Her Roots

When I bought the truck last week the previous owner told me he bought the truck in North Carolina a few years ago. That's all the history I know. When I commented about the color--Grabber Blue--he told me, "Yeah, that's the original color too.

The vehicle identification data plate offers up a historical sketch.

The old girl rolled off the line at Ford's Norfolk, Virginia plant back in March of 1970. Her 360cid powerplant is original. She was ordered by a dealer in the Richmond district.

The man who sold her to me was mistaken about the color code, however. You see, it reads 'J'. That was indeed Grabber Blue... in 1970 Mustangs. But not F series trucks. In 1970 F-100 speak, 'J' meant red. She rolled off the line red! That's about as far from Grabber Blue as you can get. But, poking around the car you can see that she's been blue through at least a few paint jobs. I haven't actually found evidence of red roots.

She's a full-bodied model--tipping the scales at a gross vehicle weight of 4500lbs atop the long 131 inch wheel base. She 'boasted' 170 horsepower at 4100 rpm stock. Dude, I wouldn't have admitted that on a VIN data plate. Oh boy! That's like Volkswagon Gulf power! Good thing they upgraded her intake, carb and ignition when they did.

That's about all the date plate is going to offer up. Poking around has given me a few more glimpses into her past. The fact that the guy who sold her to me is a paint guy is evident--wherever there were imperfections there is fresh touch up paint applied. One of the previous owners had no clue that he had no clue about automotive wiring--there are wiring gaffs left and right under her dash. More on those discoveries in time.