Stunning First-Gen Ford F-150 Lightning Will Leave You Thunderstruck
This gorgeous ’95 Lightning is so nice that you’ll have a hard time believing it’s traveled 80k miles.
Today, four-wheel drive desert blasters like the Ford Raptor rule the world of performance trucks. But that wasn’t always the case, of course. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, low-slung, two-wheel drive trucks ruled the roost. And Ford’s ultimate offering of speed at the time was, of course, the SVT Lightning. Essentially a Mustang GT trapped in an F-150’s body, the Lightning proved to be a formidable foe at drag strips across this great nation of ours. Both during its time in production and even today.
As a result, finding an unmodified gem is getting harder and harder these days. So when we spotted this gorgeous early Lightning up for grabs at Bring a Trailer, we knew we had stumbled across something special. This 1995 model was the last of the first-gens before a brief hiatus and successful return, making it significant in its own right. And it’s red, which just looks right on these trucks in our humble opinion.
Just 2,280 Lightning pickups were built in ’95, and this is number 120. The previous owner kept it in their possession for 20 years, and obviously cared for it dearly. Despite sporting 80k miles on the odometer, this truck looks absolutely immaculate. Unsurprisingly, that condition is backed up by a rather extensive maintenance log and receipts for all completed work.
As a result, negatives are at a bare minimum here. The tailgate was repainted at some point. The tires, battery, starter relay, radius-rod bushing, and muffler have been replaced. Otherwise, this beautiful Lightning remains in mostly original condition. The previous owner installed a drop-in bed liner and aftermarket radio, but that’s it.
Looking around, inside, and underneath this Lightning, you’d have a hard time telling that it was ever even used. Everything from the paint to the engine bay to the interior looks absolutely immaculate. This is truly a stunning example of a legendary performance truck. One that somebody will likely take home at a discount, given the higher mileage. Not that we think 80k is a lot, but discerning collectors prefer ultra-low numbers, of course.
The first-gen Lightning remains one of our very favorite trucks, despite its rather pedestrian (by today’s standards) 240 horsepower. And even though you could certainly coax a lot more out of this one’s 351 Windsor mill, we’d leave it just as it is. And that’s a shining example of the truck built to retake the crown in the performance pickup market.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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