Vehicle Description
Don't look now, but these handsome Ford F-Series pickups like this
1969 Ford F-100 Ranger are becoming valuable driver-grade haulers
and 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 F-100 seems to have been treated
fairly well for most of its life, so the bodywork is in solid order
and the truck as a whole doesn't feel all used up. The classic Code
T Red paint job is a driver-grade finish done not long ago, and it
recalls the glory days of early working-class pickups, and this one
has a vintage presence about it that makes it look right at home
out by the barn. It was repainted on a budget, so it's not a show
piece, but it still shows very well in person and a professional
cut-and-buff might even elevate up a notch or two. The Ranger
grille is shiny, the front bumper and brightwork are new pieces,
and it must have been a real challenge to find a tailgate that
straight and presentable. And speaking of the tailgate, the
long-wheelbase bed's in good shape and is protected with a spray-in
black bedliner to let you know it doesn't mind working to earn its
keep.
Working class accommodations don't have to be crude, and the
comfortable interior was finished back to stock, highlighted by the
comfortable black bench seat. Today it's protected by a traditional
pleated vinyl seat cover that gives it a familiar look and is
actually rather luxurious and supportive. A removable matching
center console features a couple of cup holders at the front, and a
new set of seatbelts help in the safety department. Durable black
vinyl matting on the floor means clean up takes seconds and that
handsome 3-spoke steering wheel really dresses things up inside.
The gauges offer an array of instruments to watch the engine, all
surrounded in a stylish factory bezel, with an auxiliary unit
tucked away below. The original AM/FM radio is long gone, swapped
in favor of the AM/FM/Cassette unit that's in the dash now, and it
powers tunes through the speakers in the doors. Simple and to the
point inside, this Ford LWB truck is a great place to spend some
time.
Ford trucks got their own line of engines, with the 460 cubic inch
V8 "Lima" engine having the largest capacity of the bunch (7.5L),
and they were a popular choice for those that wanted the biggest of
the big blocks. It's quite neatly dressed in the engine bay, with a
correct Ford Blue on the block itself, a blacked-out Edelbrock air
cleaner, along with matching Ford Blue valve covers, just like
you'd see in 1969. The motor fires to life with ease thank to an
MSD coil and runs incredibly well, and both power front disc brakes
and sporty shocks, bushings, and springs are part of the package,
so you can drive this truck daily if you feel like it but it'll be
hard to keep your foot off the loud pedal once you feel all that
torque. Long-tube headers help the engine breather, and the exhaust
sounds fantastic thanks to a set of Flowmaster mufflers. The
chassis is quite solid, with signs of maintenance throughout the
years, 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 slick bullet-hole chrome wheels wearing
275/60/15 Hankook white-letter radials.
The market has definitely noticed these trucks, and this red
long-bed beauty is about as solid as they come. Trucks this
dialed-in don't tend to last long with us. Call today!