Vehicle Description
Big jobs need big trucks, and it was right about the time that this
1989 Ford F150 XLT Lariat Extended Cab was built that these trucks
really started to take off and dominate the market for Ford. With
5.8L V8 Ford Tough power, a stylish, fleetside short bed that'll
carry anything under the white camper cover, and a gorgeous
extended cab interior that's in great condition, this affordable,
low-mileage Ford truck is on the cusp of "modern classic" status
and can be driven and enjoyed across the country with nary a
worry.
The big, squared-off style of the late-'80s and early-'90s F-series
trucks (aka the Bricks) works particularly well with bright,
two-tone paint. Crisply rendered and very butch, this rig looks
like it could pull an ocean liner out of the water, or pull up to
the valet at a Michelin Star rated restaurant and not be escorted
to the loading dock for deliveries. That's factory-correct and
original Code H Bright Regatta Blue Metallic and Code 9M White
paint on all-original Henry Ford steel, and it's been extremely
well maintained for being over 32 years old (yes, 32). Sure, it
shows some signs of use and age, but we're talking pretty minor
stuff, and if we're to believe that those miles are actual (and we
do believe them to be) then the survivor-grade finish corroborates
the claim that this truck has been babied since new. The iconic
chrome grille, oversized mirrors, heavy-duty bumpers fore and aft,
and even the camper shell add to the rugged feel, although you'll
ultimately discover that this pickup is pretty darned civilized.
The bed has certainly been used but never abused, and it's
protected by a heavy-duty drop-in rubber liner on the floor and
tailgate to limit any further scratches. It has lived its entire
life in Texas with just four owners, all of whom took great care of
the truck and because it lived down south and is barely broken-in
mileage-wise, there are no critical structural issues to worry
about underneath. Get in and put it to work!
One look inside and any worries you may have about whether or not
the 75K miles on the odometer are 'believed actual' or not, should
be immediately assuaged. Up front, blue cloth buckets flank a
central console to make long-distance cruising a pleasure, and
there's a bench seat out back that can carry two-to-three
passengers in a pinch. The upholstery is in shockingly good
condition and the big cab feels downright spacious, even for
late-'80s extended cab standards. Original carpets are still in
awesome shape, as are the matching door panels, and for a hauler
like this, you're going to want options: factory A/C, power windows
and locks, cruise control that's managed on the steering wheel,
dual fuel tanks, and a stock AM/FM/Cassette stereo in the dash. The
XLT Lariat trim level brings woodgrain accents to the dash, a more
stylish headliner and door panels, and eponymous badging on the
expansive dash - which is amazingly stress and crack free. Big,
bright gauges offer a comprehensive view of the engine's condition
and with only 75,502 believed-actual miles, you folks familiar with
these trucks understand that this one is just getting started. A
giant rear window is a nice feature (even with the camper shell in
place), giving the cab a fishbowl feel, and we have to say that
climbing in this truck feels like coming home; who didn't have an
F-Series back in the '80s -'90s?
Ford's venerable 5.8L cubic inch V8 was built with trucks like this
in mind. With modern EFI on top, it's a torque factory and shrugs
off the biggest loads you can put behind it. The big low-RPM engine
isn't stressed, so it will run practically forever and despite a
number of modifications available for these trucks, this one
remains bone stock - from the twin intake snorkels to the intake
manifold to the A/C compressor, and the only non-stock item we
could find is the exhaust system underneath that's been upgraded to
a stainless-steel system with glasspack-style mufflers. It's very
tidy but not overly detailed under the hood, but just being pretty
isn't this truck's only job, it can still put the work in too.
Ford's tough 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission offers good
gearing to make the most of the small block's torque curve and a
tall overdrive that turns highway hauls into relaxing road trips.
Southern living is most visible underneath, where it's extremely
clean and well-preserved, from the stock front suspension that
features power steering and power front disc brakes to the gigantic
rear end, which has factory highway-friendly gears inside. It's
stanced high up on factory springs and shocks, and the big body
sits on 15-inch wheels wrapped in 235/75/15 truck radials to finish
off the rugged look.
If you've priced these 'Brick' F-series trucks lately, you know
these pickups are really gaining steam. Still ready to work, still
handsome, and still comfortable, it represents a great deal of
practicality for not a lot of cash. Call today!
