Before the Ford Explorer SUV, there was the Ford F-Series Explorer pickup truck. The Explorer was an appearance package offered at the time across the entire F-Series lineup, from the F-100 to the F-350. That includes this particular pickup, a 1977 F-250 Custom single cab with a nice red exterior with white stripes. But you wouldn’t know it with all the dirt there.
That’s where the WD Detailing team comes in. After 35 years of sitting in a barn, the owner is finally giving it some attention. But before that happens, it must be freed from the prison of barrels, pallets and equipment blocking the exit. To make matters worse, the tires are flat and the barn floor is covered in mud. The old truck eventually rolls into the light, where we have a clearer idea of the challenge that awaits us. Dirt is literally encrusted on the outside and a quick glance inside shows a disgusting amount of mouse droppings.
It was during the extraction that we also learned that the truck only had 17,000 miles on the odometer. Provided there are no life-threatening injuries on this Ford, it could be worth a pretty penny once everything is cleaned up. We see a large dent on the driver’s side door, believed to have been caused by a cow during its time in the barn, and there is quite a bit of pitting in the paint on the passenger side. There’s no noticeable rust to speak of, however, so the initial prognosis for the F-250 is good.
And it gets better as layers of dirt are removed under pressure. The Explorer package’s white stripes contrast nicely with the red finish, and the interior also cleans remarkably well, despite the nest of mice occupying the glovebox. As for the low mileage on the odometer, a quick look at the bottom of the seat shows very little wear. All indications point to the mileage being legitimate.
The detail team does not attempt to start the pickup. It has a 400 cubic inch V8 under the hood that probably needs extensive servicing before turning over. But a machine polish gives the paint a delightful shine and it looks ready for some off-road fun.
Time has been very kind to American trucks of the 1970s and 1980s. A quick internet search reveals all manner of late 1970s F-250 pickups, selling for between $20,000 and $60,000. A similar single-cab truck, without the Explorer package, sold on Bring a Trailer late last year for $38,000, and its mileage was twice that. Whether this one goes to the trails or to an auction house, it’s just nice to see everything cleaned up.
