Serious Workhorse: 1971 Ford F350 390 V8 4×4 Crew Cab
The fifth generation of the Ford F-series trucks ran from 1967 through 1972. The styling update from the fourth generation included a larger cab and different trim levels (a favorite trick pursued by American automakers as a replacement for a total refresh). Motor options were broadened as well, though these trucks already offered nearly every displacement Ford made. Customers could pick from half-ton, three-quarter ton, or one-ton trucks. Four-wheel drive was among the options. Here on eBay is a rare version of the F-series, a 1971 F350 one-ton, long bed, crew cab with an aftermarket four-wheel drive conversion. Spirited bidding is up to $23,600 and there is no reserve. The truck is located in Maple Plain, Minnesota.
This truck received a professional four-wheel drive conversion using a Dana 24 transfer case and a Dana 44 low pinion disc brake front axle. The brakes, pinion seals, and axle joints are new as are several engine and transmission gaskets. The front fenders were replaced and painted a close match to the original sea foam green. Inner fenders, cab mounts, and the radiator core support were also replaced. A rock guard protects the front grille. The tires are new and the wheels have been refinished.
The truck has a 390 cu. in. V8 paired with an automatic transmission. The 390 FE is a stout, torquey engine, producing about 255 bhp. On the other hand, it is very thirsty. My farm truck is a 1974 Ford F250 with a 390 and it runs about 11 mpg, but under load and in bad weather it’s more like 9 mpg; hardly surprising that the previous owner installed a second gas tank. No word on a true odometer reading here or whether the motor has had a rebuild. However, the truck runs and drives well, all gauges work, as well as the AM radio. Interior photos are not supplied but we’re told it’s in original condition. I am going to guess that means “rough”.
The truck does have rust, unfortunately. Corners seem to be bearing the brunt of the tin worm but the seller says there are pinholes in the gutters and holes in the floors as well. While that’s annoying, a stout truck like this can rust quite a lot before anything serious happens. This truck has a lot of virtues, with the long bed option, crew cab, big motor, and 4×4 capabilities. I probably wouldn’t tackle a restoration but I could sure see using it for hauling hay and going to swap meets. Heck, if you bought that Crosley station wagon we featured earlier, you could probably fit it in the bed!
Auctions Ending Soon
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1Bid Now14 hours$7,100
2003 Porsche Boxster SBid Now15 hours$6,250
1966 Lincoln ContinentalBid Now17 hours$500
2000 Jaguar XJ8LBid Now4 days$1,250
1977 Datsun 280ZBid Now5 days$275
Comments
Sure is a whole lotta truck. With the said Voracious appetite and the 4×4 this baby will pass everything but a gas station! The Turning radius on these old crew cabs was like a square mile also. Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
Very cool truck, I can remember seeing these once in a blue moon. If there was a possible negative MPG, this would be the truck. You could tow a tanker behind it, because you will be able to watch your fuel gauge move to left as you go down the road. Parking this beast will require a CDL license and an empty Walmart parking lot. Intriqing truck, but the wrong time to buy it. It’s still a rare find.
2 mpg I’m guessing .
Rough ride will shake out the fillings outta your teeth.
The long bed rides pretty well. And if you load it up, even more better, ha!
What’s that song …. Give me 40 acres and I’ll turn this rig around. Hahaha That song and this truck !
This thing actually has 3 gas tanks. Two saddle tanks under the bed and the one behind the rear seat. I had a twin of this truck in a a regular cab. And yes it passed everything but the gas station. But oh what a truck.
That would’ve been the Willis Brothers in 1967 I think. Saw them
sing the song on the Buck Owens Show. This will make some of you out there cringe, but I’d fix the rust and whatever else needs fixing and
put it back to work. With a rig like
this, I could go get the car I want
without paying thousands to have it
shipped here to Florida. This beast
will make an awesome print!
Badass
I know, just about everyones first reaction, mine as well, how you going to feed this thing? Let’s clear that up right now. As a truck driver my whole life, this was a machine. A machine to do a certain job, and fuel was just part of making it work. It was not uncommon for me to go through 400-500 gallons of fuel a week. Same here, this “truck”, was made to work, in a host of rough situations, and fuel, and in this case, lots of it, make it work. These trucks hauled a crew to a jobsite, in remote locations. The absolute LAST thing on the manufacturers mind, was someday this vehicle would get groceries at a Walmart. We, as a society, possibly due to the lack of choices today, it bamboozles me, of all the vehicles ever made, the lowly pickup truck shines on as the best deal, turned these vehicles into that, and I can’t help but think, what future generations will think when they are finally obsolete. This era, I feel, was the zenith of pickup trucks, and should have remained just this, a work horse that could be dropped off a cliff. In conclusion, can you imagine the remorse of someone buying this thinking, “how different than my new F-150 could it possibly be?” $TWENTY-FIVE GRAND later,,oh, I’m sorry, THAT, my friends( and enemies) makes me sadly laugh,,,,and again,, I’m the idiot,,
It’s not too late to drop this one off a cliff.
Sorry, but if you’d actually use some grammar in your rants, I think more people could actually understand what you’re even saying.
You, need more, commas, Howard.
It would be worth the money if it was clean and straight but to spend $25,000 on a truck that needs a tailgate and $15000 worth of body and paint work is a head scratcher.
Maybe it’s the same mentality as buying a BRAND NEW pair of jeans that already has rips and tears in it . . .
Close. It’s the same mentality as buying a vintage pair of jeans with rips and tears in it. Or buying anything old that shows wear and history and appreciating it for that. Character. Some get it, some don’t I suppose.
When I see trucks like this,all I can think is how much work
it is to drive one,& why buyers are willing to spend stupid money
to find that out.
While I prefer the look of older trucks,newer ones (around 1995)
are MUCH more comfortable to live with & drive.
crew cab fora work crew. This COULD be a mall crawler (where most trucks go these days) I’m hopin some one puts it back to where it’s comfortable instead. Wouldn’t wanna embarrass it. Might drown in a sea of tears from this behemoth.