RECENTLY RESTORED RANGER, 302 V8, AUTO, DUALS, PWR STEERING, RUNS & DRIVES GREAT

1971 Ford F-100 Ranger Description

Back in the day, if you wanted a muscle car but needed a truck for work, you could pick and choose your options and end up with something truly cool like this 1971 Ford F100 Ranger. With running gear that would look at home in a Mustang, a glossy black paint job, and a sporty attitude, this truck does more than just haul cargo.It's subtle with that Raven Black paint job, but it sure looks good doesn't it? You're so used to seeing these in boring '70s colors that the basic black it wears today stands out. It also looks to have been very nicely refinished by guys who knew their stuff, because the shine is quite good, the gaps are neat, and the thing just has a very well-constructed look about it. It's not perfect, but for a truck that's coming up on its 50th birthday in a few years, there's not much to complain about. Even the bed itself appears to have survived in good shape, and is now protected by a spray-in bedliner so you can still put this one to work on weekends. Ford gave the F100 a lot of brightwork in an attempt to move it upmarket with the Ranger trim, and things like the bumpers, grille, and side moldings are in great condition. Hard to believe this is the same truck you ignored for all those years, isn't it?The interior got a few select tricks to help make it stand out, most notably a very nicely trimmed black interior. The seat cover is new and looks fantastic, and with plush black carpets on the floor, it feels a lot more luxurious than it should. It's pretty stock save for the fat three-spoke steering wheel, but given the upscale look of the Ranger package, it works rather well. The neat oval instrument panel with the gauges stashed around the perimeter is all original and a little faded, but still a good way to monitor the engine up front. The original AM radio is gone, replaced by a later AM/FM/cassette head unit feeding speakers set low in the doors. You get a commanding view of the road from up in the cab and it's enhanced by a set of oversized side mirrors that remind you that this is a truck that is ready to get to work if you need it to. Muscle car-like performance comes from a 302 cubic inch V8 under the hood. With a flat torque curve that's right for a pickup, it moves this shiny black hauler with effortless ease. Dressed like it might have been when it lived in a Mustang, the freshly tuned 5.0 sports aluminum valve covers, an open-element air cleaner, and Ford Blue engine enamel that really pops against the black paint. Backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission that was rebuilt last year, it feels torquey and smooth, and the tight feeling of the truck overall suggests that it was never used for heavy labor. A mellow exhaust system features glasspack style mufflers, so it definitely has the right soundtrack behind it, a nice burble at idle and a bit of a snarl when you really punch it. There are new chrome Cragar mags and fresh 255/70/15 white-letter tires to give it a sporty look.Have your cake and eat it too with this awesome F100. Fast, smooth, and nicely finished, it's an unusual choice that will stand out. Call today!