1968 Ford F-100 Ranger

Description

This 1968 Ford F-100 Ranger pickup demands a closer inspection. Now before you scoff at the price, you need to realize that this is probably the nicest, most highly-optioned F-100 we've ever seen. It runs and drives beautifully and the investment in the restoration is probably two or three times the asking price. Yeah, it's that nice.

Everything they say about black paint is true: it's unforgiving. So when they decided to paint this Ford black, well, that probably meant hundreds of hours invested in smoothing and straightening the sheetmetal. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they started with an ultra-clean Southern truck, but you don't get results like this by accident. The paint job is about three years old, and it was a full disassembly, trim-off job so the quality shines through loud and clear. The doors fit well, all the stainless trim was buffed up, and the bumpers and headlight bezels are fresh chrome, so it sparkles. We're especially fond of the simple grille, which has a red stripe through its center that really pops against the black paint and given the condition of the bed, we'd be shocked if this truck ever worked for a living. It's just too straight and shiny. Unfortunately, it's so nice that you might think twice before using it to work, but that's OK, show trucks are still rather rare.

The interior is likewise all new, and even though the F-100 was a workhorse, this one has a luxurious feel. The cloth inserts on the black bench certainly help, as do the thick black carpets that help control noise and heat. The headliner is new, too, and the dash pad is probably an excellent original piece that only shows very minor fading, but if that's the biggest demerit in this interior, you're starting to understand just how nice this truck really is. The original instrument panel and gauges are bright and crisply rendered, all framed by that bold three-spoke steering wheel that looks 1960s perfect in this muscular pickup. There's also a very well-integrated A/C system under the dash, and it's fully functional thanks to an R134a refrigerant upgrade. And for entertainment, there's an AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the dash, making this a vintage pickup that doesn't feel vintage and could be driven every day.

With 428 cubic inches of V8 under the hood, you'll have a hard time resisting putting this Ford on the road, that's for sure! With endless reserves of torque, the big block makes this truck feel muscle car quick and luxury car smooth. And while it's not the truck's original engine, it looks quite correct with Ford Blue paint on the block, an open-element air cleaner with reproduction decals, and that big A/C compressor up top. Wiring and plumbing is exceedingly tidy and it includes power steering and power brakes, which are important on a vehicle this size. The engine is backed by a stout C6 3-speed automatic transmission and a 9-inch rear end, so no worries about breakage and the hardware feels very polished going down the road. Twin Flowmaster mufflers offer s smooth V8 rumble, but the rest of the chassis appears quite stock save for the 15-inch Torque Thrusts and fat blackwall radials.

This truck is beautifully finished, very fast, and extremely comfortable. So don't look at it as just another Ford pickup, look at it as one of the very best available anywhere and the price starts to look like a bargain. Call today!