On my last day of the eighth grade my father picked me up in his brand new 1970 Ford F-100 pickup truck. It was a fine vehicle indeed, with its six cylinder engine and three speed, column shift transmission. This was an era when a pickup truck didn’t comfortably seat a family of five and take up two parking spaces. The only piece of optional equipment was the heavy duty, rear step bumper, bringing the total price to $2025. The two big choices back then were short or long bed and six or eight cylinder engine.
The following year I was driving the truck with my brand new learner’s license. Not long after that, I was doing routine maintenance on the vehicle; oil changes and tune-ups. There were no complicated electronics systems and all components were easily accessible, even to a novice mechanic, although there was never a breakdown or serious problem of any sort.
Though there were no luxury features, not even carpet, and air conditioning was practically unheard of in a pickup, none were expected. The truck served it’s utilitarian purpose efficiently. Classified as a short bed model, the cargo bed still boasted six feet of width and nearly seven feet of length, more than enough for any task we demanded of it. Having bought some land in the country and building a homestead from scratch, it was ideal for hauling anything from lumber to sacks of concrete.
But what makes it my favorite vehicle is not only the practical value of the long lasting Ford, but the sentimental value. When my father passed away in 1993 the truck was a mere 23 years old and was a long way from outliving it’s usefulness. The truck was my inheritance and I have treasured it ever since. The original color was New Lime green and I have painted it a deeper shade of green, but have made no major changes, preferring to keep it as original as possible.
Having benefited from not only durable construction, she has also enjoyed a long lifetime in the southern United States. The body and chassis are virtually free from rust and the original chrome is still intact.
The only comfort feature in the truck was a heater and I had a radio installed for my dad’s birthday when I was sixteen. I have since upgraded the sound system somewhat and replaced the original bench seat with some nicer bucket seats. The factory drive train components are still intact, and she runs well. I have replaced normal wear and tear items over the years, such as the water pump, clutch and alternator. It is a joy to work on for someone who grew up in an era when people took pride in maintaining their own vehicles.
The old pickup is quite the conversation starter. The most common questions I get are what year model is it? followed by is it for sale? It’s not, of course. After spending over 41 years in the family, it will will be passed on to my daughter, who, hopefully, will get many more years of service from the old family friend.