Vehicle Description
With the Lightning pickup, Ford seems to have tapped into a niche
market that nobody else was able to conquer. Both Chevy and Dodge
made a few half-hearted attempts, but quite honestly, no other
truck was able to deliver the Lightning's combination of
performance, luxury, and utility and today trucks like this
low-mileage 2001 model represent a massive bang for the buck.
With just 18,110 original miles and just one owner, this truck has
obviously not been a daily driver and it shows. Ford gave the
Lightning a very unique look that stands out without diluting the
F150's looks or practicality. And quite honestly, it's cool to see
one of these that isn't bright red or white, with the nasty gloss
black finish giving it the subtle look of a heavyweight fighter in
a tuxedo. The deep chin spoiler is in excellent condition, and
since it's usually the first casualty of road use, that's very
telling. The rest of the paint is exceptionally nice and it's clear
that someone spent a few hours every Saturday detailing the entire
truck. It has not been modified save for a hard-shell tonneau
cover, which is more evidence that this is a truck you can own
without worries. The bed shows some signs of use, but fortunately
there's a heavy-duty rubber mat that means the steel underneath is
still in great shape, and that tonneau cover means it's the world's
biggest weatherproof trunk.
As a halo product, Ford made just about everything standard
equipment on the Lightning, effectively blurring the line between
truck, sports coupe, and luxury sedan. The power-adjustable cloth
buckets are perhaps the most comfortable chairs found in any Ford
product, and a wide center console allows a third person in a
pinch. The controls will look familiar to anyone who's driven an
F150, but SVT added their own touches like white-faced gauges, SVT
embroidery on the seats, and a speedometer that shows 140 MPH,
which is probably not just wishful thinking. Everything else,
including power windows, A/C, and a powerful stereo with in-dash CD
changer, was standard equipment. There is a shocking lack of major
wear on any of the interior surfaces, again proving that someone
was very careful with this potent pickup.
Potent is the right word, too. The engine is a 5.4 liter OHC V8
with an intercooled supercharger, making a total of 380 horsepower.
The 4-speed automatic transmission was beefed up with internals
from the gearboxes designed to live behind diesels, and an aluminum
driveshaft spins a 9-inch Track-Lok rear end with 3.73 gears.
Smoking the tires is as easy as tickling the accelerator with you
big toe. Ford upgraded the truck's suspension with Bilstein shocks,
and the ride height has been lowered all around for an aggressive
look. Even the brakes are massive, with discs at all four corners.
Best of all, despite all this performance-enhancing hardware,
payload capacity is a useful 1400 pounds and you can still haul a
trailer. It's completely rust-free and everything remains in
outstanding condition, with no signs of abuse or neglect
underneath. Gorgeous 18x9.5-inch alloys make a bold statement and
wear what appear to be the original 295/45/18 Goodyears, which
might need to be replaced if you're going to put the truck into
regular service.
The ultimate hauler or a sports car with a bed? Either way, the
Lightning is a legendary piece of hardware that may never be
repeated. Get a great one by calling us today!
