Unique Features Make This 1981 Ford F-350 One of Just 38 Produced

Thanks to its unique combination of trim and paint, this 1981 Ford F-350 is quite rare.

When it comes to Ford trucks, there are certainly models out there that qualify as rare. That also applies to this particular 1981 Ford F-350 that recently popped up on eBay, which is only one of 38 produced in total, though that fact may come as a surprise to many since this isn’t a particularly rare breed of Blue Oval vehicle. As it turns out, that shockingly low figure doesn’t stem from the fact that the 1981 Ford F-350 was built in some sort of scant quantities, but rather, this truck’s combination of trim and paint color.

Out of them many, many F-Series pickups Ford produced in the 1981 model year, the seller notes that this F-350 is one of 38 “F36” trucks built with Custom trim and Raven Black paint. It’s hard to say if that makes it some sort of valuable collector’s item, of course, but in today’s world, people are willing to shell out significant sums of money for vintage pickups and SUVs, so there’s that.

Aside from its rarity, this 1981 F-350 has quite a bit going for it, at least. Wearing its original paint, the pickup has some scratches and other imperfections, but looks pretty fantastic regardless. Most importantly, it’s quite original and everything is present and accounted for, while the interior is in equally sanitary condition. The original bench seat and black carpet look great, and there are no cracks, rips, or tears to speak of.

Mechanically speaking, a 400 cubic-inch V8 provides motivation for the classic pickup, though it has been rebuilt and fitted with an Edelbrock intake manifold and four-barrel carb. It’s mated to a four-speed manual gearbox and the original exhaust, with mileage listed at just a hair over 64k, though there’s no word on whether or not the odometer has rolled over.

Ultimately, in spite of its rarity and condition, this 1981 Ford F-350 wound up selling for $9,600, which seems like a relative bargain. Even if it isn’t supremely rare, which appears to be the case, these old trucks are garnering pretty lofty numbers at auction. Thus, it seems as if someone got a great deal on this particular pickup, which isn’t something that’s easy to come by in the collector vehicle market.

Photos: eBay

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.