Vehicle Description
Growing up in the '80s, trucks like this 1981 Ford F-150 were all
over the roads, but because not many folks took care of them as
prized possessions, it's uncommon to see dialed-in examples today.
Clean 'Bull Nose' trucks like this slick silver shortbed are
starting to earn respect in the industry again, although we have to
admit it's been a long time since we've seen one this cool. With a
sporty exterior, racing-inspired interior, and a powerful 351 V8
drivetrain under the hood, this restored pickup feels more like a
Mustang with a big trunk than an industrial-strength hauler.
Ford was big on Silvers in the mid-80s. Mustang GTs in particular
were often found in silver to dark gray shades, and on this sporty
F-150, the bright Silver finish really work greats on the short-bed
livery. Repainted very recently, it's a solid driver-quality finish
that's in many ways better than what you got in the early '80s from
America's Big Three manufacturers, with solid prep work underneath
that set the table with a straight canvas. The modern urethane
paint shines up nicely as you can see in our photos, and even with
a few imperfections here and there, the curb appeal is undeniable.
The square-jawed sheetmetal looks as good today as it did back
then, and it is as instantly recognizable as anything this side of
a VW Beetle. The light color highlights the fenders, giving it a
sporty look, and if you look down the flanks, you'll see this
sucker really is pretty darn straight, a highlight that is
punctuated by the painted-on black stripe that runs end-to-end down
the profile. There's a bit of stock chrome around the front grille,
headlight surrounds, and side mirrors, but for the most part the
painter's decided to continue with the tough silver-and-black look
- electing to black-out the grille insert and front bumper to match
the side stripes. The rear bumper was deleted and subbed-out with a
roll pan that really looks cool under the smooth tailgate, and
inside the bed was sprayed with a bedliner material that looks
clean and can be put to the test if you ever want to haul anything
serious.
Inside the cab, the truck went through a complete transformation
that's now more race car than pickup. All remnants of a blue-collar
environment are gone, starting with the two lightweight Corbeau
Racing seats that anchor the cabin. Highly sculpted with extreme
bolster support, the black cloth seats keep you in place when the
truck flicks in-and-out of corners, and even though they're not
overly padded the seats are still all-day comfortable. Splitting
the seats is a custom center console that was finished in high-end
materials and houses an upgraded B&M Quicksilver shifter for
the C6 automatic transmission below. There's also a Phantom digital
speedometer/odometer mounted up high in the console, and it keeps a
much more accurate read-out of the motor under the hood. The
original dash was also swapped-out to make way for a full-blown
custom unit filled with an array of AutoMeter white-face gauges, a
series of accessory switches, and a diamond-plate topper, and the
hotrod inspired layout really works inside the cabin. Other custom
touches include a leather-rimmed billet steering wheel at the head
of the cockpit and plush black carpets on the floors, although the
matching black door panels are stock units that are likely original
to the truck. The changes inside were bold, but the results speak
for themselves as this interior is one of the coolest we've ever
seen in a vintage pickup.
The real fun lives under the hood, where a thumping 351 Windsor V8
was neatly installed inside the reworked engine bay. With genetic
ties directly to the famous late'60s and early-'70s Mustang,
comparisons are inevitable, and the truth is, everything that was
great about those legendary engines survives in this pickup. Topped
with a Holley HP 4-barrel carburetor and Edelbrock intake, the
engine is quite lively, and with a noticeable cam inside the motor
the lope and deep rumble is downright intoxicating. It's torquey,
smooth, and makes great V8 sounds from the long-tube headers
feeding through the dual exhaust underneath. An aluminum radiator
with dual electric fans keeps the whole show nice and cool, and
with a modern power steering system and power 4-wheel disc brakes,
the truck's road manners are superb. Backed by a more than capable
C6 3-speed automatic transmission, it's punchy around town and just
loafs along at highway speeds thanks to a built Ford 9-inch rear
end with a Detroit locker, Moser axles, and 3.70 gears. The engine
bay is very clean with signs of regular care, while the chassis is
very solid and has nothing to hide thanks to an easy life with only
3 careful owners. 15-inch Legend Series alloys add some flash and
wear fat 275/60/15 Cooper Cobra GT radials at all four corners.
With handsome good looks, plenty of practicality, and a small block
Windsor that's just waiting to flex its muscles, this sporty F150
offers an inexpensive opportunity for lots of vintage fun. Call
today!
