1968 Ford F-250

Description

Don't look now, but these handsome Ford F-Series pickups like this 1968 Ford F-250 are becoming legitimate collectors' items today. We can't seem to keep them in stock, and while it took a while for them to catch up to their Chevy competition, they represent a great way to get some vintage iron for not a lot of cash.

Of course, the biggest problem with collecting old pickups is finding the clean ones. You know, the ones that haven't been beaten, used to push a plow, or just ignored while tools beat up their beds. Fortunately, this heavy-duty F-250 seems to have been treated well for most of its life, so the bodywork is in great shape and it doesn't feel used up. The classic red paint job recalls the glory days of early working-class pickups, and this one looks brilliant with modern materials and an above-average paint job. There's evidence of wax in the little grooves, so you know someone loved this truck and it really shows. Someone painted the big bold FORD lettering on the tailgate, so it looks awesome with the fat stepside fenders and you'll note the bed is a little bit bigger and deeper than the usual F-100. The grille is painted white, the bumpers are shiny, and the bed has a wood floor with weathered planks that somehow look exactly right (it also means you can still use this truck as a truck!).

Working class accommodations don't have to be crude, so the original bench wears a fresh black leather cover that's a lot more comfortable than the original. The rest is bright red for easy maintenance and black rubber mats on the floor mean low maintenance. That's the original steering wheel that's big enough for a semi tractor and the long-handled shifter for the 3-speed manual is a lot of fun to throw through the gears. The gauges look like they were borrowed from some '50s show car, offering a complete array of instruments to watch the engine, all surrounded in a stylish bright metal bezel. And yes, that's an aftermarket A/C unit under the dash and it works, although it probably needs a recharge (it's R134a so it won't be expensive). An AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit lives in the original radio's slot, but for the most part, it's very much the way it was when it was new and it has a very rugged, simple feel that we find quite appealing.

Ford trucks got their own line of engines, with the 360 cubic inch V8 in this one being a very popular choice. But there's no V8 that can't be made better and this one has a chrome air cleaner and valve covers to dress it up properly. The hardware appears to be quite stock, so it runs properly, and power steering is part of the package, so you can drive this truck daily if you feel like it. There's a giant radiator up front (it's a three-quarter ton, after all) and original cast iron exhaust manifolds feed a new dual exhaust system that sounds great. The chassis is quite clean, somewhere between immaculate original and an older restoration, but you won't find any rust or structural damage and plenty of evidence that this truck was purely transportation and not a workhorse. It has just the right stance to look sporty, which is surely enhanced by the new 16-inch aluminum wheels wearing fresh 235/85/16 Michelin radials.

The market has definitely noticed these trucks, and with a little polish and elbow grease, this could be a very impressive addition to the field. Call today!