Don't look now, but these handsome '70s Ford F-Series pickups are legitimate collectors' items today. We can't seem to keep them in stock, and while it took a while for them to catch up to their Chevy competition, they represent a great way to get some vintage iron for not a lot of cash. Of course, the biggest problem with collecting old pickups is finding the clean ones. You know, the ones that haven't been beaten, used to push a plow, or just ignored while tools beat up their beds. Fortunately, this 1971 F100 seems to have been protected for most of its life, and then someone threw a pretty impressive restoration on it just a few years ago. The classic two-tone paint job recalls the glory days of stylish pickups, and with the up-level Custom trim, this one wears it extremely well. Quality is evident everywhere you look, from the crisp masking between the colors to the deep shine that would make me afraid to haul anything rougher than a load of pillows in it. The grille is shiny, the bumpers are outstanding, and it must have been a real challenge to find a tailgate insert that well-preserved. This was definitely not a working-class truck when it was built, given the handsome cloth interior. Of course, today it's all new, with a reproduction seat cover on the single bench, new carpets and a matching mat that keeps everything clean. Trucks were still evolving, so the door panels are a combination of painted steel and shiny plastic, but you'll know they weren't cutting corners when you spot the factory A/C unit hanging under the dash. The gauges look like they were borrowed from some '50s show car, offering a complete array of instruments to watch the engine, all surrounded in a stylish chrome bezel. And Ford guys will feel instantly at home with the slender chrome shift lever for the C6 3-speed automatic. It even still carries its original AM/FM stereo radio in the dash. Ford trucks got their own line of engines, with the 360 cubic inch V8 in this one being a very popular choice. But there's no V8 that can't be made better with the addition of things like an Edelbrock intake and Holley 4-barrel carburetor, headers, plus a rumbling dual exhaust system. It's also quite neatly dressed, with a chrome Edelbrock air cleaner and finned aluminum "COBRA" valve covers, just for effect. The A/C has been upgraded to R134a refrigerant, and both power steering and brakes are part of the package, so you can drive this truck daily if you feel like it. The chassis is extraordinarily clean, somewhere between immaculate original and an older restoration, but you won't find any rust or structural damage and plenty of evidence that this truck was purely transportation and not a workhorse. It has just the right nose-down stance to look sporty, which is surely enhanced by the gorgeous chrome Cragars wearing 235/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear Uniroyal radials. The market has definitely noticed these trucks, and you won't find many better than this '71 F100. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Dallas/Fort Worth showroom. For more information, please call (817) 764-8000 or toll free (855) 877-2707.
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