Vehicle Description
Don't look now, but these handsome Ford F-Series pickups like this
1968 Ford F-250 are becoming legitimate collectors' items today. We
can't seem to keep them in stock, and while it took a while for
them to catch up to their Chevy competition, they represent a great
way to get some vintage iron for not a lot of cash.
Of course, the biggest problem with collecting old pickups is
finding the clean ones. You know, the ones that haven't been
beaten, used to push a plow, or just ignored while tools beat up
their beds. Fortunately, this heavy-duty F-250 seems to have been
treated well for most of its life, so the bodywork is in great
shape and it doesn't feel used up. The classic red paint job
recalls the glory days of early working-class pickups, and this one
looks brilliant with modern materials and an above-average paint
job. There's evidence of wax in the little grooves, so you know
someone loved this truck and it really shows. Someone painted the
big bold FORD lettering on the tailgate, so it looks awesome with
the fat stepside fenders and you'll note the bed is a little bit
bigger and deeper than the usual F-100. The grille is painted
white, the bumpers are shiny, and the bed has a wood floor with
weathered planks that somehow look exactly right (it also means you
can still use this truck as a truck!).
Working class accommodations don't have to be crude, so the
original bench wears a fresh black leather cover that's a lot more
comfortable than the original. The rest is bright red for easy
maintenance and black rubber mats on the floor mean low
maintenance. That's the original steering wheel that's big enough
for a semi tractor and the long-handled shifter for the 3-speed
manual is a lot of fun to throw through the gears. The gauges look
like they were borrowed from some '50s show car, offering a
complete array of instruments to watch the engine, all surrounded
in a stylish bright metal bezel. And yes, that's an aftermarket A/C
unit under the dash and it works, although it probably needs a
recharge (it's R134a so it won't be expensive). An AM/FM/cassette
stereo head unit lives in the original radio's slot, but for the
most part, it's very much the way it was when it was new and it has
a very rugged, simple feel that we find quite appealing.
Ford trucks got their own line of engines, with the 360 cubic inch
V8 in this one being a very popular choice. But there's no V8 that
can't be made better and this one has a chrome air cleaner and
valve covers to dress it up properly. The hardware appears to be
quite stock, so it runs properly, and power steering is part of the
package, so you can drive this truck daily if you feel like it.
There's a giant radiator up front (it's a three-quarter ton, after
all) and original cast iron exhaust manifolds feed a new dual
exhaust system that sounds great. The chassis is quite clean,
somewhere between immaculate original and an older restoration, but
you won't find any rust or structural damage and plenty of evidence
that this truck was purely transportation and not a workhorse. It
has just the right stance to look sporty, which is surely enhanced
by the new 16-inch aluminum wheels wearing fresh 235/85/16 Michelin
radials.
The market has definitely noticed these trucks, and with a little
polish and elbow grease, this could be a very impressive addition
to the field. Call today!