In Ford F-Series Math, 4×4 = More Money

Ford

For car folks, more is better. More power, more displacement, more cylinders. Bigger wheels, bigger brakes, bigger wings. This is just generally speaking, of course, and there are exceptions to this mantra, but “more is better” does have an effect on price. As you’d expect, a V-8 Mustang is worth more than a six-cylinder one in similar condition. A Z06 Corvette is worth more than a less powerful base model. When it comes to classic Ford pickups, four-wheel drive is worth more than two-wheel drive. And while that difference has always been true, the gap in value between the 4×4 F-Series and the rest is widening.

The charts above and below measure the change in Hagerty Price Guide value over time for the third through ninth generations of America’s favorite pickup, the Ford F-Series. These are some of the most popular classic vehicles in North America. Not everybody goes off-roading or tackles a snowy road in their classic truck, but the occasional usefulness of four-wheel drive is nice to have even for people who mostly take their F-100 out on sunny Sundays or the occasional trip to the hardware store.

Four-wheel drive trucks also generally cost more when they were new, so it makes sense that they would continue to command a higher price years down the line. What’s interesting, though, is that the difference in price is growing. In 2014, the average value of a vintage F-Series in the Hagerty Price Guide was 17 percent higher if it had four-wheel drive, and that trend line stayed flat for a long time. It shot up five years ago, and today, it’s 45 percent higher. In dollar terms that translates to about $15,000, which is quite a bit when you consider how infrequently people really need 4WD in their old truck that they drive for fun.

One trend we’ve been keeping an eye on in recent years, particularly among performance cars, is that the “best” examples of certain cars continue to appreciate and find buyers at exceptional prices, even as lesser examples struggle. “Best” in this case doesn’t just mean condition. It also means things like the best/most desirable colors, options, and equipment. The values for such best-ofs are appreciating at a faster clip than ones in lesser condition, or those with closer to base equipment. If vintage F-Series are any indication, it appears this trend extends to old pickups as well.

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Comments

    The main issue with the Fords are that damn twin beam suspension. They ate up tires. Did not handle great and many froze up due to people not servicing their trucks.

    I still get PTSD. from my high school years dealing with these trucks. If not the suspension the hood falling as the hinges rusted out of the body. You had to prop them carefully. Only the latch held the hood on.

    To be fair ther other trucks had their own issues but they were less difficult.

    My buddy wants to delete the twin I-beam on his and go with some sort of Crown Vic rack and pinion setup. Good, bad, or otherwise, it’s just not a proper Ford truck without it.

    The truth is it was a good idea that did not work.

    If you have to bend an axle to do an aliment…….. you might have a red neck vehicle.

    If you are holding the bed together on your truck with a chain in place of a tailgate you might have a red neck truck.

    If you have to use a broom stick to hold up the hood because the hinges rotted off the fire wall you might have a red neck truck.

    If you do something just out of tradition and it is damaging to you, you might need help.

    I realize that most of this is due to the whole Ford vs. Chevy thing.

    But it worked well from the mid 60s until at least the late 90s. My 85, 86, 94, and 95 have no alignment issues. They seem to hold the alignment much longer actually, and the only thing that has even needed adjustment was the toe.

    The hood and tailgate issue must be a regional thing like the rust-belt. The only trucks that have hood problems down here in MS are the square body Chevy’s and their kinked hoods due to improper hood hinge maintenance and how people push down rather than in. Out of the 25+ 70s-90s Fords I’ve owned in the last 15 years, none have had hood or hood hinge issues (or alignment issues).

    I am partial to Ford trucks, but I like basically any Chevy truck pre-1999, and any Dodge truck pre-1994.

    Now I know where I’m going to look for my next truck, Here in MI the crazy salt strategy ruins everything, the vehicles, the pavement, and water quality and no one seems to mind.

    I have a 66 F100 and have had a 99 F150. The 66 was a true Twin I beam and I have never had any issues with the alignment nor the hood as if you keep up the maintenance on these pickups and grease them and lubricate the hinges on the hoods, they are great. Just need to do the regular maintenance just like any other Pickup. Not an issue and never has been for me. Sounds like a maintenance issue to me but that is just my 2 cents

    $x4 seems to be a value adder for any truck that I have seen. Oh and to echo other thoughts expressed I have also witnessed twin i-beam issues also. But those trucks do seem to run regardless of the suspension issues.

    I owned a 1970 F100 with a 360 V8, a 1976 F150 with a 390 V8 and have a 1996 F150 with the 5.8. I never had any issues with tire wear or handling. My 96 has 216,000 miles on the clock and drives fine. Yes, I had the ball joints replaced (at 180,000 miles) but I am still on the original tie rod ends, idler arm and drag link. It’s all about maintenance.

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