1979 Ford F-150

1979 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT 4x4 — 400ci V8, Lifted, Two-Tone Long Bed


Why This Car Is Special

The 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT sits at the end of one of the most celebrated runs in American truck history. The sixth-generation F-Series, which ran from 1973 through 1979, was the last of the truly old-school body-on-frame Fords before the more refined seventh generation arrived for 1980. That makes 1979 the final expression of a design that had already proven itself as the best-selling vehicle in America — a title the F-Series has never relinquished since it first claimed it. Collectors have been gravitating toward these trucks for exactly that reason: the 1979 is the last year of the generation, giving it the same end-of-run appeal that draws buyers to final-year muscle cars.

This particular example is a well-optioned 4x4 long-bed regular cab wearing the Ranger XLT trim package, which was Ford's mid-to-upper trim level in 1979, sitting above the base Custom and the standard Ranger but below the top-tier Lariat. Ranger XLT brought added interior refinement including woodgrain trim accents, upgraded cloth seating, and chrome exterior details that the base truck didn't offer. Combined with the 4x4 drivetrain, 400ci V8, and a Trail Master lift kit, this is a truck that was optioned for both comfort and capability when it was new — and it still shows.

The VIN structure on this truck confirms it was built as a light-duty F-150 regular cab with the 4x4 drivetrain, assembled during the 1979 model year. At the time, Ford offered the F-150 in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations, and the 4x4 commanded a meaningful premium on the lot. Finding a 4x4 long-bed with the Ranger XLT package and the 400 engine — rather than the more common 302 or 351 — is a combination that doesn't show up often.


Features List

- 400ci 6.6L V8 engine
- Ford C6 SelectShift 3-speed automatic transmission
- 4-wheel drive
- Trail Master lift kit
- BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires
- Aluminum wheels
- Front disc brakes
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Air conditioning
- AM/FM radio
- Tan plaid cloth and vinyl bench seat
- Woodgrain interior trim
- Vinyl roof
- Two-tone beige and brown exterior
- Long bed
- Ranger XLT badge
- Chrome front bumper
- Chrome rear step bumper
- Door-mounted side mirrors


Mechanical

Under the hood is Ford's 400 cubic inch (6.6-liter) V8, a engine that often gets overlooked next to the more famous 351 Cleveland and Windsor variants, but which has a devoted following among truck enthusiasts for good reason. The 400 was a big-bore, long-stroke design that produced substantial low-end torque — the kind of pulling power that matters when you're towing or running loaded. Ford offered it in the F-150 through the end of the 1979 model year before phasing it out, making this one of the last trucks to come equipped with it from the factory. It shares its block architecture with the 351M and was designed specifically for truck and full-size car applications where torque mattered more than high-rpm power.

Backing the 400 is Ford's C6 SelectShift automatic, a heavy-duty 3-speed unit that Ford used across its truck and performance car lineup from the mid-1960s through the early 1990s. The C6 was chosen for demanding applications precisely because of its durability. SelectShift gave the driver the option to hold gears manually — a useful feature when engine braking off-road or managing a trailer down a grade. The combination of the 400 V8 and C6 automatic was a well-matched pairing for a loaded long-bed 4x4.

The front suspension uses a solid front axle with Twin Traction Beam geometry, Ford's design that provided both the articulation needed for off-road use and the stability needed for highway driving. Front disc brakes are fitted, which was a meaningful upgrade over four-wheel drum setups still common on trucks of this era. The Trail Master lift kit visible in the undercarriage photos raises the ride height and provides the clearance nee