Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[ultrarunner]

1986 F150, 4.9L, was 115hp, and 230 ft/lbs; who all is really signing up for a single vinyl bench, no AC, AM radio, stick, crank windows, ect; at $25,000 in 2025 USD? New, in 1986, thats $8,800.

Add to that, who's replacing fuel filters at 15,000 miles, retorquing transmission bands; servicing tranny at 30k; full tune up at 60k.

All that, with a max of 16 mpg highway; 13 in town?

Some high points; that truck is Below entry point of any F150 now; and did have good tow numbers at 7100 lbs.

Let's say we magically bring this truck out today; you're likely dropping a $2500 PM service every 2nd year; spending roughly $3,333/year on fuel. So, did we save anything, or gain anything? View attachment 4014552

I bought a one owner 1996 F150 4wd with extended cab and long bed with 6 cylinder and 5 spd… bench seat and 17 mpg I believe.

Super ride and most comfortable bench seat.

Rust Free and used by retired gentleman for fishing trips.

I paid 4k for it and gave to my nephew… he was going off to college and had several wanting it… sold either 6500 or 6800…

One wanted it for a plow truck and another just wanted this exact simple configuration… he said he would buy new if he could get the exact truck…

 

[brucelud]

View attachment 3945290


Bruce

My wife and I bought a 2019 Colorado 4WD extended cab W/T (work truck), 4 cylinder automatic new. It has most of the bells and whistles of the more loaded models (AC, PW, PL, P Seat, and tilt wheel) but has the payload capacity that you would want in a work truck for a lot less money, MSRP of $30,760 at the time. The ride is fine and it is quiet. Gas mileage is around 22 all of the time and 26 or so on a trip. We live in West Virginia which is hilly and mountainous, but it does okay with the four.

 

[JRH02]

The biggest problem with my 5 year old F350 is the 'mode' selector on the column shift makes zero difference between 'Normal' and 'Eco' with the 10 speed. But I sure feel better seeing that little green leaf illuminate on the dash. I'm doing my part to save the planet!

 

[Gator6x4]

Trucks have come a long ways since Henry Ford rolled out the first one.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15379238/an-illustrated-history-of-the-pickup-truck/

Prices have also increased.

The 1925 Ford Model T light-duty pickup truck cost $281 at the time of its introduction in April 1925.

“The small ford truck of today comes in four trims: XL, XLT ($30,645), Lobo ($35,930), and the Lariat ($38,440) final trim. Ford's base model 2025 Ford Maverick XL starts at just $28,145 when equipped with its standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain setup and front-wheel drive. Opting for its more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine tacks on just $125, as the gas version can only be configured as an all-wheel drive model.”

 

[ultrarunner]

Trucks have come a long ways since Henry Ford rolled out the first one.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15379238/an-illustrated-history-of-the-pickup-truck/

Prices have also increased.



View attachment 4015716
The 1925 Ford Model T light-duty pickup truck cost $281 at the time of its introduction in April 1925.

“The small ford truck of today comes in four trims: XL, XLT ($30,645), Lobo ($35,930), and the Lariat ($38,440) final trim. Ford's base model 2025 Ford Maverick XL starts at just $28,145 when equipped with its standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain setup and front-wheel drive. Opting for its more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine tacks on just $125, as the gas version can only be configured as an all-wheel drive model.”

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g23897696/ford-f-series-pickup-truck-history/

1917 is generally considered Ford’s entry into the market.

 

[RB5]

Maybe some of you who like simple stripped trucks might like the Mahinda Roxor

uh no.. I consider a basic truck for work to have 4x4, elocker, auto trans, a/c and heat, electric windows, and at least a 6.5' bed and a cab not big enough to carry an army. Heavy duty cooling is also a must in Texas. I like the extended cab to be able to keep stuff dry or locked up. I don't need nav, touch screen, or any of the gadgets like cyllinder deactivation or stop start tech. Those are things that greatly increase the cost of what used to be a basic truck. Basic is different to each of us. Take out all those gadgets and suddenly the price is way more affordable.

 

[RB5]

1986 F150, 4.9L, was 115hp, and 230 ft/lbs; who all is really signing up for a single vinyl bench, no AC, AM radio, stick, crank windows, ect; at $25,000 in 2025 USD? New, in 1986, thats $8,800.

Add to that, who's replacing fuel filters at 15,000 miles, retorquing transmission bands; servicing tranny at 30k; full tune up at 60k.

All that, with a max of 16 mpg highway; 13 in town?

Some high points; that truck is Below entry point of any F150 now; and did have good tow numbers at 7100 lbs.

Let's say we magically bring this truck out today; you're likely dropping a $2500 PM service every 2nd year; spending roughly $3,333/year on fuel. So, did we save anything, or gain anything? View attachment 4014552

That 115HP reminds me why we used to put aftermarket intakes, carbs, and ignitions systems on the old Chevy's my friends and I drove. It was pretty easy to get more power out of a 350 as long as you could get it to run clean enough to pass emissions tests.

 

[Eagle1]

That 115HP reminds me why we used to put aftermarket intakes, carbs, and ignitions systems on the old Chevy's my friends and I drove. It was pretty easy to get more power out of a 350 as long as you could get it to run clean enough to pass emissions tests.

Real easy if you did not care about emissions...
No testing or inspection in most of rural USA. It's a city thing..... Can you still add NOX to a car in CA? or are all the street racers flaunting the law?

 

[RobertN]

Yup: Mahindra Roxor Specs and Review (Jeep Clone?) - Off-Roading Pro

Like Mitsubishi and others, the contracts for licensed Jeep's goes back to WWII. First Ford made the GPW to support the war effort; Willys simply couldn't build enough. Post war, Mahindra, Mitsubishi and others licensed with Willys to make their own Jeeps. Mitsubishi made a lot of "Willys Wagons" and CJ3B's.

After decades though, Mahindra decided to try and sell in the US, something none of other companies did. That's when they started getting all of FCA Jeeps attention...

Wiki has a long list of companies that have made licensed Jeeps, and a few unlicensed at the bottom of the page

 

[JRH02]

I don't think anyone has been successful at duplicating the FJ40 / FJ45 Landcruiser. I love seeing those - they just don't die.

Toyota Land Cruiser (J40) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org