(first posted 7/11/2016) Half a century of work is a lifetime for most, enough to take a person born after 1960 to their full Social Security retirement age of 66, and for a truck it is more than a lifetime, decades past when most will be retired to rust away or for restoration. A 1966 pickup truck still at work like Paul’s Ford F100 is a rarity, so you can imagine my pleasant surprise at randomly running across its East Coast big brother waiting curbside in northern Virginia. It is in unrestored condition and still in the hands of its first owner, who himself just turned 66, and is parked within sight of Interstate 66, making it a remarkable coincidence of numerology as well as a remarkable survivor.
I call it a “big brother” 1966 Ford pickup because it is an F250, a ¾ ton with a 128 inch wheelbase, compared to the F100’s ½ ton rating, and which came in both 115 and 128 inch wheelbase versions. The F250 was rarer, with 79,345 F250s produced in 1966, including 58,489 in this configuration, Styleside 4×2, whereas Ford produced 260,873 F100s, including 224,497 Styleside 4x2s. (All figures are from www.oldride.com.)
This F250 has the optional Custom Cab that was accented with chrome inside and outside, in places where the base cab used paint – bumper, grille, window surrounds, dashboard. The door mirror that looks like the tail end of a finned aerial bomb appears to be an aftermarket accessory, with the original rear view mirror mounting point plugged above it. Otherwise, this old workhorse looks highly original, with small scars, some rust on the lower body, a slightly bent front bumper, and some impressive patina on the driver’s door from 50 years of driving with an elbow out the window – a necessity in the old days when air conditioning in a pickup was unheard of.
The Ford’s owner, Bill, told me about some of his 50 year history in this no-nonsense cab. He has been behind this wheel since the truck was new in 1966, when he was 16 years old and driving under a farmer’s license in New Jersey. He used it to deliver produce up and down the Jersey Shore for many years. He kept the truck when he moved to northern Virginia and still drives it on a regular basis, with no intention of ever letting it go. It is safe to say that they are inseparable.
The V8 badge on the hood indicates that this F250 has the top engine option in 1966. The F100 and F250 came standard with the 240 cubic inch six, and the 300 cubic inch inline six and a 352 cubic inch FE-series V-8 were optional, with 3-speed and 4-speed manual transmissions and a Cruise-O-Matic automatic all available in 4x2s. With the 352 cubic inch V8 and the long shift lever of the HD four speed manual (with extra-low first gear) stretching almost to the top of the dashboard, this F250 can easily haul to its ¾ ton rated capacity and more.
The business end of Bill’s F250 looks ready for another several decades of work. Ford’s steel bed, which motivated Paul to choose a Ford over a comparable Chevy with its old-fashioned wood bed floor, looks solid here. Not visible in any of the photos is a built-in tool compartment under the cargo floor in front of the right wheel opening, which was a Ford factory option giving the pickup additional utility.
The 352 cubic inch V8 gave an impressive roar when Bill started it and pulled away, courtesy of a worn exhaust. Having grown up in area with plenty of similar-sounding old pickups at a time when it was transitioning from a rural and agricultural area to a suburban bedroom community, I found its sound to be familiar and pleasant. Some people in a neighborhood of two-professional couples with BMWs and VWs may feel differently, but they should show some respect to an old truck that may have been at work twice as long as they have.
No disrespect to the red Ford F450 Super Duty and its owner in the background, hard at work in their own right, is intended by saying that the newer truck has a long way to go to equal its 50 year old ancestor. This 1966 Ford F250 already has had a full truck’s lifetime of work behind it and continues to haul away for its very-long-term owner. It is the sort of solid old truck that brings a smile to the face of anyone who genuinely appreciates automobiles, and I expect to see (and hear) it going about its business locally for many years to come.
That Custom cab badge certainly got around the Ford truck lineup.Two years after this pickup was built a friends father traded his 56 Customline for a British Ford D series 8 ton truck with a huge box body on it for a bread delivery contract the cab wore Custom cab badges on both doors I rode in that truck many a morning lending a hand with my friend after we had completed our paper delivery rounds, that Cabover had a 300 petrol engine and four speed being only a light duty truck for very light freight like bread in cages that wheeled in and out.
Beautiful truck; nice functional and logical proportions. Someone has been very careful with this beauty and given it loving care.
I think I see eight lugs per wheel. Nice find.
yep, 8 lugs and a full-floating rear axle. Probably a Dana 60.
And a bone-jarring hard ride when empty to go along with it. 🙂
There’s been plenty of time I wished I had an f250, bit most of time, when it’s not overloaded, I appreciate the much better ride of my F100.
I like these trucks. I found this ad in one of my magazines.
This was (and still is, for that matter) quite a nice F-250. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an F-250 of this vintage so nicely equipped with two-tone paint and higher level trim. There is something quite comforting in seeing an old pickup that has been used but not abused.
For having been used as it has, the floor of the bed looks amazing. Bill sounds like a great guy.
The details of the 66 have made it my favorite of this generation of Ford trucks. It is amazing to see a heavy duty F-250 still in this kind of condition after all these years. As good as the sixes were in these, I would have had a hard time resisting the allure of the FE V8.
When I was a teen and these were still common, I used to laugh at how the”Custom Cab” still got you a painted metal interior. But I later bought a really basic 63 F-100 and realized what an upgrade the Custom Cab really was. I remember seeing that Custom Cab logo on some pretty big trucks, too.
I actually like the clean and simple grille of the ’65 better. The ’66 grille seems a bit fussy and contrived.
I always thought that the 65 grille made it look too much like an International. One thing is certain, they figured out a lot of different ways to fill that big rectangle between the headlights between 1961 and 1966.
I agree. Contrived is how I felt about it 35 yrs. ago when I owned one. The large upper slots just don’t go with the lower small rectangles. If the whole grill had been done with the small rectangles it would have been a nice refresh of the 65 grill. IMHO. At any rate the previous owner had swapped in 65 grill after a run in with a deer and I thought it looked better .
The spring packs in the rear of these old F250’s are very substantial. Perhaps even more than a modern standard F350. The GVRW is irrelevant. Your not gonna hurt it. As a teenager jumping into one of these in the hay field felt like a concrete slab until you had a couple of thousand pounds on it.
Lastly, during the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1973 I witnessed a f250 of this gen pulling full size mobile homes (not Spartan size) to higher ground during an all night evacuation of a mobile home park as the levy was giving way. Tough trucks long before the tag line.
Yea, it’s like two designers wanted it their way so Ford said we’ll do both
Awesome story! The oldest vehicle I’ve driven was my stepdad’s 1978 Toyota Pickup truck. It had a 2.2 litre 20R 4 cylinder SOHC engine powering it. It produced 96 hp @ 4800 rpm and 120 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm, impressive for a small displacement carburetted engine. As far as I can tell, it’s still purring along, although the body is rusting away. It’s a tough little truck that I wish I were driving today.
It was the exact same engine used in the Celica and Corona.
Great find–and interesting to see the heavier-duty 250 with the the chrome trim of the Custom Cab. Amazing that it’s still with its original owner and what great condition it’s in for 50!
One of my regrets is not buying an F250 just like this,Custom Cab, 352 and four speed, that showed up at the St. Vincent dePaul lot a while back. It was in very nice shape, and the sticker price was only $1295. But where am i going to keep another truck? It was gone almost instantly; someone got a great deal on a solid truck.
It’s nice to see a 50-year-old Ford beastie still doing work for its owner. I wonder how many miles the old truck has been driven over the preceding 5 decades?
Nice Find! Great shape for its age. On one hand it seems like an old truck, OTOH, me and it were born the same year 🙂
Nice!!!
After the GM Advance Design pickups, these Ford trucks are my next favorite ones. There is something about awesome about a non restored vintage pickup truck that is still being used as it is intended. Bill seems like he takes care of it but he does not baby it.
Pickup trucks are the only vehicle that seem to be more highly though of with dings and dents on them as it shows it was used for its intended purpose.
What a great old truck. It’s in great shape too, considering its original condition and that it’s spent its life on the East Coast.
The Farmer’s License in NJ brought back some memories. Back when I was 16 they still had that provision, but in order to qualify you had to have a pickup or “Farm Type” vehicle. Even though our house sat on 10 acres, which was deeded as a farm (although not operated as one) I ended up waiting until I was 17 to get my regular license instead of opting into the Farm License program. The only pickup I had available to me was my Dad’s ’69 C-20, with wood plank homemade bed, rusted through floors, no power steering or brakes, 4 on the floor. Sans muffler, of course, with a rusting Fisher plow rig on the front. I pondered the possibilities for about 5 minutes, and believe me I really wanted to get behind the wheel legally, but the prospect of trying to make that old rig a viable transportation vessel for road use? Umm, no. Funny thing….once I actually was legally licensed at 17 Dad decided it was time to replace the old Chevy. 2 months after I turned 17 he ordered a 1984 Bronco II with a plowing package installed. Coincidence? Probably not;)
I approve of this post!
One of these days soon I need to write the long and detailed story of my ’66 F100 and its role in my life. More like a book.
I bought mine in 1987, for $500. And I’ve been working it ever since. And it’s not needed any kind of repair in the last 9-10 years. Seriously. (knocks on wood). It just starts up right away no matter how long it’s been sitting, and gets to work. But it does prefer summer time, just like my old bones do too. We’re both getting a bit stiff in the wet cool winters.
It’s rusting in a few places in the cab, as am I. It’s just a question of which one of us will outlast the other. 🙂
I thought of yours as soon as I saw it.
Long lead CC effect! Saw this one up close & personal about 2 weeks ago.
Just this weekend, saw another restored ’66 Ford pickup, this time in red & white but wasn’t able to get any pics.
(Just noticed… This green & white one has the tool storage in front of the right-rear wheel.)
I’ve always thought these are some of the nicest looking 60’s pickups ever!
I had a Motorific F100 when I was about 8-9 years old. They were motorized vehicles with interchangeable bodies that could either go on a hard floor or on a track. Mine was green/white, like the photo above.
My Dad bought a pair of 1965 F100 Shortbed stepside pickups through Govt sealed bid auctions. They were 9 year old former Air Force trucks…240 six with 3 speed column shift….He drove the first until it wore out and used it for parts when he started driving the 2nd one…..Bodies were rusted apart by the late 1980’s….
The truck is not 100% original. There is a major service replacement part on it not seen on Slicks. There is also the probability that there is another service replacement part on it also that any Slick fan would notice. Caught my attention immediately since I have an all original parts 65 F100.
Would you be so kind as to elaborate? Making a statement like that without pointing out what you’re referring to is almost a bit…passive aggressive.
Not really. If one knows their Slicks then one would be able to recognize what I am talking about. There is actually another incorrect item seen making three. This is no different then the little hint the day before concerning the mirror.
I am just giving some time to voice what they think they are. I do have pictures at the ready. I could say there is one front, back and the middle. Now the middle is a possible since we did not see the VIN tag to know if this is a 65 or 66. Remember 65 grilles were impossible to get even back then and if you needed a replacement you got a 66 grille. 65 grilles are priceless.
Your comment If one knows their Slicks then one would be able to recognize what I am talking about. is highly condescending and not in the spirit of CC. And it’s not the first time.
We’re here to learn, not play one-upsmanship, and I’m not interested in playing along. How do I know that what you’ve noticed is really true or legitimate? You want to educate us and/or let us decide? Either spell it out, or this comment thread may just evaporate.
Just to satisfy you.
First, the tailgate is wrong. It is a 67-72 gate. This is the correct gate.
Second, the front bumper is wrong. Once again a 67-72 chrome bumper. The subtle difference is that the Slick bumpers have a slight curve to them to match the front of the truck and look wrapped around. The one on this truck is straighter to match the boxier front of the 67-72 Bumpsides. Note the large gap at the front corner at the front fender.
Another look. Some still argue about this one but I have seen both. Took me 9 years to find an unmolested 64-66 chrome bumper. Aftermarket 67-72 are readily available.
The third I took a closer look to confirm if correct or not. It is correct.
Nice find Robert. I’ve always bunched these into a single F-model in my mind, but CC has made serious inroads into my understanding the differences within.
Nice truck indeed and it would be even cooler if this truck had Virginia’s circa 1976 U.S. of A Bicentennial Plates instead of Antique Plates.
Nice find. The up graded trim looks great, especially the 2 tone paint that carries over into the cab. About as original as one could expect after 50 years of use.
Doubt it’s used much for towing with the tiny left side only rear view mirror, although temp mount fender mirrors could be used when needed.
Could Ford have using new parts that came in the factory door, regardless of the year in production? My early 52 F-1 has some 51 parts that are from the factory. Just using up old stock, or in the case of late in the model year, using new parts for the next year as they came in?
Very possible. Trucks at the time were for work, and not seen as a status symbol at the country club. Nobody who bought one of these would have noticed it had a newer bumper and tailgate, or cared.
Talked to my Ford truck expert (1958-90 Ford) who said not likely at all. The 66 trucks ceased production near the end of August 1966 and these new 67 parts didn’t get into the pipeline until September 1966. If one can find a VIN tag showing assembled September 1966 he would alter his position but has yet to see one.
What a beautiful, old Ford truck. There’s such an apparent “honesty” about it. Great post and pictures, Robert – thank you.
My first truck was a ’66 F250 Camper Special purchased in the early 2000s. 352 with auto, power brakes, no power steering. I bought it from a very long term ( almost forty years) owner who had kept a big cab over camper on for most of his ownership. It was an old U haul rental and was still orange and white when I bought it! This was also the only vehicle I have owned that had speed equipment on it. An Edelbrock manifold, Holley carb, electronic ignition, and tubular headers. Somehow Ford had made a comfortable driver’s position in this standard cab, as opposed to the cramped driver’s position of my Dad’s ’75 Chevy Stepside. This was the start of my conversion to the Blue Oval.
Old trucks are great conversation starters, always got nice comments at gas stations.I had my truck painted at Miracle auto painting for 500.00. Looked pretty good.
The door panel was the fanciest part. A white plastic panel on top with zippered map pockets. Found these parts at the local wrecking yard.
Having parts not original to the truck shows it was used as intended and not a beauty queen as many of today’s trucks are.
A great truck if there was ever one.
However “still in the hands of its first owner, who himself just turned 66”.
If this is the case 2022 – 66 yrs old = 1956 birth date.
1965-1956 = 9 yrs old at time of purchase?
Large for his age?
Originally a 2016 post….
That’s a nice old truck regardless of whether or not it has some newer parts on it. There is (was?) a guy in my town who had one of these. I’m not sure if it was F100 or F250. We would cross paths at the transfer station when I had my 71 F100. His truck was beat up and worn, but still making it, and, if this makes any sense to anyone but me, the guy and the truck seemed well matched to each other. I haven’t seen either the guy or they truck in a while. I’m hoping it’s just because they moved to another town.
My truck that my dad owned.
I am restoring the 1966 F250 Custom can my Dad bought new in June 1966. The exhaust muffler has been replaced, all original otherwise.
No rust, paint faded, 99K miles. Wonder what it is worth?