Old pickup trucks can get away with certain things that other vehicles can’t. If they have a little patina, great – that just makes them look more vintage. They don’t need a lot of luxury or convenience features because they’re supposed to be simple, rugged machines. Fuel economy? Who cares?! They’re classic pickup trucks (hopefully with a big, loud V8). All they really have to do is run and hold stuff in the bed. We don’t need to make any excuses for our Pick of the Day, a 1971 Ford F-100 Ranger XLT Styleside posted on ClassicCars.com by a New York dealership.
Thanks to a frame-off rotisserie restoration, this Ford F-100 has fresh Scandia Green and Seafoam Green paint. The Ranger XLT trim adds bright side trim with woodgrain accents and a woodtone tailgate panel, all of which coordinate well with the soft greens of the two-tone finish. The eight-foot bed is ready for work or play.
If you need a little more storage space, throw some tools or gear in the lockable compartment on the passenger side. Whatever you end up carrying in this truck, new whitewall tires and the Twin-I-Beam front suspension will handle the road while the Flex-O-Matic rear suspension deals with the load.
The inside of the single cab is just as distinctive and handsome as the exterior. As part of the restoration, the bench seat was reupholstered with new green vinyl and cloth. Once again, the Ranger XLT trim adds extra features, which include the vinyl door panels with woodtone accents, glove compartment lock, perforated headliner, and more. This truck also has air conditioning, which makes it a little less rough and tough but a lot more comfortable.
There are even more updates under the hood. Ford offered a few V8s in its trucks for 1971; this particular F-100 has the 215-horsepower, 327-lb-ft 360, which benefits from fresh hoses, belts, gaskets, and seals. The big V8 comes equipped with its rebuilt original carburetor. A C6 three-speed automatic sends power to the Ford nine-inch rear end.
This 1971 Ford F-100 Ranger XLT is a handsome restoration with great colors and useful features and updates, yet it still has vintage charm. It can be yours for $42,900.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com