Ford F-150 is a Perfect Showcase of 1980s Styling

Fresh paint, spotless chrome, simple mods and plenty of care have kept this 1988 F-150 looking great inside and out.

While scrolling through the trucks listed for sale on StreetsideClassics.com, looking for projects that we definitely do not need, we came across a Ford F-150 that doesn’t need anything to be enjoyed. This 1988 F-Series is spotless inside and out, so anyone looking for a truck to cruise in this summer might find it to be the perfect option, while those Ford fans who want to go big could use this F-150 as a great basis for a build.

Spotless, Classic Look

This 1988 Ford F-150 was “recently” painted dark blue and while we don’t know how just fresh the paint is, it looks amazing from every angle. When you add in the few black accents, including the era-correct smoked headlight covers, and the gobs of bright chrome, there is no question that this F-150 is show-worthy. We might not see many 1988 F-Series pickups at shows, but it is because very few look like this one.

On the inside, this F-150 is almost as perfect as it is on the outside.

The grey carpeting and matching bench seat look like they are brand new, as do the dash and door panels. There is a touch of wear on the steering wheel, but for a truck with almost 115,000 miles on the odometer, the condition is fantastic. In fact, the only aspect of this truck that doesn’t look new is the radio, but that problem is easily solved with a modern replacement or a clean version of this original piece.

Finally, as you might expect, the engine bay is just as clean as the rest of the truck. This F-150 is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 that is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, both of which are unmodified. In stock form, the V8-manual combo likely make this old half-ton a full ton of fun to drive.

Simple Upgrades

The vast majority of this Ford truck is stock, but there have been a few upgrades. On the outside, a previous owner added a chrome rollover bar that carries a set of LED off-road lights, along with a set of American Racing wheels wrapped in aggressive mud terrain tires. There is also a 5^th wheel connection in addition to the bumper-pull connection, so this half-ton truck is equipped to pull just about any trailer.

Drive or Build

This 1988 Ford F-150 is nice enough that it would make a perfect daily driver on clear days while fitting in nicely at your local Cars and Coffee or classic car show.

Then again, if this look is too mild, you could add a suspension setup to increase the ride height, allowing for even bigger wheel-and-tire combinations. At the same time, if you are going to lift this truck, you might as well add a little extra power, which won’t be too hard thanks to the endless aftermarket for the 5.0-powered Fox Body Mustangs.

Whether you are looking for a turnkey daily driver that will double as a weekend cruiser or a basis for a build that won’t require any bodywork, this 1988 Ford F-150 is perfect in just about every way.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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