It’s A Highboy! 1971 Ford F-250
The interest in ’60s and ’70s trucks continues, and this time we have a 1971 Ford F-250 4X4 “highboy” for your review. This one is not exactly a Jethro Bodine monster truck, but a couple of steps could certainly help with the elevated ingress and egress. It has some cosmetic wear but it appears to be basically sound and is claiming 109K miles of use which is certainly not outsized for a truck that has surpassed the half-century mark. Let’s see what makes this Clackamas, Oregon citizen tick. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $17,200 with 30 bids tendered as of this posting.
The seller opens with, “I highly doubt you will ever find another 71 ford f250 high boy like this one. This High boy is completely stock and original including the paint. there is some surface rust but, what do you expect from a 50+ year-old truck“. The badging tells us that this F-250 is a Ranger” trim level which puts it above the entry-level Custom and the follow-on Sport Custom, but one rung under the top drawer Ranger XLT.
The finish, which appears to be dark green (the color field on the trim tag is oddly blank), has some serious oxidization going on. The seller refers to it as “Patina that could never be duplicated” – I’m not sure that I would want to. The body shows as sound – there’s no sign of typical 4X4 mishaps that take out fenders, bumpers, etc., or ordinary work-related mayhem. All of the aluminum trim pieces are still attached and looking straight – even the original hubcaps have managed to hang on all of these years.
Powering this high-in-the-sky rig is a 215 gross HP, 360 CI “FE” V8 engine, working through a four-speed manual transmission which is in turn, connected to a manually activated transfer case. The seller adds, “The truck runs and drives excellent, including the 4-wheel drive works excellent, and it absolutely needs nothing“. Based on the engine’s appearance, I’d suggest that the valve covers and air cleaner assembly have had a date with a rattle can. I find the entire matter of the 360 CI engine (’68-’76) to be intriguing. Prior to about a year ago, I had never heard of it. I’m by no means a Ford expert but I thought that I knew enough about FE engines to have had at least some awareness of this truck-only powerplant.
The interior is austere the way truck interiors were in ’71 but it is clean and in very nice condition. The bench seat is in amazing condition considering age and mileage as is the rubber floormat. The “chrome” plastic instrument panel bezel is doing that fade/delamination thing that occurs with age but it still presents pretty well. Note the door panels – they have an unusual diamond stitch pattern – original?
This truck projects itself as a work truck but it doesn’t look like it has done a lot of heavy lifting over its lifespan, it’s just too nice. And that begs the “what do with it” question. A lot of trucks from this generation are turned into street cruisers or hot rods but this F-250 seems to be singular in purpose – a cruiser it’s not. Of course, if you have a sizeable piece of property, a farm, a small estate, etc. it could continue in its current capacity but I imagine that one wouldn’t want to make a daily driver out of it. Yes, they’re only original once and that’s what’s going on here. And knowing that, what would you do with it?
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Comments
70,71, and 72 Ford Trucks have plastic grille inserts 71 is my favorite. The last time I checked, no was reproducing these. You would think someone would $$$.
Interior isn’t stock and original, that would’ve been embossed on the door panels not stitched, if not hard plastic made to look like vinyl.
These trucks had padded vinyl covered fiberboard door panels, not plastic. The look to have been recovered.
these advertisements advertiser I can’t use the website because of theadvertisment blocking for i tired of this can t handle this help
Let me try: “These advertisements! Advertiser, I can’t use the website because of the advertisement blocking. I’m tired of this and can’t handle it. Help!”
Punctuation and capitalization. Makes all the difference…
Best,
Euro
Thanks Miss Landers.
I have been dealing with these trucks for 40+ years. It’s all the fad these days to add hub caps. Thry were never an F250 4wd option until 1973, and, then only on automatic transmission Trucks. Patin, in my day was a poor persons excuse for not being able to afford to repaint the truck. Now, it’s all the rage. Seat and door panels have been redone. Along with later model 16-in rims
Originality must be in the eye of the beholder. My experience with the 5th generation highboys are that they are miserable to manuever unless new steering box (red head), tie rod ends, steering knuckle bearings (properly shimmed), wheel bearings and leaf spring bushings are installed. So that eliminates original, but boy a ’68 highboy with the front end completely redone steers better than brand new from the factory.
Could be fun. Thatsvthe ugliest patina I’ve ever seen.
The 360 om the FE family was a 390 crank in a 352 block. Used a good bit in the early 70s. My parents had one in their 72 Ranger. Just a really good engine for everything from highway to heavy work.
The 360 had a 390 bore, and a 352 stroke, blocks were all the same. 360s were used from 68-76
Wow a real Ford Truck!
Repaint, BFG All Terrains steel Jackman wagon wheels body color and a time machine to cruise the fire roads of Missouri.
Yep a Real Truck, Ford
Made my day!
The 360 was the last FE big block to be used until 76′.1972 was the last year for the 390,that’s what my 72′ f250 came with.
The 360 and 390 were both used through 1976, the 390 was used in 2WDs only
Good looking truck, but does not seem to have a lot of options, no air, power steering or brakes. Looks like it doesn’t even have dual tanks. Over all a nice time capsule. Leave it as is and just drive it.
Sweet!
My dad had a lower trim with a straight six. It had hard plastic door trim if my memory is correct. I also remember the “chrome” interior wearing away…but his had about 200,000 on it when he finally traded it in.
fav vehicle for me: to look, work; not to gas, drive. I feel like Im sittin at my kitchen table (all right angles, the wheel too close. No way to fix even w/king cab or tilt). Did they ever make a Hiboy HF Integrale EVO III ?
Holy smokes I think this my be my ex brother in laws truck. Same year, drive train and color. Originally bought at Dee Tomason Ford in Lake Oswego, OR.