(and I have always been kicking myself for letting it get away even before I joined this site, these forums just make me miss it all the more)…

It was a 1997 S/Cab F150 XLT, Lariat, Dark Toreador Red w/ beige lower accent. 4X4, 5.4 auto, tow pkg., trans. cooler, heavy duty EVERYTHING, upgraded shocks (and raised in the rear JUST a little), tan leather (bench seat) with rubber mats over the carpeted mats (over the carpet), keyless entry, 6 disc CD changer, power rear slider, after the cat Flowmaster (1 in – 2 out) with duals out the back. K&N filter, performance chip, bedliner, bug deflector, chrome Westin side bars, and a 100,000 mile warranty – almost everything I could ever want in a daily driver except a moonroof (and I was thinking about doing that) and rear disc brakes. I had coated the front and lower sides with a protective coating (I own a specialty coatings business) so nothing would ever stick to the truck (so cleanup was easy). There wasn’t one mark on that truck (that wasn’t supposed to be there) when I sold it in late 1999. It was so dang nice I had two buyers raising their offers competing for it so I got even more that I was asking for it. At the time I had never even heard of an eBay auction.

I sold it because I needed a truck that I could yuck up by using it as a truck for my business (to work out of and haul my trailers and equipment) and I didn’t have the heart to tear that one up, and it wasn’t feasible to keep it at the time. We had to sell either my truck or my wife’s 1998 Explorer 5.0 AWD XLT, and I lost… SIIIGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

BOY! Do I ever miss that truck. The more I look at brand new ones, the more I want to just buy a 1997-1999 and recreate what I had, but do it JUST the way I want it.

 

Sounds like how "closer9" is going to feel once he cashes that check for his Mustang!

 

something that "cyclone vampire" said in a post about missing a truck he sold after he sold it.

Also, I want to have at least ONE more "hot" vehicle (built motor, all the right parts on the rest of the vehicle) before I get too old to enjoy it, and while I can still do much of the work myself.

I remember how I felt (in younger days) when having a nice ride, built motor, cam, headers, the works, and how much enjoyment I got out of doing it and having it, both driving it and watching others enjoy looking at it.

I will admit that the new F150's are awesome, but it would be stupid to do some of the things I plan to do to a late model truck that was still under warranty.

I guess I watch too much of the Hot Rod shows on TV, and there are too many tricks and parts I want to try out...