“Build Ford Tough” is an appropriate slogan when it comes to some older Ford pickups that have survived the test of time and keep on ticking.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1973 Ford F-250 Ranger pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Los Angeles, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Long-bed 2WD, 93k original miles, 390cid V8 with automatic transmission,” the listing begins. “Stars, runs, shifts, brakes, and steers excellent.”
This eye-catching yellow truck hails from the sixth generation of Ford’s popular full-sized F-Series lineup which became known as the “dentside” generation among enthusiasts. There were a few important engineering changes that took place along with the introduction of this model. One involved relocating the fuel tank to below the pickup bed as opposed to mounting it inside the cab.
The body on this example looks well-kept, and the seller states that it has “little to no rust,” with only minor dings present in the finish. “This truck spent its whole life with one previous owner on a farm in Merced, California.” The 30-photo gallery provides up-close views of some of the specific blemishes, but overall, the truck looks good for being a 50-years-old three-quarter-ton work rig.
A badge beneath the F-250 logo denotes that it is equipped with “Trailer Special” equipment. Ford designed these trucks to be capable workhorses, whether lugging around a drop-in camper or towing a fifth-wheel trailer. The Trailer Special and Camper Special options were popular in the 1970s among many pickup manufacturers and usually included things like tow mirrors, heavy duty suspension and cooling, and a receiver hitch. This yellow truck does appear to have put in some work over its lifetime as evidenced by the worn trailer hitch, a diamond-plate rear bumper, and some scuffs inside the bed.
The interior of the cab shows moderate wear but appears to be original, complete with a saddle-colored bench seat, matching door panels, and rubber floor mats. A Philco radio provides audio entertainment, and a sliding rear window gives easy access to the cargo area.
This truck could be ordered with a vast number of powertrains: This 390cid V8 was one of eight different engine displacements available during the dentside generation. It was rated at 161 horsepower when new, and recent service items according to the seller included replacement of the brakes, master cylinder, carburetor, front shock absorbers, radiator, spark plug wires and rotor, turn signal switch, and battery.
The asking price is $13,000 or best offer for this well-sorted F-250. It’s ready for another 50 years.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Yes, these were very tough and good trucks. I had a brown and white one that I bought used in the later part of 1975. Wish I still had it!