A Little Something I picked up back in June...

Meet Dorthy! a 1974 Ford Courier from Kansas, who had made it down to southeast Texas shortly before I acquired her back in June. The reason for her name should be fairly obvious haha, All Original, even had the original warranty card and owners manual in the glove compartment.. as well as records of mileage when it had an oil change back in 2000!

It had 49,520 ish miles on it when I got it, and can honestly believe that iss the actual mileage based on the fact two service techs decided to actually record oil changes in the owners manual, I'm sure most didn't bother, one in 1989 and one in 2000. I quickly got it to 50K Its an absolute riot to drive! I added the tach because I like to know what the motor is spinning at for peace f mind. The 4 speed really makes the truck feel peppy.

The little Mazda 1.8l OHC inline 4. This thing had the original smog pump still in place when I got it, it now resides in a box safely tucked away where it belongs!

The little truck had me playing photographer before long..



And who says little trucks can't work!

I just thought I'd share this little odd ball with everyone, figured someone on the forum might appreciate it as much as I do! I will try and post pictures of the interior tomorrow, I seem to have accidentally deleted the ones I had. The biggest shocker is this little truck has factory A/C! or dealer installed anyway.. However it doesn't have a heater as the A/C subsequently uses the heaters slot in the fuse box.. I would have figured the original owner in Kansas might have preferred heat! My grandmother made the comment that it was probably a truck that got driven to church and the grocery store by an older man and hence why it never accumulated all that many miles, I like her theory, seems plausible to me!

 

That's neat likely fewer remaining in total than any one year Maverick.. At least you won't be meeting yourself every time you're out, probably first one I've seen in 20 years... That it has 50K actual miles is the reason it's still around, without O/D those little motors were buzzed into oblivion by 100-125K miles...

 

Love it! I had a 74 Toyota Hilux years ago and wish I would have kept it. It was ugly as sin but I loved driving it.

 

I like it...
been trying to get this 1989 Bronco II XLT from my Sis for a couple of months now.

 

Bronco IIs are another favorite of mine! they are great little trucks, If i ever come across one of the early ones with the 4 cylinder diesel in it, it will definitely join my fleet haha

 

Everyone I have had stop and talk to me about it when I'm at a gas station, say they haven't seen one in 20 years as well! I know that in 76 they started offering the Courier with an optional 5 speed, and I really wish this one had O/D, the 4.10 gears definitely get the revs up there about 3k at 70 or so, needless to say it doesn't get driven that fast often.. I did put 205/75r14 size tires on it instead of 195s that were on it when I got it. Honestly I could probably fit one size taller tire on it if i wanted to, might help some with the revs

 

Here's some interior pictures in case and any one was interested!
not sure why the floor mats are blue.... but they say Ford and look to have been there a long time. I added the steering wheel wrap because the wheel had started to flake some.


Underdash A/C! didn't expect to see it in one of these trucks, and check out the FM converter, it still works
Original Headliner!

All the paperwork in the glove compartment.

 

I had a red one back in the 80's fun little truck if I recall it had a Mazda engine, had trouble with the timing chain snuber

 

maybe that's why they called it s snuber...you were snubed...

 

My Dad had a 1976 with the 5 speed. It was a fugly green color and as kids we were embarrassed to be seen in it.

 

as I remember it kept tension from oil pressure and would loose tension with engine off and would occasionally stick and would sometimes require taking the valve cover off and free it up with a long screw driver, pain in the butt

 

I was in Florida in September and went to a few car cruises at Old Town in Kissimmee. What I found was quite a few older Datsun and Nissan 4 doors and also older mini trucks all redone and tricked out.

 

Great car show, Effie, Patches and I drove down to it one year...

 

We always stay at the Royale Parc Suites, 4 properties west of Old Town towards Route 4 so we can walk there - the parks close fairly early in September and we're always looking for something to do at night

 

I had thoughts of buying one of these once, it was just too small. I could step over the side into the bed.