1972 Ford F-250 Ranger

Description

Heavy-duty pickups aren't a new phenomenon, and in the early 1970s, the best way to get big jobs done without looking like a construction company was with a ¾-ton pickup truck. To capture some of this market, some of the creative guys at Ford came up with this 1972 Ford F-250 designed to be user-friendly but still able to handle the big cargo. Nicely finished and ready to get back to work, this might be the ideal way to have your cake and eat it, too.

Clearly someone has spent plenty of money restoring this big F-250 and the two-tone Swiss Aqua and White paint job looks fantastic. Not perfect, but surely nicer than any working-class truck has a right to look on its 46th birthday. The finish is only a few years old and correctly replicates the era with a handsome, do-anything look that was a big selling point on the big Fords. Straight bodywork, good gaps, and a bit of stainless trim gives it an upscale look, and since Ford knew folks would be working hard in this truck, they made it sturdy. A chrome bumper, an ornate grille, and the white top all combine to dress it up a bit, while details like the heavy-duty rear bumper allude to its intended purpose. And the 8-foot bed is nicely finished with a spray-in bedliner, and there are no real signs that this truck every really worked for a living.

The modest black interior was restored with the rest of the truck just a few years ago and still looks quite good. The vinyl bench seat is comfortable for long-distance hauls and you'll note that this one carries optional factory A/C (needs to be serviced). If you're going to use it for those long-distance camping trips, you might consider installing a radio, but we have to admit that we like the gauges in the radio's slot a lot better. A recent dash pad and door panels help dress it up a bit, and the carpet is brand new and helps with noise and heat. The big three-spoke steering wheel is a useful upgrade over the original hard plastic unit and the factory instruments are in good condition with only minor fading.

The engine is Ford's 360 cubic inch V8, which is plenty powerful enough to move the big truck easily, even loaded up. It's neatly detailed under the hood with Ford Blue in all the right places as well as a beautifully painted satin black engine bay that suggests the truck was disassembled for paint. It starts and runs quite well, with a nice V8 burble from the tailpipe and a nice, fat torque curve to make it feel lively. Power steering and power brakes were part of the package for obvious reason, as was a giant gas tank that offers bladder-bursting range. The heavier-duty ¾-ton suspension was also a good idea and gives this truck a lot of hauling capacity that you'll undoubtedly find useful. Sporting 16-inch aluminum wheels are a more modern look that works rather well, and they're wrapped in 265/75/16 Goodyear radials that look right and have the weight capacity to handle the load.

You probably won't find another ¾ ton Ford this nicely finished and loaded with options like this. If you like old trucks or want a great vintage truck to do a little work around the house, you can't go wrong with this Ford. Call today!