I have a 1978 F-150, Value?

455

Asked by Mikes78 May 06, 2008 at 01:45 PM about the 1978 Ford F-150

Question type: Shopping & Pricing

I have a 1978 F-150 Ranger 4x4. Short bed, Trailer Special.Step bumper,Receiver hitch. Factory lockout hubs,351m 4v New Holley carb,Edelbrock intake.C6,PS,PB, Factory air. Original interior in excellent shape. New base clear in factory dark brown.10.50x33 tires on American racing aluminum wheels.Deluxe Chrome including fenderwells.55,936 original miles. I also have the original wheels and hubcaps, intake,breather,etc.Runs and drives like new. What is it worth?

35 Answers

83,765

Hard to say since it has been so modified. Might try asking $5,000 for it and see what you get.

3 people found this helpful.
455

Oh yeah, I forgot to add, not a speck of rust. Sanded it down myself before the paint job. I have been told that this is very rare.

1 people found this helpful.
2,395

i was gonna offer a dollar for it since it's a ford but i'll make it 5 dollars because you've added alot

4 people found this helpful.
4,880

let's be honest here...it's a 30 year ford...i think a ton of scrap is in the neighborhood of $75.00...what does the truck weigh...

4 people found this helpful.
455

Scrap? You must be a Chevy or Dodge fan to say such a thing about a REAL truck. I also have a 97 Ranger XLT with 202,000 on it with the original engine , does not use oil and I have spent only for tires, brakes (once), never had the clutch replaced and looks like it has maybe 30 grand on it. And it still averages 25.6 miles to the gallon on gas. So don't be giving me crap about Ford trucks.

12 people found this helpful.
35

I would say around 4,000 considering the low miles maybe 5000 if you throw in all the original wheels and parts

1 people found this helpful.
2,395

wooooooooooooooooooowww a ford ranger a real truck? LMAO try driving a full size truck... rangers are just big cars

455

Now,Now. I know for sure now your a Chevy man. Anyone who knows trucks knows that it is not a real truck unless it has Ford wrote on it. I wasn't talking about the Ranger as the real truck, I was talking about the 78.

3 people found this helpful.
2,395

anyone who knows anything about any vehicles knows anything with Ford on it.. is scrap.. F.O.R.D = Filthy Old Rolling Dumpster

455

I give up! you guys are ganging up on me. Actually the worst vehicle I ever owned was an 82 Toyota pickup. I have never driven a more loud rough riding piece of junk in my life. I hated everything about that truck and couldn't wait to get rid of it. And everyone claims the Japanese can do no wrong. There are good and bad with all brands to be truthful.

1 people found this helpful.
16,745

To be honest Toyota's reputation is built on a lie. You gotta remember their reputation was primarily built on the Corollas and Camry's of the 90s, unlike Honda who's reputation is from the 80s... Many forget though that these cars were design and built in GM facilities... There is a reason Geo's are so similar to these cars. Fun thing is you can actually (if you look hard) find a Toyota Cavalier or a Chevy Corolla... Had a buddy in high school who had a Toyota Cavalier. As for their trucks... I'm sorry but they basically stamped what they are on the back of the sport pickups... TRD... atleast they tell you in advance. And I agree there is something wrong with all the brands, Ford gets the brunt of it because Chevy and Dodge fan boys gang up on 'em more than each other... I think it's also annoying they claim to be the best selling pickups... Granted I think both Chevy and Dodge would win if they pulled their trick 'The Ford F-series... I.E. all there models of trucks' Can't even trust the Consumer guides anymore as for reliability. They base how good a car is on the warranty...granted the reliability of a vehicle is reflected in how much a company is willing to back it, but it's just as easy to not back it just in case. I dunno the whole industry is a bit screwy in the end...I need a new hobby... My $0.02

2 people found this helpful.
45

Don't feel bad man I am a Dodge man myself but these boneheads in here are just making a bad name for us other Dodge owners by running their mouths. Save it for the track. I hate all of Fords new stuff but their old trucks aren't all that bad. A 78 Ranger is a full-size isn't it if I am not mistaken.

1 people found this helpful.
25

FORD = First On Race Day I'm not sure what your truck is worth but it's sure worth alot more than what ever a ton of scrap is worth! Why don't you get it appraised? Oh and by the way, the Chevy trucks DO get lumped in with the GMC trucks when they talk about how good they sell. GMC = Garage Man's Companion

1 people found this helpful.
25

Hey, are you all forgetting what the original question was???? This is just turning into a war of makes. I'm sure there are other places to do that!

1 people found this helpful.
15

you gotta remember just b/c you did all that shit to it doesn't mean that its worth a ton but i drive a ford and i know that they arre bad ass so i wanna say maybe 2,500 becuase of the year

455

Well what I am thinking is that it has only 55000 miles and I am only the second owner and it is mostly original with no rust. Short bed 4x4s rust free for this model are very rare according to what I am told. I am going to the National F100 show in Knoxville,Tn. this week to see if I get any offers. Wish me luck! Also you are right the 78 Ranger is an F150 full size.

2 people found this helpful.
455

Update, went to the show, The judges and several people at the show told me to take no less than $14,000 and it could actually bring up to $20,000 considering it's condition and rarity. Oh yeah we won a class trophy at the show.

5 people found this helpful.
20

C-H-E-V-R-O-L-E-T Cracked Head, Every Valve Rattles, Oil Leaks Every Time I dont like ford myself, but i thought you may want to hear this one.

2 people found this helpful.
90

I have an all original 1978 Ranger yellow and white 87,902 miles. Beyond excellent condition and i have been offered $30,000 for it and i won't let it go. It was bought brand new by my mother in law and i am the second owner. It has a 300 6cylinder two wheel drive. I have had it in the classic car shows here in southern Missouri, Northern Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky,and Oklahoma. I would say as modified as yours is, to the right collector such as i, the truck would bring around $3500 in this area just due to the fact it isn't original. And to those who are ignorant, in 1978, the Ranger was the full-size ford pickup, in 1981, ford began building the small ranger separate from the ranger F150, and i know because i was in the ford plant in St Louis building then during those years!!!

2 people found this helpful.
90

In 1978, The ranger was the full size ford! i worked at the Ford Plant in St Louis during the 60s-90's and beyond doubt, Fords last longer than anything on the road if maintained properly. We built more trucks during the seventies and early eighties than any other auto manufacurer and you still see more older fords on the road than any other make, just open your eyes and look around how many old chevys etc do you see?

2 people found this helpful.
285

ford has been the best selling truck in America for over 30 years explain that one i own a 1985 ford f150 300 straight 6 best truck ive ever owned

15

I get a kick out of the people that say i'm a Ford guy, or i'm a Chevy guy, and everything else sucks. I've owned them all, some good, some not so good. Currently i have a 1978 Ford F150, (worked 306, 4-speed, 2wd, restored), also a 1996 Chevy Tahoe, a 1971 chevy Monte Carlo (mostly restored), and a 1960 Sunbeam Alpine (needs restored), and i love them all. As far as the original question goes, the 4wd trucks seem to me to be more popular and get more, but i've seen trucks going from as low as $ 500 to as much as $ 22,500. The biggest problem is in 1978 they built so many trucks that none are really that rare. But that body style only lasted 2 years and to me is one of the best looking Ford trucks ever built (1956 F100 takes my # 1), your truck is only going to be worth what someone is willing to pay for it and if you find the right buyer you could make quite a bit.

1 people found this helpful.
14,355

It's value is only what someone will pay for it. If you find the right buyer, you might get $7500.00 to $8500.00 for it ,if it's as clean as you say it is. Go look on Ebay and see what comparable trucks are selling for, not what they are asking for them. Any of the 70's F-series shortbed trucks are collectable now a lot more so than the long beds. Everyone wants a shortbed. But the current gas prices are keeping their prices down from where they should be especially the 4wd trucks. I've got an original 1979 F-250 4X4 with only 39K original one owner(me) miles that I bought new in march of '79 and I won't sell it because I can't get what I know it's worth right now so I'm holding on to it for now.. The 1970's Ford trucks were the best selling and best looking Ford Trucks ever built. With the economy in the toilet, older truck prices are not where they should be right now. Kenny / MrBlueOval

4 people found this helpful.
115

Its too bad it has a 351m in it. Those motors are not near as good as a "W" or a "C." But i would say around 5000 maybe 6000

I have a 78 F100 Ranger shortbed stepside that is completely original, faded paint, mediocre interior, 340,000 miles on my 302 and 3 speed, no leaks, daily driver, been offered $4000 last year and turned it down.

10

Best work trucks out there are the Fords really take a look ... most emergency vehicles are fords ...most work trucks, construction, farm, tow truck, contractors that use there trucks besides to just drive to the work sites. Are fords. They wasnt always the best looking, or even the best running, but they almost always ran and always got the job done. Now you will get your few that wasnt taken care of, and let you down, but over all best work truck out there Ford. ....just stop and look at the vehicles that are doing the work, and you will mostly see the blue oval!!!

1 people found this helpful.
15

A vehicle is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it

1 people found this helpful.

I was given a old 78 ford 4x4 F150 that sat out in the pasture with a broken spark plug. Got the plug out and the old 351 m started right up . Running off a gal oil jug as sure the gas tank needs new. I thing from the carb to ball joints every thing on this old tuck needs replace. I took the old rusted box off. But better doors on and the cab seems in decent shape. Sure as it will now start up worth more then scrap like 600 on up. Also seen some 78s all fix up 70 percent decent worth 12 thousand on up. And some 5000.00 . All I know I could have 10 thousand in this fine machine if I try to do a lot my self. I no body man, but could do ball joints, and miner things. And may be just as easy to find one fixed up for 12 thousand!

I just bought a 1978 Ford F150 and trying to learn about how to take care of it. Are there any good books out there I can refer to?

20

for those of you that think 70's model rangers are not a full size truck ,heres what they look like

2 people found this helpful.

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