Vehicle Description
Being down south as we are, it seems that there are a few
extraordinary trucks still running around that haven't been worked
to death or parted out for their rusty cousins up north. Take this
1978 Ford F-150 4x4 for instance. Someone spent years giving it a
thorough makeover, and today it's one of the nicest we've seen. How
much fun is a practical ride like this, especially if you're
virtually guaranteed to be the only one at the show?
It's hard to go wrong with a big, red pickup, but with so many
trucks getting various shades of brown or orange in the 1970s, this
one really stands out. The bodywork is impressive and trucks like
this make ideal candidates for serious upgrades. All traces of a
working-class life have been erased from the sheetmetal and the
paint is beautifully done with a great shine and few signs of use.
There's a shine that you rarely see on pickups of any kind, and the
stance is certainly intimidating. Most of the chrome and trim is
original, polished up and given a shine that looks right, plus a
heavy- chrome step bumper out back. The bed is still working-grade,
protected by a drop-in bedliner material so you don't have to think
twice about using this truck as intended, and the diamond-plate
toolbox is far more useful than you think.
The simple interior is just the way Ford designers intended, right
down to the pleated seat cover. The seating surfaces are cloth, so
it's comfortable, but it's still a no-frills place to get some work
done. That's kind of refreshing today when trucks cost $60,000 and
have every option your Cadillac does. However, the quality of the
work makes it look far more upscale today, and with new black
carpets, nicely detailed door panels, and a big three-spoke
steering wheel, it does look slick. This F-150 carries a full set
of gauges, plus a set of auxiliary dials under the dash that do the
actual reading of information. There's a column shifter for the
3-speed automatic transmission and a manual lever for the 2-speed
transfer case down on the rubber floor. There is no radio, but that
only means that you can install the system of your choice without
having to fix someone else's wiring nightmare.
There aren't many choices that balance performance and efficiency
better than a 302 cubic inch V8. This one has been fitted with
upgrades that make it ready to work or play. Built for torque, it
moves the big F-series with ease, especially augmented with a
Holley carburetor, Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, and shorty
headers. Finned valve covers work well with the chrome details and
obviously someone made an effort to make it look its best with tidy
black paint and a few new parts. There's a giant radiator up front
that doesn't make the small block sweat and with power steering and
brakes it's easy to maneuver for such a big machine. A dual exhaust
system uses glasspack-style mufflers and it really does sound
awesome at full bore. Handsome aluminum wheels add a bit of a butch
look to the pretty truck, and they're fitted with beefy 35x12.50-15
Mickey Thompson radials.
Big, fun, and unusual, this Ford is the truck you always saw on the
farm after it was too late. Call today!
