1986 Ford F-150

1986 Ford F150 XLT Lariat Pickup A 1985 survey of owners has established that Ford makes the best built American trucks.  This is based on an average of problems reported by owners in the prior six months on 1981-1984 models of all trucks designed and built in the United States.  Proof again that, at Ford, quality is Job 1.  Ford has been first in total truck sales for the past 16 years. From the 1986 Ford truck brochure.   For consignment, a 1986 Ford F150 XLT Lariat pickup truck showing 24,223 miles which are not actual due to exemption.  This is fantastically clean, and a wonderfully 80's two owner truck which presents as original and has something not many 1986 trucks possess in 2025, show worthiness! Exterior Two tone trucks were common for about three decades and our '86 smartly sandwiches Colonial White between Medium Silver Metallic which tracks along the bottom and over the wheel openings, then covers the hood and frames the windows of the cab.  There's also a tasteful red stripe surrounded by gray that runs with the silver while the bottom color is topped with body side molding and polished trim, part of the Lariat package.  The Lariat was the top trim of the F150, and as such also wears a chrome grille as standard.  A band of red reflective plastic spans the tailgate and connects the simple but distinctive tail lights and FORD is offset to the right while a Leer bed cap provides a wide rear window for ultimate visibility.  A double red pinstripe encircles the 15-inch chrome rims and red centers top off the center caps.  Roof rails top the tall bed cap which is color coordinated with the truck and has many tinted windows.  We could not find any glaring imperfections on the exterior.  Interior With this '86, you can see the beginnings of larger more useful door panels with robust features, here in red plastic, Canyon Red velour inserts, and carpeted kick panels.  Cupholders would come much later, but you can tell that panels were growing, and these are in mint condition.  Also in fine shape is the tufted red velour bench seat which supports the likely low mileage of the truck with virtually no sign of usage on a material that would show wear after years of in and out occupants.  Faux burlwood dresses the black steering wheel which shares the column with the shifter, tracking down to the faux burlwood framed instrument cluster, basic, clean and headed by a row of indicator and idiot lights.  An AM/FM/Cassette radio resides in the center over the A/C panel and that's where the burlwood ends to give way to a red dashboard and glove box for the passenger.  Low pile red carpet looks immaculate, and the headliner is pristine.  The bed shows minimal signs of usage but is still glossy white.  Drivetrain Ford's venerable 5.0 liter electronically fuel injected V8 is under the hood, putting out 130 horsepower and backed by a C6 3-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the Ford 8.8 rear.  Power disc brakes are found up front with drums in the back.  The engine is driver quality and shows surface rust where virtually all of this era 5.0's show it.  Undercarriage And speaking of surface rust, there's plenty underneath but not signs of invasive corrosion and no leaks or overladen grease.  A single exhaust flows all the way back through a stock style muffler and then exits via a steel pipe behind the right rear wheel.  Suspension consists of radius arms and coil springs up front and good old leaf springs in the back!   Drive-Ability We carefully plant our butts in the front seat so as not to disturb the smooth velour, and count on the EFI to send fuel to the cylinders, which it does without hesitation.  This big bullnose provides plenty of height and visibility and the V8 delivers decent power despite the numbers, the rear wheels pushing the brick through the test loop in fine fashion, tracking straight and stopping on demand.  All of the functional features on the truck