Today a 4wd crew cab truck is the most popular style truck. Run by your local grocery store and you are sure to spot a handful. But in 1965 a 4wd truck was more then a bit uncommon. This slick side F100 was more then likely the only factory 4wd model on the dealers lot when it was new. Or the owner came into the dealership and special ordered it for himself. So owning a factory 4wd truck thats over 50 years old is quite a treat! These slick side trucks were put to work and many did not survive the years of hard labor. I can only imagine the work the truck has done over the years and places its been.
I was lucky enough to own this truck for a short time. Rough around the edges and enough character to fill a book the truck was almost perfect. This trucks patina had passed all the way through the body in a few spots but she solid bones. The truck was none running when I picked it up but was a quick fix. Thankfully these classics trucks are simple and straight forward to work on. The same patina that wrapped the outside of the truck had made its way into the gas tank. After going through the fuel system the 352FE was alive again. After a dozen miles on the road the small haze of blue smoke had all but disappeared. She came back to life and was ready to get back to work. Good road miles can really bring a set of old rings around.
Under the hood was a 352FE V8 bolted to a NP435 granny low 4 speed transmission. Splitting the power was a Dana 24, 2 speed transfer case sending power to a ford 9″ and Dana 44 closed knuckle axle respectively. With a reliable and rock solid drive train I could only image how great it must have felt rolling around the farm back in this trucks early days. If the original owner felt 1/2 as proud as I did when rolling down the road I can say with assurance he was a happy man.
After owning the truck for a year it was already time to let the truck go. This was my dream truck a few years earlier but now I had scratch the itch of a 4wd F100 by building my 1972 F250. This was the truck I was hunting for then I settled for the bump side F250 but I kept the soft spot for a 4wd slick side. I am glad to have owned the truck for the short amount of time. Helping it get back on the road, but I’m even more happy to see photos from the new owner out enjoying the truck with his family!
