Ford F-150 SVT Lightning and Harley Davidson Edition Buyer’s Guide
Now may be the best time to buy a Ford F-150 SVT Lightning or Harley Davidson edition, two of the best limited edition trucks Ford ever produced.
Muscle trucks will always be cool. There’s just something about the combination of performance and practicality wrapped up in a custom package. Two of the best muscle trucks are the Ford SVT Lightning and F-150 Harley Davidson. Both have a presence that looks at home on the job site, in car shows, or at the drag strip. And with the recent collector interest, this might be the best time to buy one of these limited edition trucks.
Ford SVT Lightning
The 1993-95 Lightning was Ford’s first foray into the muscle truck world. The Special Vehicle Team took Ford’s venerable 5.8 liter Windsor V-8, added GT-40 heads, tuned intake manifold, and tubular stainless-steel headers. Combining a four-speed automatic transmission with 4.10 gears, the result was a 4400 pound truck that could run with the Mustang. Ford sold 11,563 first generation Lightnings, which came in white, Raven Black, or Bright Red.
Most sequels fail to live up to the original, but that’s not the case with the second-gen SVT Lightning. Built from 1999 to 2004, Ford produced 28,124 examples, more than twice the number of the original Lightning. Powered by a 360 hp supercharged version of its 5.4 liter Triton V-8, the second-gen Lightning could hit 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. Quarter mile times were in the high-13 second range with a trap speed of 104 mph. This level of performance rivaled muscle cars of the same era while still giving the Lightning a 5,000 towing capacity.
Ford F-150 Harley Davidson
Beginning as a special edition package in 2000, the Ford F-150 Harley Davidson evolved into a muscle truck, eventually replacing the Lightning. The package included a lowered suspension, special paint, and Harley Davidson badges. The supercharged Triton V-8 was available in 2002 and 2003, producing slightly less power than the SVT Lightning. No F-150 Harley Davidsons were produced in 2004 or 2005, but they returned for the 2006 through 2008 model years. A final run of F-150 Harley Davidsons, produced in 2010 and 2011, had more powerful, naturally aspirated engines and came in Ingot Silver or Tuxedo Black paint.
What to Look For
A good resource for these trucks is our own Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forum, which has a lot of good information. And they often show up for sale on Bring-A-Trailer. Both the SVT Lightning and Harley Davidson packages are F-150s at heart and share drivetrain components with the Super Duty trucks. They are tough, reliable, and can run for hundreds of thousands of miles.
If there is a weak area, it could be the 5.4 Triton V-8, which had an early reputation for spitting out sparkplugs. Over time the Triton developed a history of reliability and longevity, so these problems should be mostly resolved. Even so, these trucks are going on 10, 20, even 30 years old, so expect to spend some money on wear and tear items and maintenance.
The key is spending the money up front to get the best truck in your price range. Buying the cheapest truck will always cost you more money in the long run. A good ownership history and complete maintenance records are worth a premium, even more than low mileage. And always, ALWAYS get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Avoid anything that “ran when parked”, “needs a few things to get back on the road”, or “just needs to be finished up”. If the truck has aftermarket performance modifications, or is being sold by a young kid wearing a Chevy hat, RUN.
Which Truck to Buy
Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. The Harleys weren’t quite as fast as the SVT Lightnings owing to their heavier curb weight and slightly less power. But their Super-Cab and Super-Crew configurations are more practical. Lightnings usually came in bold colors giving off a 70’s muscle car vibe. The Harleys were more subtle, wearing black, silver or gray and had more interior upgrades.
In terms of price, look to pay between $20 – 30K for a good 2nd Gen Lightning. Harley Davidsons are typically about $5,000 less. The Lightning is currently the hotter commodity, with early ones increasing in value, but the Harley Davidson edition also has appreciation potential. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Both the Lightning and Harley Davidson trucks will do everything you ask of them. Best of all, they look good and are enjoyable to drive.
Photos: Bring A Trailer
