.
So I thought I'd share the story of my truck:

Back in 1985 Mr Mainprize walked onto the local Ford dealership and plunked down $7950 for a brand new F150
then proceeded to drive it every day for the next 30 years. The only thing he ever did was regularly change the oil.
He never once left town or ever drove it beyond the city limits. I didn't know him, but would occasionally see him
driving it around, paint fading, tires balding, and the wheel wells gradually starting to rust. Still ..one cool truck.

This past summer, I decided that it was time for me to finally find a fixer-upper of my own, so I began looking
for an older F150, within a reasonable distance from home. I searched almost every day for a month and a half.

One morning, after searching for about an hour on Kijiji and finding nothing of interest, for some reason
I refreshed the page and BOOM there it was!! "posted six minutes ago" for $1400. To make a long story short,
I bought it on the spot for $1200 without even going to see it. I arranged to meet him the next day, took it for a drive
and fell in love with it. He was kind enough to take my $100 deposit and wait a month til I was able to pay him in full.
The frame was rock solid, the interior was faded but spotless, and every single part under the hood was original
...including the spark plug wires stamped "1985".

Mr Mainprize is a pretty decent guy at 83 years old, and I got to know him a bit. The only reason he sold his truck
to buy a new one, was that he finally decided it was time for a vacation to visit his sister who lived out of town
and felt he needed a new vehicle for his first extended road trip of 37 miles. It was time for him to part with it
and all of the 48,977 original miles he had on the odometer.

So I've spent the past 4 months scrounging around yard sales, scrapyards, and word of mouth, and managed to find
a couple of lightly rusted front fenders, 2 rear repair panels, a cab corner, a new original set of front rotors and pads
(in a lady's closet who's husband long since passed away), and 4 nearly-new Firestone tires mounted on rims.
A friend of mine, a certified mechanic, is only charging me $45/hr to replace a ball joint, spring shackle, plugs,
wires, rotor and cap, muffler/tailpipe, and certify it with a safety inspection ...all the above for a total of $1087.

I learned to do my own bodywork as a teen by watching a guy called Ed, just a real fine 75 year old-timer I know,
who has spent his entire working life, quietly earning a living doing bodywork for almost 50 years in his garage,
never advertising anywhere, no sign on his shop, and no phone. A true craftsman, Ed simply loves his work.
He finally retired a month ago but kindly offered to do one last job and restore the body on my truck for me.
For the sake of a good story, I think I might just have Ed weave his magic one last time.

This is not about money, but for $2287, I couldn't be happier, and am looking forward to soon getting it on the road.
My plan is to drive it every day for the next 20 years, except for winters, and eventually passing it along
to someone else, in better shape than I found it, along with the continuing story of my good ol' truck.
The best part is that is I've met a lot of real nice people along the way.

And while I'm here, I want to thank the administrators and generous contributing members for this amazing forum.

Mookie
.

 

First of all, Welcome !
Second,
Nice....a truck with history and a new owner with proper respect and intentions.
Damn good to hear a story like this ! IMO...that truck's name should be...."Mr. Mainprize".
It says it all.
What a tribute that would be. Thank You for sharing !

 

I am looking forward to following your story, Mookie's 85!

 

That's a cool story

 

Great story, and a nice ride!

 

...are we there yet?

.

 

That will slow you down when you don't have a garage..........or my case garage with no heat.
Dave ----

 

So I got the truck on the road in early spring and have been driving it daily ever since.
Took my time to restore the body and now have it near ready for paint, probably next spring.

Its a lazy, unhurried 40 minute drive to work, taking the back roads past cornfields,
dairy farms, and a couple of small communities, and not a week goes by
that I don't return a friendly nod from someone.

Now, I don't know about you guys, but driving my good ol' truck never gets old
'cause for me, everything changes like magic when I get behind the wheel.
Happens every time. ...I feel like I'm the luckiest guy in the world.

.

 

I like your attitude!

 

Yessir, I agree totally!

I feel like a loser every time I get in my new truck, I feel like a winner every time I get in my old truck!

So I got rid of the new truck!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Here's a vid clip of the finished bodywork, ready for paint. I worked every inch of the truck to ensure that it lasts,
but purposely left a small dent on the front fender as a reminder that this good ol' truck is my everyday driver.
At this time of year its a bit too cool here for painting, so I'll leave it until late next spring to finish it,
and since my wife loves it (but will only drive it if it looks "spooky") I decided on a dark satin grey.

As long as I have it, this will never be a shiny showroom truck, and for all its been thru over the years
its earned its rest time ...and will never see another winter again.

.

 

*Sniff* it brings a bit of a tear to my dry old eyes.

Love the story. Good on you for rescuing the old beauty.

I'm with you on the good feeling you get driving it. I experience the same thing with my 86. I wrench on it, which is becoming fun, I learn a lot and no matter how much I spend on parts I'm never going to get to new truck price.

Let's see some inside pics and maybe some from under the hood

 

Is funny how a man can fall in love with his truck... I smile every time I get in mine....Even as I pump it 50 times to start it... I am glad you have found your soul mate...

 

O man O man!!

I can help you with this!

 

Great story, love this stuff. Beautiful work bringing it back to life! I can completely identify with this madness. I have a small motor pool of elderly Ford iron as well, a 79 Bronco (wheeler) 84 F150 4x4 (my high school sweetheart), 84 F250 4x4 (farm/plow truck), 91 F150 4x4 ( adopted orphan) and a 97 F250 4x2 (the hauler). They all have their own personality that's for sure. Old Ford trucks are like a fine wine, they get sweeter with age. I live in Chebby country, so it's easy to get noticed among all the late model Silverados and Sierras. I try my best to keep my rigs looking as good as they can be, it's not unusual to get a wave, nod, or a compliment. Pretty cool...