1978 Ford F-150 Ranger 4X4

Description

Being down South in sunny Texas as we are, it seems that there are a few extraordinary vintage trucks still running around that haven't been worked to death or parted out for their rusty cousins up North. Take this beautifully restored 1978 Ford F-150 Ranger 4x4 for instance. The original owner spent years gently treating it right, and then just as much care and attention when painstakingly restoring it back to stock specs - and today it's one of the nicest Ford 4x4s that we've ever seen. How much fun is a practical ride like this, especially if you're virtually guaranteed to be the only one at the show with one finished to trophy-winning standards?

The deluxe two-tone paint treatment was a popular option in the late '70s, and we absolutely love that the original owner went right back with the factory correct Medium Copper and Tan combination that this truck was born with when he restored it. It's a lovely, refreshing change-of-pace that harkens back to a time when these 4x4s ruled the ranches of Texas. The bodywork is impressive and like we said, trucks like this down South aren't rust buckets, so they make ideal candidates for serious upgrades. And because this particular beauty only has 82,546 actual miles on the clock, it's didn't need that big of an overhaul to begin with. All traces of a working-class life have been erased from the sheetmetal (if there ever were any to begin with) and the paint is beautifully done with a great shine and no real imperfections to speak of. Most of the chrome and trim is likely original or NOS (all of the side trim is especially difficult to source these days in the re-pop market, so finding it all in place and in great shape like this is a heck of an accomplishment), polished up and given a shine that looks factory right, and a heavy-duty step bumper with a rubber topper was added out back. We always love seeing a sliding rear window, too, which is a feature that you can't appreciate until you've experienced the draft-free ventilation it provides. Although neatly finished with a thick, plastic liner and housing a full-size spare, the bed is still ready to work as hard as ever and with tie-down hooks at the sides that are polished up like new, it's got plenty of flash, too.

The simple, rugged interior was also restored just the way Ford designers intended, right down to the cloth and vinyl (technically called a vinyl knit) tan seat cover on the split-back bench. Sure, it's mostly a no-frills place to get some work done, but that's kind of refreshing today when trucks look like the waiting room at a day spa and have every option your neighbor's Cadillac does. However, the quality of the work makes it look far more upscale today, and with new plush carpets, nicely detailed matching door panels, and some faux burled walnut applique on the dash, it does look very slick. This F-150 Ranger carries a full set of gauges, plus a column shifter for the C6 3-speed automatic and a manual lever for the 2-speed transfer case jutting out from the floor. A modern, retro-style AM/FM/AUX stereo was installed in the factory slot and sounds great in the well-insulated cab and rather remarkably, it does have factory A/C that was upgraded with modern equipment to blow ice-cold, R134a refrigerated air through the original vents.

Under the hood is Ford's tried and true 400 V8 motor, the original , numbers-matching unit that was born in this truck only 82,546 miles ago. Built for torque, it moves the big F-series with ease, and the entire drivetrain was overhauled and is ready to dominate for the next several decades. Ford Blue paint on the block and original valve covers works well with all the stock details and obviously the original owner wanted to leave everything in the engine bay looking stock to match the theme of the entire truck. There's a giant radiator up front that doesn't make the big block sweat and with power steering and power front disc brakes it's easy to maneuver for such a big machine. A stainless steel dual exhaust system was added and cleverly routed to avoid the transfer case, which is smart for heat control, and it really does sound awesome with a pair of throaty chambered mufflers. The undercarriage is all stock, but like almost all our low-mileage Southern-bred machinery, it's incredibly clean and solid with a light dusting of undercoating that could easily still be the original application. Paint-matched 'wagon' wheels add a bit of a butch look to the pretty truck, and they're fitted with beefy 31x10.50x15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A white-letter radials.

Continuing the rather unusual yet awesome surprises, this restored, stock beauty is offered with restoration photos, build receipts, and its original window sticker and warranty card. Big, fun, and unusual, this Ford 4x4 is the truck you always saw on the farm after it was too late. Don't miss this chance to get one in the renewed prime of its life and call today!