1969 Ford F150 Ranger – Classified of the Week
January 25, 2022
One of the best-selling cars in the world is not, in fact, a car. It’s a pickup. To which you might argue a truck can’t be classed as a car, but given the fact the Ford F150 is largely used by American buyers in the same way we might use a Vauxhall Astra, we’d counter that it does indeed count. For nearly forty years, the F150 has been the best-selling vehicle in America. A salesperson’s dream, the F150 has never needed open questions or closing patter. Instead, it has simply sold itself. It is to America what the Transit is to Europe in terms of popularity. The only difference is that in America, a thumping great V8 F150 is a perfectly acceptable family car.
The F-series Ford can trace its roots back to 1948 when the first one landed. A simple, but rugged machine, it was hugely popular from the off. Ford has always been America’s sweetheart when it comes to vehicles, and this was never stronger than during the ’40s and ’50s. Soon a second generation came, then a third, all the way through to todays fourteenth generation trucks. Of course, over the years they have become more refined, more luxurious and more powerful. Now, an F150 with all the toys is an extremely enviable thing to be seen in.
Then of course we have the world of hot rodding to include. America is the home of the hot rod, and the F150 did not escape the grasp of those with spanners, determination and a need for speed. The F150, due to being both hugely popular, and seen as a ‘car’, has been a hot-rodding mainstay since, well, forever. Today, you can buy all manner of bolt-on speed parts for any generation F150. It’s a big business, and one that isn’t going away any time soon. Classic F150s are still a hot rodder’s favourite, as the one we have here goes to show.
This fifth-generation ‘short bed’ Ranger is perhaps the epitome of F150 hot-rodding. Aggressive stance, a heavily modified V8 engine, custom suspension and much more all add up to one seriously impressive machine. It started life in 1969 as a Ranger model, but those days are long gone. Now, this F150 is a bona fide speed machine that will make you giggle like a school child every time you drop the throttle. The engine is a 4.6 modular V8 with Edelbrock intake, MSD carb and MSD ignition. The whole thing sits on more modern Crown Victoria (yes, the Police car) suspension, meaning more modern handling and much better brakes. The transmission is automatic though, so you can focus on holding on each time this powerhouse tries to outrun the horizon!
Externally, the body is a pleasing profusion of perfect patina. Bare metal, which has been coated to stop rust. Plenty of characterful dings and dents. Lots of chrome. Yep, it’s a stunner. The ‘rough and ready’ look really works, too. It suits the commercial nature of the truck, but it also means you won’t be afraid to use this rig. It’s not something you need to be scared for every time it rains. The black steel wheels from the Crown Vic are equally fitting, and equally low maintenance. Inside, you’ve got some leather seats and a wood-rim steering wheel – peak pick-up comfort. It even has function air-conditioning, which is a huge boon.
The best bit, however, is the price. This little muscle truck will set you back a mere £17,990, and that’s a bargain in anyone’s book. You certainly couldn’t built it for that amount of money. It’s turn-key, it’s ready to go and when it does, it will turn heads every time. If it were our money, we’d have some hand-painted livery on the doors. It would be an incredible way to promote your business. But ultimately, it would just be a whole heap of fun.
