39,500 Mile Survivor: 1978 Ford F250 Custom
A great body style for the Ford F series, I feel that these trucks are nearly impossible to find any reasonable kind of condition. Well, this is an excellent condition survivor that has covered a mere 39,500 miles in its lifetime. Purchased from an estate sale, the current owner intended to lift and modify this truck, but upon closer inspection he found the truck too nice to modify. Although if the truck does not sell, the seller intends to move forwarded with his plans to modify it. So let’s get this one sold so it can be preserved! With several days remaining, this truck is currently bid up to $5,700, or there is an available Buy It Now option of $24,000. Take a look at it here on eBay out of Reno, Nevada.
Packing a punch from a 400 cubic inch big block, this 4wd F250 is quite clean under the hood. The original owner kept this truck in a garage all of its life, and it certainly shows from the engine bay photos. With only minor dirt and corrosion, this is quite a clean engine compartment. The transmission is reported to be a smooth shifter, and the truck overall is described as a great driver, which is easy to imagine considering the mileage.
Inside is a virtually “mint” interior, despite some slight fading to the carpet. Also the seller has mention that there is a seam coming un-stitched on the seat. A good carpet cleaning and a fresh dye job would really spruce up this interior for sure. Even the dash pad is crack free, which is incredible all on its own.
Although the photos don’t speak to the entire story, the paint appears to be in excellent condition. The color way is fabulous, the metallic paint is quite vibrant. Equipped with pinstripes, this is a very sharp pickup. The only issue mentioned is that the previous owner performed some minor touch up on this truck which seems totally reasonable. There is no rust to be found from the photos, and the seller claims the truck as rust free. Much like a time warp, this F250 has really lived a pampered life. The period wheels and running boards really set off this truck, along with the mirror shine bumpers. I can’t remember the last time that I saw a late 70’s era Ford F series in this kind of condition, what about you?
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Comments
Here’s another really nice truck, but again and again, their in depth pictures kill it for their claim. They rattle canned the heck out of the underside, doing a poor job, and a truck like this should sell itself, regardless of the mileage, why not just be honest? People up north would love to have a truck like this again. For what this is, I’d expect the bidding to be a bit more, but $24g’s, this person is dreaming. Love the colors.
If only the new ones could look this good,I guess two-tone paint jobs are a thing of the past.Lack of air conditioner is going to hold it back in warmer parts of the country depending on its intended use. 400 modified was not Fords best engine but good enough now to power a collector vehicle.If it does sell I bet the wheels and running boards will be updated.Then add a lift kit and call it a Hi-boy?.
78 & 79 were excellent years for all 3 ford, dodge, and chevy trucks..the 400 was a decent enough motor til oil pressure started dropping ..i had a bronco with granny low 4 speed..loved that truck
Nice truck but too much money to drive it in winter in PA.
The round headlights were unique to this year, custom/xl model. They are prized for this feature.
24 , 000 for what ? Not worth a penny over ten to any sane person .
From one Tom to another, apparently you are not a fan of trucks, great that is fine, but don’t bash them. And to David below, the asking price is NOT sky high.
This is not a personal attack either, but be respectful, and more important knowledgeable, before making comments.
I am not a big truck fan but let’s face some facts:
1. You can’t get a great paint job for $10K
2. The sheet metal, no rust (not having to do rust repair and replacement, is worth $10-20K from a body work, welding, replacement perspective.
3. To buy a truck that needs everything to bring it to this level would take $50K + or – 20K depending on who is doing the work, only to end up with a truck worth half that investment.
4. They are only original once and this one , being 42 years old with under 40K miles is really nice.
5. Go find another one or several just like it so you can choose….oh, that’s not going to happen.
It’s worth every penny to people who know what they are looking at. You don’t think it is worth more than 10K because you don’t like it. An auction might surprise you to find it might exceed 24K. These things were RUST buckets, not many survived. And yes, I am an expert relative to rust, restoration and market values having spent the last 35 years working and hobbying in the industry.
Sorry, comments lacking knowledge (in almost every area of life), bother me.
Not to be a wet blanket, but it seems a bit strange the seller’s statement concerning chopping the truck up and modifying it. Like, he seems to be saying “If I don’t get my (sky high) asking price, I will butcher and ruin it”. A shame to do that to such a nice and extremely well cared for vehicle as this one is.
Similar to the typical craigslist ad, “I’ll scrap it if I don’t get [some ridiculous price] for it” in-spite of the numerous reasons why their P.O.S. isn’t worth it.
I really like the two-tone green. I could do without the running boards and not sure about the period wheels. Asking price seems too high but these are very popular Ford pickups (my favorite) and it will bring solid dollars — several bids over $10k so far. I wonder if the threat is just bluster, as David G suspects.
Nice write-up Brian.
Love the turbines and matching green interior. Nice truck but way out of my price range!
Anyone watch the video he listed? That looks like the same truck but the wheels are different and no running boards. The kicker for me is the truck listed in ther eBay listing is an Automatic and in the video its a Stick.
I like the color of the truck but the running boards would have to go. For the seller to talk about lifting the truck if it doesn’t sell is not what I would do. Also the price he’s asking is way too high, maybe 12,500 to 14,000 and that’s stretching it. The next owner will definitely have a good truck that will last.
nice truck. he will get his money and then some. almost everyone of these 4×4 fords had those “period wheels” so many infact they could be mistaken for a factory option. now to that gutless 400( not an M, the was the little sister the tall deck 351) wake it up with some closed chamber 351 Cleveland 4v heads, bigger valves and more port area plus no need for a piston swap to boost compression because of the closed chambers and you have cured most of that mills issues and just CHANGE YOUR OIL and you have a great engine with torque in spades and a boost in useable and unusable horse power.
The only 400 that I know of Ford offering was the 400M.
read up on the engine and you will see. ford never called it that, just the tall deck 351, 351M as in modified. it came out while there was still a Cleveland and windsor 351. basically a destroked 400 so they call it an m. the 400 never was
In the 80’s and early 90’s my father had 3 of these generation trucks (‘74 2WD reg cab F-250, standard on the column, a ‘75 F-150 supercab and a ‘77 F-150 reg cab). These trucks did not hold up well to Northern locations with salt, especially in the fender rails and wheel wells.
Personally ‘78 is my least favourite year with the round light in a rectangular black out grille…’79 looked better but my favourite is the ‘76 and ‘77 grille and light treatment.
As a kid, I loved that ‘74 F-250 and would sit in the drivers seat and pretend to drive it for what seemed like hours. It made me a Ford truck guy…however the ‘97 to ‘14 F-150 did not impress me, but the ‘15 Aluminum body brought me back into the fold which is my daily driver.
I have ‘91 F-350 crew diesel dually which is my project. Would consider a ‘76 short box in the future some day…but the pricing these command now are really escalating.
This particular example is a very nice survivor but the color combo and year is not my cup of tea.
Really clean nice looking truck