Hot Truck: 1993 Ford F150 Lightning
Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) was formed in 1991 as Ford began to develop an interest in creating niche vehicles, specifically limited production models with excellent handling and performance. This 1993 Ford F150 Lighting is one of the first to benefit from this new approach, and it’s currently for sale here on Facebook Marketplace in Harpswell, Maine. With 161,000 miles but in surprising good condition based on the photos, the asking price is $15,500. Thanks to Barn Finds reader AMXBrian for the tip!
The seller has a very brief description and the photos aren’t fantastic, but it really does appear that this Ford has been treated well, maintained carefully, and is ready for another owner to enjoy it. The seller does say that it was always garaged and never driven during the winter. There is a newer repaint, and all the black plastic trim and decals look to be in great shape, making this truck look much newer than 29 years old.
The interior of this truck is what surprises me most. Everything looks to be almost new. I don’t see any damage, rips, tears or stains. If the rubber floormats and steering wheel were wiped down this interior would look perfect. The gray interior helps it to seem more modern than many other early 90s vehicles, and the bucket seats look to be bolstered more than normal, which makes sense given its performance. The interior in general looks very inviting, much more like a car than a truck. The seller says everything works as it should, so I hope that also means all the switches, gauges, and electronics.
The drivetrain here is a 5.8 liter high-output engine paired with a 4-speed automatic. The engine was given slight adjustments to valves and ports, combustion chamber shape, intake and exhaust manifolds, and computer programming. These all really helped to maximize the 240 horsepower available, giving it a 7.2 second 0-60mph time. Other performance upgrades compared to the stock F150 included a lowered ride-height, a sport-tuned suspension package with special shocks and thicker anti-roll bars, and 17 inch alloy wheels, which are still mounted on this example here. The seller still has the original window sticker for this truck, and since the photo is too blurry to make out the options added, I’d love to know what other goodies might be waiting for the next owner. It’s nice to see a unique high-performance vehicle that was clearly driven and enjoyed rather than just saved and garaged. With the condition represented in the photos, it should also give plenty more miles of fun.
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Comments
Imagine all the trim pieces from 90’s vehicles that have been drilled through to install the little blinking red light for the aftermarket alarm system. I can think of three of my own past cars. It didn’t seem like a great idea at the time and now that 90’s vehicles are becoming collectible it’s one of those unfortunate findings like door cards hacked up for speaker installations in 70’s vehicles. Nice truck though, these always look cool, like Broncos of the same era.
Wheres the plug?
NOT!
I worked at a Ford dealership when these trucks came out, I was the new car prep guy, I prepped every car that went through the place before a customer pick them up. I remember this you disappointment the first time I got on these trucks for a test drive and put the pedal to the floor and basically nothing happened. But I suppose that was the era of ’90s performance. Sheer disappointment was the theme of the day
I currently own a 1994 “Pace Car White” Lightning with 104k on it that I bought from the original ower in 2000. It has a tubular rear bumper and the middle seat and not the console. It is an awesome and fun truck but it likes it’s premium gas. Many of my car club friends, inclusive of the original owner, check with me periodically to see if I want to sell it.
Mine pings on Super. I have a water injection kit for it but i haven’t installed it yet.
I guess performance is relevant to each individual’s perspective. I raced my 94 Lightning at the track and ran 15:50 in the quarter with both gas tanks full! I didn’t know I was going to race it that night but decided to anyway. On the street it beat a majority of cars into the early 2000s. .