For Sale: 1977 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT in Ft Worth, Texas

Why spend $50,000 on a new truck when awesome survivors like this 1977 Ford F150 Ranger XLT are still around? Not quite a full-fledged collectable, it nonetheless remains a stylish, handsome truck 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 interesting for a fraction of the price and with only 32,615 original miles, it still feels new!

Two-tone paint always dresses trucks up, including working-class hardware like this Ranger. It's obviously had a good life, and as a lifelong southern truck, it shows no signs of rust or abuse underneath. The two-tone brown and cream paint is original, of course, and looks spectacular with a soft period shine and no signs of trouble underneath. And yes, this is the truck's original color combination, so you don't have to worry about mis-matched door jambs and under-hood areas, because it's all equally nice. It's also not afraid to wear a lot of bright chrome trim, including the beefy bumpers, egg crate grille, and side trim that fits neatly into the groove running the length of the body. The bed has a few bumps and bruises, but for a truck of this vintage, it's exceptionally well-preserved and has clearly not been used for heavy work.

If you do take to driving this Ford every day, the interior is a great place to do it. That's original upholstery in the cab, and the stylish vinyl and cloth upholstery looks far more contemporary than you'd expect. Tan carpets help control noise and heat and the door panels are in great shape, with only a small bit of wear where the driver's elbow might have rested over the years. There's some ersatz wood trim that actually helps with the ambience, and Ford's familiar square gauges show crisp, bright markings, and they're comprehensive, a step up from the base gauges. There's also a factory AM/FM/Bluetooth radio in the dash that cleverly replicates a vintage AM dial and it includes factory options like A/C, cruise control, and a sliding rear window for those days when it's not quite warm enough for A/C.

The torquey 460 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. It shows signs of exceptional care over the past 40 years, with Ford Blue paint still clinging to the block, valve covers, and air cleaner, fresh ignition components, and new hoses. An oversized alternator provides plenty of juice if you're, say, towing a trailer or installing a camper top in the bed, and with power steering, 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 nicely. Out back, there's a 9-inch, which is equally rugged and according to the door tag, it carries easy-cruising 2.75 gears, which are all you need with a big block up front. The dual exhaust system offers a pair of Flowmasters, so it sounds awesome, and while it's not detailed for show, the chassis really is quite clean. Flashy aluminum wheels look awesome on this truck and use 245/70/16 Michelin tires to keep them off the ground.

Clean old 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 one-family-owned Ford, because it really is a fantastic truck. Call today!