Vehicle Description
44,321 original miles, two owners from new. Never driven in winter,
originally used to deliver garden tractors. Beautifully preserved,
nice paint and interior, new power dump bed. New wheels and tires.
Runs and drives remarkably well, ready to work or play!We'll admit
that a giant F350 isn't everyone's first idea of a collector
vehicle, but when we saw how well-preserved this truck really is,
well, it was hard to resist. Originally used by a Wheelhorse dealer
to deliver garden tractors, it never had to work very hard and was
always put away during the winter months. As a result, the bright
red paint shines up nicely and there's no sign of rot underneath.
The Fords of this period were well-built trucks and the doors swing
open and closed easily and latch without a hard slam, which is kind
of a surprise given their heft. It's a working machine, no doubt
about that, but that doesn't mean it can't also be handsome. After
a drive a few weeks ago, we realized that there are a lot of people
out there who think old trucks like this are awesome. Lots of waves
and honking horns and thumbs-up gestures on the road. There's also
a recent aluminum bed which dumps itself using a control next to
the driver's seat and includes side stakes and a retractable cover.
That can be useful if you want to put it to work. You'll also find
new side mirrors, nice chrome bumpers, and fully operational cab
lights for a big rig look. The interior is definitely zero frills
but it's all about functionality. We suspect that the seat cover
has been replaced, as the black vinyl doesn't match the red door
panels, but it's low-maintenance and durable, perfect for a truck.
A full array of gauges monitors the engine, and they all work
correctly. I'll also vouch for the heater's efficacy, and the AM
radio tunes whatever awfulness is still on the AM band these days.
Even the little reading light works! The rubber mat remains in good
condition, protected by aftermarket mats, and the long shifter for
the 4-speed manual falls to hand easily. The headliner is in
excellent condition, too, and all the weather seals close up well,
more proof that this truck was kept out of the elements. Getting
behind the wheel feels a lot more familiar than you'd expect.Power
comes from a surprisingly smooth and quiet 390 cubic inch V8. Key
it up and it starts easily and idles like it belongs in a Torino,
not a heavy 10,000-pound truck. It has obviously been well
maintained, including a recent tune-up with new ignition parts.
Original decals and hardware help with the authenticity, and the
engine enamel has been touched up in the not-too-distant past so it
looks clean and tidy. There's plenty of grunt on tap, especially
with the ultra-low first gear, and it doesn't mind cruising at 65
MPH on the highway, so this is hardly a primitive machine. The
aforementioned 4-speed shifts nicely and under most circumstances
you can simply launch it in second gear-there's plenty of torque on
tap, as well as 4.10 gears out back. This rig is obviously too big
to fit on our lift, but there's no evidence of rot or critical rust
from exposure to the elements, although there's some dirt and grime
as you'd expect. Everything is ridiculously heavy duty, so power
steering and power brakes are part of the package. Again, you'll
probalby be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to drive. Ride
quality is about what you'd expect, but it's helped by a set of
fresh 235/85/16 radials on brand new drop-center wheels that
replace the original lock-ring rims.Extras include the original
owner's manual, warranty booklet, and even the instruction slip
from the driver's side sun visor.Big trucks are a small part of the
hobby, but they're a lot of fun. And just think of how useful
something like this might be around the home or business. Perhaps
you've got a business whose name would look great on the doors.
However you decide to go, this nicely kept Ford is up for the job
and remains a good-looking way to get it done. Call today!Harwood
Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional
inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
