Vehicle Description
Why spend $60,000 on a new truck when awesome classics like this
1977 Ford F-150 Ranger are still around? Full-fledged collectable
and driver ready, this long-bed hauler is a stylish, handsome truck
wrapped 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!
Originally, this truck wore a Light Jade and Jade Green two-tone
paint, but as that color combination would somewhat date this
'Dentside' truck today (the '70s were strange times, it's like we
were all colorblind for an entire decade), so the former owners
elected to spray Dark Green Metallic and we think it's a vast
improvement. The shade is basically like the original Jade, albeit
slightly darker, and gives this long-bed workhorse a whole new
lease on life. It's obviously had a good life, and as a Texas
truck, it shows no signs of major rust or abuse underneath, other
than just the usual surface stuff that is always expected on
45-year-old sheetmetal. The green paint is actually fairly fresh,
has a nice shine and luster, and although it wasn't some $20K paint
job it still shows very well. Imperfections are fairly minimal and
can certainly be forgiven on a hauler at this price point, but this
Ford genuinely has spectacular curb appeal with that period shine
and straight body. And because green paint was what the truck was
born with, you don't have to worry about mis-matched door jambs and
under-hood areas, because it's all been equally covered and
detailed. It's also not afraid to wear a lot of bright chrome trim,
including the beefy egg-crate grille, oversized side mirrors, and
ample Ranger-spec side trim (that's basically impossible to find on
the secondary market right now) that fits neatly into the
'dentside' groove running the length of the body. Both the front
and rear bumpers were blacked-out, and the matching push-bar/brush
guard up front has two running lights at its flanks that look very
cool. 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 thanks to
a professional application of black spray-in bedliner.
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
black vinyl that looks far more contemporary than you'd expect.
Matching black carpets are protected with a heavy-duty floormat and
help control noise and heat, and the reproduction black door panels
are in great shape, with a bit of wear and patina on the steel,
specifically where the driver's elbow would've rested over the
years. Faux wood trim encircles the bezels in the dash and warms up
the ambience inside, there are plenty of bright trim accents to
boot, and Ford's familiar square gauges help keep an eye on the big
motor under the hood. The stock steering wheel is still in place at
the helm and feels great in the hands of the driver with that
vintage wrap around the rim, and it's joined on the factory column
by a big ProTech tachometer that keeps an eye on the revs. A couple
auxiliary gauges were added under the dash to keep an eye on the
motor, there's a matching black dash pad up top, and a retro-style
AM/FM stereo was added in the center of the dash. Factory A/C was
ordered when this truck was first built, and although all the
original hardware is in place, the system will need a service to
blow cold again. Regardless, this cab is very comfortable and
stylish - a perfect complement to the handsome exterior.
The torquey 400 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. The engine bay shows signs of exceptional
care over the past 45+ years, with original paint still clinging to
the inner fenders (typically, these are the first things that are
painted in these trucks, so it's rare to see that factory-primed
metal), while the block itself was adorned with shiny Ford Racing
chrome valve covers, a matching open-element air cleaner, newer
ignition components, and an upgraded aluminum radiator up front. A
big, dual-line 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 very nicely
thanks to the addition of a steering stabilizer up front. Out back,
there's a heavy-duty rear end, which is equally rugged and
according to the door tag, it carries easy-cruising 3.25 gears,
which are all you need with a big block up front. Ceramic-coated,
long-tube headers feed a dual exhaust system that offers a pair of
chambered mufflers and electric cut-outs, so it sounds awesome on
its own and downright deadly when the cut-outs are engaged, and
while it's not detailed for show, the chassis really is quite clean
and very solid. American Racing aluminum wheels look awesome on
this truck and use 235/75/15 Firestone white-letter tires that keep
them off the ground and ready for combat.
Dialed-in vintage 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 Ranger, because it really is a fantastic truck. Call
today!
