We leave towing capacity and horsepower figures out of the equation and list the 10 best Ford trucks and SUVs of the 70s and 80s based on looks alone.
Intro
A couple of months back we held what could be described as a Ford truck beauty contest. For once we ignored engine size, towing capacity and off-road ability and focused purely on looks. It is admittedly a completely subjective way to look at trucks. But it is fun, and we all have opinions on the subject so we thought we would try it again but with a slightly different approach. This time we are including SUVs, but we are limiting the list to only models that were made in the 1970s and 1980s. The following is the list of best-looking Ford trucks and SUVs from that era listed from oldest to newest. A note on the dates, we realize that some of these model generations start before 1970 or run beyond 1989. To keep the list a bit cleaner we only listed the years between 1970 and 1989. Do you have any Ford trucks or SUVs that you would add to our list?
1. 1970 – 1972 F-250 Flareside
We love the looks of all the trucks from this generation, so narrowing the list down to ten isn’t easy. But we especially love the Flareside look so we had to include these trucks. They are over 50 years old at this point, but a good design never goes out of style. And these trucks have more style than most of the trucks that are being built today. We think this is one of the best from the 1970s.
2. 1970 – 1977 Bronco
The first-generation Bronco was built from 1966 until 1977, and nothing else looks like a first gen Bronco. It was designed to compete with the Jeep CJ, and it certainly did that. Ford sold about 24,000 of these in the first year alone. Today they are highly sought after by collectors, and they make a great restomod platform.
3. 1970 – 1977.5 F-250 Highboy
What do we need to say about the Highboy that hasn’t already been said? Because the 4-wheel-drive trucks at the time required a divorced transfer case and a longer front driveshaft greater clearance was needed. The result is a Ford truck with a body lift from the factory. Many fans feel like these are the best-looking Ford trucks ever, so we had to put them on our list.
4. 1976 – 1979 F-100 Custom Flareside
Just look at the truck in this picture and tell us it is not one of the best-looking ever. These sixth generation F-Series trucks are some of the best-looking in general and we think the Flareside style elevates them over the others. These trucks are simply lovely to look at and easily earn a spot on our list.
5. 1977 – 1981 Bronco Free Wheeling
The Bronco Free Wheeling package was offered from 1977 until 1981. It was so popular that Ford just brought it back for the current Bronco and Bronco Sport models. These SUVs are tough to miss thanks to their colorful decals along the sides. They give the already handsome Bronco a splash of color and flair that we still appreciate today.
6. 1978 – 1979 F-100 Explorer
Maybe it is just the color (Ford, please offer us some green F-150s again) but the sixth-generation Ford F-100 Explorer pickups just look fantastic. The ‘dentside’ styling worked when the trucks were new, and it still looks good today. They look purposeful yet stylish at the same time.
7. 1980 – 1986 Bronco
After a very short two-year run for the second-generation Bronco, the third generation came online in 1980. It was a bit smaller and lighter than the second generation, but it was still a full-size SUV. A fact that is very clear by simply looking at a picture of them. Some of the hardcore off-roaders were saddened by the loss of the solid front axle, but the third-generation Bronco was much more comfortable on the road and still had the rugged good looks.
8. 1980 – 1986 F-100 Ranger
Two-tone color schemes get us every time, but even if these trucks were solid black they would still look great. The F-100 was the entry-level F-series in 1980, so it didn’t get the bigger V8 engine options, but none of that matters in a beauty contest. The F-100 was and still is a great-looking truck.
9. 1983 – 1989 Ranger
The first Ford Ranger model debuted in 1983. It replaced the Ford Courier, which was essentially a Mazda. But the Ranger was designed by Ford, and it was offered with two wheelbases and bed sizes. These compact trucks were small in stature but big in style. I have a soft spot for these trucks because my buddy drove us to our high school graduation in his old first-generation Ford Ranger pickup. We fell out of touch, but I still remember that Ranger. Personal connections aside, these are good-looking trucks.
10. 1987 – 1989 F-350 Super Crew DRW
These trucks have it all. Two-tone paint scheme? Check. Flared rear fenders? Check. Dual rear wheels? Check. How can we not include this truck on our list? It closed out what some people believe is one of the greatest decades ever. Have things really gotten better since the 1980s? It depends on what you are referring to and who you are asking. But when it comes Ford truck style, the 1989 F-350 Super Crew DRW was a stylish exclamation point at the end of a colorful decade.
Images: Ford
