classic vintage chrome fomoco 4x4 f150 351 v8 3-speed auto red

1978 Ford F-150 4x4 Description

Being down south as we are, it seems that there are a few extraordinary trucks still running around that haven't been worked to death or parted out for their rusty cousins up north. Take this absolutely dialed-in 1978 Ford F-150 4x4 for instance. Someone spent years giving it a thorough makeover, and today it's one of the nicest we've 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 a rig this clean?
It's hard to go wrong with a big, red pickup, but with so many trucks getting various shades of brown or orange in the 1970s, this one really stands out. The bodywork is impressive and trucks like this make ideal candidates for show-or-go pieces that attract a ton of attention. All traces of a working-class life have been erased from the sheetmetal and the high driver-quality paint is beautifully done with a great shine and only a few signs of use. There's a bright shine that you rarely see on pickups of any kind, let alone a vintage bruiser like this, and the Built Ford Tough stance on this 4x4 is certainly intimidating. Look down the lines and you'll see that it's about as straight as they come, with those big heavy doors shutting firmly in place with that old familiar 'thud' only your Grandpa's truck could produce. There's not a ton of excess trim either, so the bright red paint does most of the talking, but the bright front grille and shiny heavy-duty bumpers fore and aft provide just the right amount of contrast to really make this truck pop out in the sunlight. Out back, the straight and dent-free bed is further proof that this Ford was never overworked in its lifetime in sunny East Ga where it hails from, and it's been protected for the future with a professional spray-in bedliner that looks great. So, you don't have to think twice about using this truck as it was intended, but by the looks of this clean beauty, you might be the first one to put it to work.
The simple interior is just the way Ford designers intended, right down to the comfortable pleated seat cover. The seating surfaces are cloth, so it's all-day comfortable, but it's still a no-frills place to get some work done. That's kind of refreshing today when trucks cost $70,000 and have every option your Cadillac does, blurring the line between just enough and unwanted excess. However, the quality of the work makes it look far more upscale today, and with new black carpets, nicely detailed door panels, and the original leather-wrapped steering wheel (a rare find in itself), it does look slick. This F-150 carries a full set of factory gauges, plus an extra auxiliary dial under the dash to better read the water temperature on those hot summer days. But don't you fret about overheating, because the former owner of this Big Red drove this baby all around town without issue, including into our showroom doors from a couple hours away. It's ready to cruise the long-haul journey or tackle any rough terrain you throw in front of it. There's a column shifter for the automatic transmission and a manual lever for the 2-speed transfer case down on the rubber floor when you need the 4x4 to take over. Like most of these trucks, options are light, but you do get a newer Kenwood AM/FM/CD head unit for your tunes and there's factory A/C that's been converted to R134a refrigerant to keep you comfortable in the summer. Clean and straightforward, this truck is ready to roll.
There aren't many choices that balance performance and efficiency better than a 351 cubic inch V8, and the smooth-running block under the big hood of this F-150 is ready to hit the road. Built for torque, it moves the big F-series with ease, especially augmented with an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and Edelbrock intake manifold on top, and thanks to a recent tune-up and fuel-system service, it cranks with ease at every try. Ford Blue valve covers work well with a couple chrome details added for bling and obviously they did a great job to make it look its best with tidy black paint on the inner fenders and maintained parts throughout. There's a giant radiator up front that doesn't make the small block sweat and with a rebuilt power steering system and power front disc brakes it's easy to maneuver for such a big machine. A 4-inch Skyjacker lift means this Ford is ready to go up a mountain, and with a rebuilt front end and newer suspension components throughout, it actually tracks pretty darn great for a big truck, both off the road and on. A throaty dual exhaust system uses stacked Flowmaster mufflers and it really does sound awesome at full bore, but it's not so over-the-top that it's obnoxious. Handsome polished aluminum wheels add a bit of a butch look to the pretty truck, and they're fitted with beefy 35x12.50-15 Patagonia M/T white-letter radials.
Big, fun, and hard-to-find in this great condition, this Ford 4x4 is dialed-in and ready to hit the road. With values of these original 4x4s skyrocketing of late, this may be your last chance to get yours before they get out of reach like the Early Bronco. Call today!