1973 Ford F-100

Description

It's hard to say that any example of the best-selling vehicle for decades is a rare beast, but when was the last time you saw a 1973 Ford F-100 pickup that was this clean? Black-on-black color combination sure doesn't hurt and a burly 302 under the hood means this is a sport truck from an era before we even knew such things existed.

Hard to go wrong with basic black, but only if the bodywork underneath is up to the task. It looks great, with a brilliant shine characteristic of modern urethane paints and in black it allows the finish work to really shine through. This was obviously never a work truck, and hailing from the south, it was never rusty. Instead, someone spotted a trend long before it was a trend and simply enjoyed a truck with plenty of horsepower and an awesome sophisticated look. Good gaps, lots of block sanding on the major panels, and a final buff really make this truck sparkle. As a top-of-the-line model, it's also wearing a ton of brightwork, as was the fashion of the time, and it's all still in place and in great shape. There are no dings in the stainless side trim, both front and rear bumpers are excellent, and even the grille shows few signs of age. Better still, you can still put it to work with a spray-in bedliner that isn't hiding any nasty surprises underneath.

Basic black works extremely well inside, too, with a simple pleated pattern on the front seat that gives it a no-nonsense look that's also quite tasteful. The wide bench can carry three abreast, and the rest of the black interior was redone when the truck was restored a few years ago. Matching black door panels have a detailed and elegant look, particularly for a truck, and the carpets and dash pad are brand new. The instrument panel echoes other Ford designs of the period with square gauges, but visibility is good and you get more than just the basics. An AM/FM radio fits neatly into the original radio's slot and with all-new weather stripping it seals up well enough for the quality of the stereo to make a difference. It also has new glass throughout which has a positive effect on the feeling of quality when you climb inside.

No matter what you're driving, 302 cubic inches are going to be entertaining. This F-100's 5.0 has been fully rebuilt with a few upgrades like an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, Weiand intake manifold, and a set of reworked heads that were installed about 5000 miles ago. The rest of the engine and the FMX 3-speed automatic transmission were rebuilt less than 10,000 miles ago and it feels strong going down the road. It's very tidy under the hood with a few chrome dress-up parts to contrast against the rest of the black components and all the wiring is new. A 9-inch rear with 3.25 gears inside means this is an easy cruiser that never feels busy on the highway. The chassis shows off four decades of clean living, with a recent light dusting of undercoating just to keep things looking tidy and dual exhaust has been added to give the 302 a suitable muscle car voice. Fresh 275/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials were wrapped around flashy chrome wheels that add a muscle car vibe.

There are plenty of vintage Chevys out there, but for Ford guys, this very handsome F-100 is an unusual find. Call today!