1974 Ford F-100 Is One Heck of a Cool Find
Years ago, this old abandoned pickup wasn't worth much, but today, it's a highly coveted find.
Nice Score
There was a time, long ago, when old trucks could be had for pennies on the dollar. But one day, collectors began taking interest in old pickups, and now, they're quite expensive. That phenomenon has also led a number of barn hunters around the country to seek out old, abandoned trucks, like this 1974 Ford F-100 recently discovered by Chad Ehrlich, the owner of Nobody Else's Auto in Great Bend, Kansas, as reported by Hot Rod.
Photos: Chad Ehrlich for Hot Rod
Surprisingly Intact
Like many old trucks, this one was parked out in a field somewhere and simply left to rot. There were trees growing up around and through it, but otherwise, it's in pretty excellent condition, surprisingly. There's no rust to be found, though the bed was replaced at some point.
Photos: Chad Ehrlich for Hot Rod
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Original Goodes
The original hub caps are still there, along with a 1970s style step rear bumper. The original owner's manual was found sitting in the seat, and the original V8 and manual transmission are still in place. We bet it'll run with just a little bit of work, too, if we were the betting types.
Photos: Chad Ehrlich for Hot Rod
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Worth Saving
Having said that, this old F-100 is definitely a big-time project. There are quite a few dents in its bodywork, the interior and engine bay are crusty, and there isn't much here that won't need some attention. But like every classic Blue Oval truck, it deserves saving.
Photos: Chad Ehrlich for Hot Rod
>>Join the conversation about this 1974 F-100 right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Back To Life
Personally, we think it would be cool to fix this thing up mechanically, get it running and driving, and then simply enjoy it as-is. Or, you could spend the dough and make it cosmetically perfect. But there's just something cool about the idea of taking an old abandoned truck and bringing it back to life that's quite appealing.
Photos: Chad Ehrlich for Hot Rod
>>Join the conversation about this 1974 F-100 right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Admirable Work
Regardless of what the new owner chooses to do with it, we're just happy to see folks like Ehrlich out there finding and saving old Ford trucks. After all, following a life of hard work, this F-100 deserves better than its former fate of sitting in a field and rotting away.
Photos: Chad Ehrlich for Hot Rod
>>Join the conversation about this 1974 F-100 right here in Ford-trucks.com.
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.