Classic 1979 F-150 is a Blast From the Past

Powered by a 351 cubic inch V8, a classic pickup like this would be a great addition to any Ford fan’s garage.

This Ford F-150 doesn’t have a high-tech, high-strength aluminum body. It doesn’t have Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, or even have cruise control. Cup holders? Forget about it.

What it does have, though, is charm and character. If we were in the market for a new truck, we’d try to figure out a way to fit this 1979 Ford F-150 into our lives.

Of course, a restored classic pickup truck might not be the best choice for a daily driver. We’d hate to subject this thing to the nicks, scrapes, and general abuse most trucks see on a daily basis. As a garage-kept weekend toy, however, this F-150 might be about perfect.

Powered by a carbureted 351 cubic inch V8, this pickup has plenty of, well, pick-up to satisfy us. Sure, it’s not as fast as a Raptor, but that’s not the point. A restored classic like this is all about the experience of driving and enjoying the sights and sounds. It’s like taking a trip back to the past.

The single-cab, short-bed configuration might not be the most useful, but it’s probably the most attractive, depending on who you ask. According to the seller, GR Auto Gallery of Grand Rapids, Michigan, this beauty has seen just over 41,000 miles in its lifetime.

That would explain the clean overall condition. The dealership even includes detailed photos of the underside to show off how clean and rust-free this truck is. It doesn’t look half bad for being 40 years old.

At just under $30,000, it’s not just a cheap used pickup. It’s an investment, a piece of history. Like we said above, we’d be tempted to pick one of these over a new F-150, even at over twice the price for, say, an F-150 Platinum.

You’d be sure to have the only one like it at any car show you went to. While classic sports and muscle cars were usually preserved, work trucks like this were used up and thrown away. We’re glad that someone – or several someones – put in the effort to preserve this truck for future generations.

Photos: GR Auto Gallery

Cam VanDerHorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.

He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.

In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.

You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.