As American as Cheez Whiz and Twinkies - 22 April, 2016

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The Ranger may be top of the charts in NZ but the big daddy of pick-ups is Ford’s F series. It has been the biggest selling car in America since dinosaurs roamed the planet. Currently Ford sells one and a half F Series trucks every minute of every day yet they are a comparatively rare sight on NZ roads. This one, however, was sold new in NZ and it’s looking for a new owner at the Christchurch Classic car auction next Saturday.

Ford has sold 34 million F-series trucks since 1948 and it’s as American as Cheez Whiz and Twinkies. Unlike liquid processed cheese and fake cream sponge fingers the F Series is a useful and tough workhorse. And being from 1970s USA it’s big, thirsty and not all that fast. However, while it may be as common as a Caitlyn Jenner story on the E channel on American roads the big Ford is a fairly uncommon sight in NZ and therefore quite cool and desirable.  

This is an F-100 Custom from 1979 and I’m guessing it’s an Aussie assembled beast. It’s right hand drive, the speedo is in kilometres and it’s fitted with a 4.9l 302 Cleveland V8 which was exclusive to Australia. The interior is a sea of cheap 1970s vinyl and plastic and it’s about as basic as the new Ranger is sophisticated. But 70s retro is in and with a very realistic estimate of just $6500 - $7500 it’s sure to sell.

The auction is this Saturday at Turners Christchurch. More details here.