Vehicle Description
If you haven't noticed, we're selling a lot of trucks here at
Streetside Classics. What we're seeing now is the emergence of a
new segment of the hobby, and '70s pickups are at the forefront of
affordable classics. This 1972 Ford F100 Sport Custom is a great
example, thanks to a high-quality restoration that leaves no
question this is a cherished collector piece and no longer just a
workhorse.
The door tag says this one was originally two-tone green, but when
you're restoring a truck from the ground up, you can go with just
about anything you want and black always works. Of course, if
you're going to spend the long dollar on a restoration, you need to
start with the right truck, so these guys found a regular cab/short
bed pickup from down south, so rust was a non-issue. The bodywork
was straightened and prepped for the paint, which is almost deep
enough to swim in. Following a thorough cut and buff, all the
original trim and brightwork went back on, and it must have cost a
small fortune to restore all that shiny stuff. Everything from the
bumpers to the tailgate insert looks great and things like the
diamond plate rear bumper add a heavy-duty look. Even the inside of
the bed is beautifully finished, effectively ending this truck's
hauling days but really showing off just how nice the paint really
is.
The all-new black interior gives you a glimpse into pickup truck
fashion, circa 1972. The Ranger was Ford's top-of-the-line, and it
shows with plush cloth upholstery and real carpet on the floor
instead of a rubber mat. Like the exterior, the interior was
thoroughly (and expensively) restored, with many of the pieces
being brand new. The fat 3-spoke steering wheel is the most notable
upgrade, but there's also an A/C system under the dash and an
AM/FM/cassette stereo radio in the center (which is probably due
for replacement). The gauges appear to be original, but Ford gave
Ranger buyers a full complement of instruments to keep an eye on
the engine; after all, it was probably going to have to work for a
living.
The engine is a fresh 302 cubic inch H.O. V8, which made its mark
in the 5.0 Mustang. However, with a truck this nice, you don't just
build a stock motor and call it done. No, this one sports a
4-barrel carburetor atop an aluminum intake manifold, both of which
pay big dividends in the power department. Finned valve covers and
a chrome air cleaner, both from Ford Motorsport, add a bit of style
to the working parts of the truck, and a big new radiator certainly
doesn't hurt when you're talking about reliability and performance.
Long-tube headers and a fresh dual exhaust system give this truck
an awesome sound, the 3-speed automatic transmission snaps through
the gears with real authority, and there are easy-cruising 3.25
gears out back. There are also recent shocks at all four corners,
and it's wearing late-model aluminum wheels with big 15-inch
General radials wrapped around them, adding an updated look.
You couldn't duplicate this truck for twice the asking price, and
the future looks bright for vintage haulers like this. Call
today!
