Vehicle Description
NEW PRICE! 3708 original miles (not a misprint). 100% stock, right down to the original tires. Unmarked paint, immaculate interior, everything works, all options. The best first-gen Lightning anywhere.
The paint and bodywork on this truck are 100% factory-applied and in excellent condition throughout with a bit of light orange peel in the finish that’s typical of factory paints from the era. The chin spoiler, the fog lamps, the painted bumper, and the grille are all in excellent shape with no road rash or damage from flying debris, and the rocker panels have not been blasted by gravel coming off those giant Firestones. The doors open and close with the same feel they had when they were new (the owner says he stored the truck with the doors only on the first click so that the weather seals were not compressed) and even the black painted trim, which always turns an ashy gray in the sun, is as new. Lightning decals, which are reflective, are beautifully preserved and not cracked or peeling, and it’s worth noting that while you can replace the ‘Lightning’ script, the lightning bolt itself is not reproduced. Even the bed, which is often the hardest-hit part of a truck, is like new and has never been used for, well, anything. The only thing that has touched the corrugated bed surface is a wax applicator and soft towel.
The Lightning interior is also a more sporting place to be than your garden-variety F150, thanks in large part to a pair of supportive cloth buckets. As you’d expect, there’s zero wear on any of the major components, no scuffs on the seat bolsters, and if there’s any demerit, there is some discoloration on the removable floor mat that is only visible under the harsh lights in our studio. Lightnings only came one way: loaded, but there were a few options and this truck has all of them, including A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, power lumbar support for both seats, and dual gas tanks. Entertainment comes from an AM/FM/cassette stereo that has never held a cassette tape, and there’s a console between the seats that includes plenty of storage and a pair of cup holders. Everything works correctly, even the A/C, and the truck feels brand new from behind the wheel.
The Lightning makes 240 horsepower and 340 pounds of torque from a Windsor-based 351 cubic inch V8 that loves to rev. Mustang fans will quickly recognize the tubular “GT40” intake manifold, which, today, is a shockingly expensive upgrade on a 5.0 Mustang, and it’s the heart of the Lightning’s improved performance. It also got a matching set of GT40 iron heads, a larger throttle body, larger fuel injectors, and a special camshaft that puts it all to work. The added cubes of the 5.8 liter engine give it a lot more grunt than the 5.0 and you’ve never driven an old pickup truck that likes to rev like this one does. The engine bay is 100% factory original, right down to the air filter, although the fluids and battery have been changed over the years. All the original tags, markings, fasteners, and other little pieces that disappear over the years are here. It starts instantly and idles smoothly, which is a trademark of Ford’s EEC-IV fuel injection, and thanks to the maintenance this truck has received, it’s ready to go anywhere at a moment’s notice.
SVT engineers gave the chassis a long list of tweaks as well, starting with the suspension, which was lowered about 2.5 inches compared to a standard F150 and there are giant sway bars at both ends. A quick-shifting E4OD 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission was the only choice in the Lightning and it’s a good one, offering snappy off-the-line response with a tall overdrive that makes the 4.10 gears out back feel a lot more civilized on the highway. The rear end is an 8.8-inch unit that should be familiar to Ford fans of all kinds and a limited slip differential was standard equipment. A burbling dual exhaust was also part of the package as were ABS brakes, with big discs up front. Special 17x8 aluminum wheels were created just for these trucks, and those on this black Lightning are completely unmarked and as new, and, perhaps most remarkably still wear their original 275/60/17 Firestone radials, which are all but impossible to replace today.
A true time capsule of a truck, this is a benchmark for the collector who insists on the very best. A lot of these trucks were beaten and abused, but the day is not far off when they will become legitimate collectables. In the meantime, it’s a special machine that makes you feel special when you drive it and as long as you mind the mileage, you’ll always have one of the very best examples of the truck that started it all.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
