats show minimal wear and are extremely well preserved, again hallmarks of an enthusiast owner who really loved his truck.

The 5.4 liter SOHC V8 made 360 stout horsepower, and it remains almost entirely stock. Stock high-performance vehicles are always a relief, since it means they haven't been raced or abused, and no home tinkerer has been messing with the vitals. This one starts instantly, idles perfectly, and pulls like the proverbial freight train, with a rush of acceleration that's almost too much for the giant tires to handle. The 4-speed automatic transmission snaps through the gears as quickly as the tach can hit 5250 RPM, yet it's relaxed on the highway at cruising speed, and the truck feels remarkably civilized when you're just taking it easy. The suspension is firm but not uncomfortable, and unlike a lot of sport trucks, the Lightning retains its ability to haul and tow, so imagine the possibilities this one offers. Massive 18-inch alloys look butch and wear 295/45/18 performance radials.

They'll likely never build trucks like this ever again, so like the dinosaurs of the '50s, they'll surely be highly-sought in the future. Today it's a blast to drive, so why not enjoy the wait? Call today!