Vehicle Description
Why spend $50,000 on a new truck when awesome classics like this
1977 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT are still around? Full-fledged
collectable and driver ready, this long-bed hauler is a stylish,
handsome truck in great colors that can still earn its keep around
the homestead. While the other guys drive around in cookie-cutter
pickups, you could have something infinitely more interesting for a
fraction of the price and with great preservation and long-term
maintenance, it will be rumbling on the roads for decades to
come!
Two-tone paint always dresses tough trucks up a bit, including
working-class hardware like this LWB Ranger. It's obviously had a
good life, and as a lifelong southern truck, it shows no signs of
major rust or abuse underneath, other than just the usual surface
stuff that is always expected on 40-year-old sheetmetal. The Bright
Red paint is all original from what we can tell (although the white
cab was likely added at some point years ago) and has spectacular
curb appeal with a soft period shine along with a killer,
one-of-a-kind patina that looks absolutely amazing on the steel
flesh of this Ford. And yes, Code K Bright Red is what the truck
was born with, so you don't have to worry about mis-matched door
jambs and under-hood areas, because it's all equally nice and
covered. There are bumps and bruises and scratches throughout, but
that's all part of the appeal, because all the variation and patina
in the finish tells the story of this truck's long life - something
you just can't find on a new or repainted rig. It's also not afraid
to wear a lot of bright chrome trim, including the beefy bumpers,
egg crate grille, and ample side trim that fits neatly into the
groove running the length of the body. The bed has a few bumps and
bruises as well, but for a truck of this vintage, it's
exceptionally well-preserved and is clearly ready for several more
heavyweight rounds at the job site.
If you do take to driving this Ford every day, the restored
interior is a great place to do it. That's updated upholstery in
the cab, with the seat recently stuffed and wrapped in stylish red
vinyl that looks far more contemporary than you'd expect. Matching
red carpets help control noise and heat and the reproduction door
panels are in great shape, with only a small bit of wear on the
steel where the driver's elbow might have rested over the years.
There's some ersatz wood trim on the steering wheel and dash that
actually helps with the ambience, and Ford's familiar square gauge
bezels are now filled with digital/analog units that show crisp,
bright markings, and are accurate and comprehensive - a step up
from the base gauges. There's also a factory-looking, retro-style
AM/FM/Bluetooth radio in the dash that cleverly replicates a
vintage AM dial and controls a powerful stereo system inside the
cabin that includes updated speakers in the doors and two 8-inch
subwoofers behind the seats. Other options include factory A/C
(converted to modern hardware, although it appears to have never
been charged with R134a refrigerant), an original leather-wrapped
steering wheel, and a sliding rear window for those days when it's
not quite warm enough for A/C.
The torquey 460 cubic inch V8 delivers performance that you'd
expect from a full-sized truck and it makes short work of just
about any hauling job. It shows signs of exceptional care over the
past 40+ years, with Ford Blue paint still clinging to the block,
valve covers, and jack bracket, freshened ignition components, and
a newer Edelbrock air cleaner. A big Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor
provides plenty of juice if you're, say, towing a trailer or
installing a camper top in the bed, and with power steering and
power front disc brakes, it's easy to drive no matter the load.
Ford's rugged "twin I-beam" suspension isn't the most precise setup
ever devised, but it rides nicely. Out back, there's a heavy-duty
rear end, which is equally rugged and according to the door tag, it
carries easy-cruising 3.07 gears, which are all you need with a big
block up front. The dual exhaust system offers a pair of
Flowmaster-style chambered mufflers, so it sounds awesome, and
while it's not detailed for show, the chassis really is quite
clean. Flashy aluminum wheels look awesome on this truck and use
265/75/16 tires that keep them off the ground.
Original old pickups like this still represent great value, and one
that can double as a hobby vehicle on weekends while still working
for a living is a bargain in anyone's book. Don't overlook this
Ford, because it really is a fantastic truck. Call today!