44,321 original miles, two owners from new. Never driven in winter, originally used to deliver garden tractors. Beautifully preserved, nice paint and interior, new power dump bed. New wheels and tires. Runs and drives remarkably well, ready to work or play!

We’ll admit that a giant F350 isn’t everyone’s first idea of a collector vehicle, but when we saw how well-preserved this truck really is, well, it was hard to resist. Originally used by a Wheelhorse dealer to deliver garden tractors, it never had to work very hard and was always put away during the winter months. As a result, the bright red paint shines up nicely and there’s no sign of rot underneath. The Fords of this period were well-built trucks and the doors swing open and closed easily and latch without a hard slam, which is kind of a surprise given their heft. It’s a working machine, no doubt about that, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be handsome. After a drive a few weeks ago, we realized that there are a lot of people out there who think old trucks like this are awesome. Lots of waves and honking horns and thumbs-up gestures on the road. There’s also a recent aluminum bed which dumps itself using a control next to the driver’s seat and includes side stakes and a retractable cover. That can be useful if you want to put it to work. You’ll also find new side mirrors, nice chrome bumpers, and fully operational cab lights for a big rig look.

The interior is definitely zero frills but it’s all about functionality. We suspect that the seat cover has been replaced, as the black vinyl doesn’t match the red door panels, but it’s low-maintenance and durable, perfect for a truck. A full array of gauges monitors the engine, and they all work correctly. I’ll also vouch for the heater’s efficacy, and the AM radio tunes whatever awfulness is still on the AM band these days. Even the little reading light works! The rubber mat remains in good condition, protected by aftermarket mats, and the long shifter for the 4-speed manual falls to hand easily. The headliner is in excellent condition, too, and all the weather seals close up well, more proof that this truck was kept out of the elements. Getting behind the wheel feels a lot more familiar than you’d expect.

Power comes from a surprisingly smooth and quiet 390 cubic inch V8. Key it up and it starts easily and idles like it belongs in a Torino, not a heavy 10,000-pound truck. It has obviously been well maintained, including a recent tune-up with new ignition parts. Original decals and hardware help with the authenticity, and the engine enamel has been touched up in the not-too-distant past so it looks clean and tidy. There’s plenty of grunt on tap, especially with the ultra-low first gear, and it doesn’t mind cruising at 65 MPH on the highway, so this is hardly a primitive machine. The aforementioned 4-speed shifts nicely and under most circumstances you can simply launch it in second gear—there’s plenty of torque on tap, as well as 4.10 gears out back. This rig is obviously too big to fit on our lift, but there’s no evidence of rot or critical rust from exposure to the elements, although there’s some dirt and grime as you’d expect. Everything is ridiculously heavy duty, so power steering and power brakes are part of the package. Again, you’ll probalby be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to drive. Ride quality is about what you’d expect, but it’s helped by a set of fresh 235/85/16 radials on brand new drop-center wheels that replace the original lock-ring rims.

Extras include the original owner’s manual, warranty booklet, and even the instruction slip from the driver’s side sun visor.

Big trucks are a small part of the hobby, but they’re a lot of fun. And just think of how useful something like this might be around the home or business. Perhaps you’ve got a business whose name would look great on the doors. However you decide to go, this nicely kept Ford is up for the job and remains a good-looking way to get it done. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.