Vehicle Description
Ford fans, never fear, we have excellent vintage 4x4 pickups for
you as well. Perhaps they worked harder than their Chevy
counterparts did back in the day, or perhaps fewer were built, but
it seems that there are not nearly as many early-70s Ford 4x4s out
on the market today. Fortunately, we recently found this
blacked-out beauty, which is a recently restored 1974 Ford F-100
Ranger XLT 4x4 that's ready to attack any project in style...
In the early '70s, if you needed stuff hauled, no matter how big, a
tough Ford like this was how you did it. As a result, finding a
truck that hasn't been bashed and worked to within an inch of its
life is no easy task. Fortunately, this one led a fairly easy life
of leisure in Alabama since it was new, and if that sheetmetal
could talk we bet it would have some cool stories. Before it was
restored, this F-100 Ranger spent its life as a US Army brat in the
service of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. Maybe it spent all
day hauling cool NASA stuff and Commie-killing rockets, or maybe it
just ushered around a general or two. Nevertheless, before the
restorers got their hands on it just over a year ago, it was still
decked out in RSA badging and the good 'ol Red-White-and-Blue. That
past life provided for a solid foundation on which to build, and
the restorers elected to bring back this Ford's former glory -
albeit with a lovely new suit. You can't go wrong Raven Black
paint, and on the flanks of this tough 4x4 long-bed, we couldn't
have picked a better color ourselves. The goal was to get this
hauler back on the road and looking good, not competing in national
car shows, so the restoration isn't some open-checkbook stunner but
that of a very solid driver anyone would be proud to show off. The
strong driver quality paint is fresh, the bumpers are new, and
there's a new drop-in bedliner in the bed out back, but pieces like
the grille shell and body trim (the latter of which is a nightmare
to find on the aftermarket) were refurbished and correctly
reinstalled. The result is a gorgeous, tough-looking truck with a
lot of curb appeal that still has the credentials to whip any
jobsite into shape. And sure, this baby can haul just about
anything, but it looks so nice cruising down Main Street that you
may think twice before you fill it up with dirt.
Black is the predominant theme inside, where pretty much everything
is brand new and super comfortable. A fresh vinyl seat cover for
the factory bench offers cushy accommodations for three, matching
black door panels were added at the flanks, while the headliner and
even the dash pad were all replaced with new components during the
restoration. The cab was insulated with all new rubber gaskets and
the floors were then covered with plush tan carpets that keep the
outside elements at bay, matching the top-market Ranger XLT
woodgrain trim on the glovebox door, transfer case shift knob, and
aftermarket three-spoke steering wheel that all work to warm things
up a bit inside. The original instruments ahead of the steering
wheel are in great shape and offer a pretty good idea of what's
going on under the hood. Gears are managed by the chrome shifter on
the column, making this a true "put your arm around the 'ol lady
while you cruise" type of truck, and the lever atop the
transmission hump controls the 2-speed transfer case so you can go
just about anywhere you darn well please in this 4x4. Everything is
fresh and clean inside, and the results speak for themselves.
For a job as important as working on an Army/NASA base, the powers
that be wanted one of the toughest, strongest trucks on the market.
So, when they filled out their government orders back in 1974, they
made sure their new fleet truck came with a big block V8, a C6
automatic transmission, and heavy-duty Dana 60 8-lug axles front
and back. Although originally born with a 360 V8 according to the
VIN, it appears a 390 V8 lives under the hood now, adding a few
extra cubes to this hauler's impressive prowess. Rebuilt and
freshly tuned-up (with new components everywhere you look), it was
also neatly dressed in bright Ford Blue paint on the block, a
bright chrome air cleaner, along with chrome valve covers and fresh
detailed components throughout. Underneath there's a recently
rebuilt Holley 4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock performance
intake manifold, plus a fresh HEI ignition and wiring set-up, so
this big V8 is more than just pretty. With all that recent work, it
starts easily and runs wonderfully, a big aluminum radiator keeps
the temperatures at bay, and the rumble from the dual exhaust
system sounds more like a vintage muscle car than a big pickup
thanks to turn-downs before the rear axle. The C6 transmission was
rebuilt with a new torque convertor and flex plate to better handle
all that power, and the 4x4 system is ready and able to take you
over the highest mountains. Power steering and power front disc
brakes mean this Ford has great road manners as well, and the
heavy-duty suspension helps this big girl track true. Brand new
16-ich Pro Comp alloys add the perfect amount of bling while still
looking tough as nails, and they come shod with fresh 265/75/16
white-letter all-terrain radials that are ready to eat through any
obstacle.
This truck is definitely up for whatever you're looking to do, and
thanks to the heavy-duty hardware and solid (and recent)
restoration, you'll never have to worry about getting stuck. These
vintage factory Ford 4x4s never last at Streetside, especially when
they look this clean. Call today!
