Extremely clean California truck. 5.0 liter V8 with automatic. Fantastic color combination with beautiful original interior. Lots of recent service. New tonneau cover and bed mat. A nicely preserved truck ready to work or play!

You’d think dark blue would be a more popular color, but then again, it was 1983 and browns and tans were still all the rage. That only means this handsome 1983 Ford F150 was a standout when it was new, and doubly so today. It has spent the entirety of its life in California (and has the black plates to prove it) and as a result it’s extremely straight, clean, and solid. California vehicles really are better, and you can see how nice this one is just by taking a quick glance underneath. Up top, that’s original paint and it’s in great shape with only a few very minor signs of age—this truck is 40 years old, after all. We love survivors like this because they don’t have anything to hide and original paint means no surprises underneath. Panel fit is still just as the factory did it and the doors swing closed with a satisfying feel. The XL package added some bright trim that highlights the truck’s flanks and with those big side mirrors, you know it’s ready to work. You’ll also note a new soft tonneau on the 8-foot bed, as well as a heavy-duty mat inside, with the sheetmetal underneath being a little scratched but absolutely solid. We sell a lot of late-model Ford pickups, but we like this one more than most.

Part of the reason we like this truck so much is the interior, which is funky but tasteful—blue always looks great. The plaid cloth inserts have a plaid pattern that makes the interior look interesting and the wide bench is still comfortable enough for all-day duty. This F150 is also nicely optioned, including working factory A/C, a tilt steering column, and cruise control, so it’s hardly the bare-bones work machine you’d expect. There’s also a full array of gauges in the dash, some fake woodgrain that warms up the interior a bit, and an aftermarket AM/FM/cassette stereo radio that was probably installed when this truck was fairly new (it was originally a radio delete truck according to the Marti Report). The carpets and door panels are in good condition with no issues and the headliner remains taut and firmly affixed to the roof. There’s a handy rifle rack if you’re into that sort of thing, as well as a sliding rear window that helps keep it comfortable on days when it’s not quite hot enough for the A/C.

Power comes from a 5.0 liter V8, also known as a 302. History has shown us that these engines are virtually indestructible and thanks to a robust torque curve, it remains an effective powerplant in a pickup truck. The engine bay is shockingly clean, more proof that this truck lived in a warm, dry climate, and there are zero modifications so it should be as reliable as ever. There are signs of proper maintenance, including fresh fluids throughout (engine, transmission, differentials, and transfer case) and a recent tune-up. It starts easily, idles nicely, and just works like a truck should. The C6 3-speed automatic transmission shifts properly and the 4-wheel drive system works as it should with the notable upgrade of manual locking hubs in place of the original auto-lockers. Take a good look around underneath and you’ll see a truck that looks 35 years younger than it is—seriously, have you ever seen a cleaner 40-year-old truck? Floors, rockers, cab corners, and the bed are all in exceptional condition with factory finishes visible throughout (yes, the red oxide primer is how Ford did it). It includes a new exhaust system that has a muted V8 hum, recent shocks, and the entire undercarriage has been oiled to seal it up and keep it looking great for years to come. Factory steel wheels are painted traditional off-white and carry recent 235/75/15 off-road radials.

Documentation includes the original owner’s manuals, California blue plates, and a Deluxe Marti Report.

This is one of those trucks that’s good at just about everything. The eight-foot bed can carry anything you throw at it, the 4-wheel-drive will take you anywhere you want to go, and if you happen to roll into a local cruise night, you’ll probably find it has a lot of enthusiastic admirers. A cool old truck that’s ready to roll. Call today!

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