Good morning, and happy Monday to you all! I think today, it’s time to look at some more old pickup trucks. Normally we’d have some results from Friday to look at, but since it was a weird week last week, there was no poll on Friday. So what the hell; let’s just dive right in. We’ve got the classic Ford vs Chevy battle again, both half-ton, both two-wheel-drive, both automatics, both beaten half to death. It should be a fairly even matchup. Here they are.
1979 Ford F100 – $1,900
Engine/drivetrain: 300 cubic inch OHV inline 6, 3 speed automatic, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 101,000 miles
Runs/drives? Yep
It’s almost impossible for me to write an introduction for a Ford F100 without using the phrase “good old.” Or “trusty.” Ford’s basic half-ton truck has been a reliable workhorse for so long that it has earned a permanent place in the collective psyche. There are other trucks, but if someone just says “good old trusty truck,” I’m willing to bet that the truck that appears in your mind’s eye is a Ford F100 or 150.
A big part of the Ford truck reputation comes from this powerplant: the 300 cubic inch inline six. This cast-iron monster doesn’t like to rev, and doesn’t put out a lot of power, but it is relentless, and a torque monster. You won’t get there fast with one of these engines, but make no mistake: you will get there. Sending its power and torque to the rear axle is a basic three-speed automatic, which, if you have to have a slushbox, is a reliable and tough way to go.
This era of Ford truck is known as the “dentside,” owing to the prominent recessed groove running the length of the truck on both sides, filled in with a chrome and rubber trim strip on this fancy XLT Ranger model. The bed of this particular truck gives a whole new meaning to the “dentside” moniker, and its tailgate is also missing in action.
Despite these flaws, this looks like a decent old truck. The seller says it runs and drives fine, and has a new exhaust. And the interior looks like a reasonably nice place to spend time as well.
1982 Chevrolet C10 – $1,800
Engine/drivetrain: 350 cubic inch OHV V8, 3 speed automatic, RWD
Location: Martinez, CA
Odometer reading: 82,000 miles
Runs/drives? Sure does
And in this corner, we have Chevy’s answer to the F100: the C10. This is known as the “squarebody” Chevy, and it’s easy to see why, though I will tell you from experience trying to build models of these trucks that there are very few actual straight lines on the cab. This style of truck is nearly as iconic as the Ford, and has at least as many devotees.
This truck’s powertrain is every bit as durable and famous as the Ford’s – the long-running “small block” V8, here in its most common 350 cubic inch displacement. These marvels of mechanical engineering need no introduction to car folks, having powered everything from Camaros to dump trucks, not to mention countless street rods. The Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission is its natural counterpart; they go together like peanut butter and jelly.
This truck has seen better days, but the seller says it does run and drive. It’s not terribly rusty, but it is beat up, and I’m sure the seat is completely trashed under that Pep Boys seat cover. It’s all part of the charm of an old truck like this, though. And if the AM-only radio only picks up the country stations, well, that’s part of it too.
The rope hooks bolted to the sides of the bed are a handy touch, but I do wonder about the Chrysler-style turn signal repeaters tacked on to the front fenders. Somebody liked them so much on their Dodge Monaco that they decided to add them to the truck as well, I guess.
[Editor’s Note: Those aren’t turn signal repeaters, they’re tell-tales, which are even weirder, and, as a result, better. I wrote about those years ago, and you can read it here! – JT]
So that’s what we’ve got to work with on this Monday morning: two beat-up workhorses, ugly and tired, but still ready for more. Which one will it be?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
I would gladly take either of these, but the Chevy is my choice, just because of the V8. The 300 is indestructible, but it is also gutless. This one was a tough call.
For some reason I couldnt get excited for either beat up pickup. Old slow slightly rusty. Nothing wrong just the most boring from either brand with no love shown. I went Ford because while $100 more it looks like the owner drove home drunk less often
Based on the number of Fords of this age that I see on the road and the virtual absence of Chevy/GMCs of this age it leads me to believe the Ford is a better bet, or Ford made way more trucks than GM did. Either way my biases push toward the Ford.
Weird. Around here you see WAY more squarebody Chevy/GMC than Fords of that era. I’m a Chevy guy but Fords of that era turn my head because they are more rare. I went Chevy because I had a 79 similar to this one. It was dead reliable. When anything went wrong it could usually be fixed for under $150, an hour or two of time, and a 9/16″ or 1/2″ wrench.
In high school (Class of ’75) I was considered “The Truck Guy.” Why?…Because I was the only kid out of a class of 350 students who had a pickup truck. Yes, a ’72 Dodge Power Wagon W100, auto, slant six, was my first “car” purchased from a veterinarian in 1974.
I’m voting Ford because the front bumper on the Dodge was a length of 6″ C-Channel with an eye welded @ center line, so good memories. I remember buying a can of Rustoleum in gloss black to pretty it up.
Bucket seats from a wrecked ’67 GTO were in the bed for any brave person to tuff out an open-air beer run. I never lost anyone, but I tried.
These are both decent beater trucks, but the Chevy has a V8 and a tailgate, and those make it the winner between these two. Not only is the Ford missing the tailgate, I guarantee that if you source a tailgate, you won’t be able to get it to shut. The bedsides of those trucks were notoriously weak and sagged with age. None of these trucks ran a tailgate once they were more than a decade old, because the bedsides always sagged out. This one is even worse, with a smashed bedside. Therefor the Chevy is better at hauling stuff, because you can actually close the gate that it has.
Further bonus points go to the Chevy for having a tilt column! How luxurious in the not at at roomy cabs of these old trucks!
I know, I know, the 300-blah-blah-blah. Sorry, you’re wrong. Small block Chevy, tailgate, tilt column. The Chevy is the better pick here.
More cylinders, better body, newer, and less expensive?
Easy Chevy.
Love both of these trucks. Both simple as a hammer and about as reliable. Chose the Chevy because my old man is diehard Chevy.
You can’t go wrong with either as your beater truck. I would buy the Ford and measure out a tailgate shape on some plywood for maximum jankiness, but I understand why someone else would say they need about tree-fiddy.
Yeah, I went with the Ford. I have my granddad’s old 1970 F100 with the same engine (hence my user name). That interior is so much nicer than mine and the lack of rust on the fenders sealed the deal for me too (though if it is in the PNW it might be good to check the frame underneath.) I also dig that beefy front bumper.
Oh hell no! A ‘true’ shitbox showdown here. Would rather walk, take a bus, or crawl. These both remind me of the least successful meth dealer in the trailer park. NFW!
Not a bad choice as a dump runner/yard truck. Purely for general body style I selected Chevy.
I want both. They’re both perfect for what they are and priced reasonably enough.
But I think that 300 straight six wins every so slightly over the 350 in the Chevy, not to mention the Ford has a slightly lower level of decrepitude.
So the ford it is, by a hair’s breadth.
Love me some bed cleats!
On paper, this is a very tough choice. However, that Chevy looks like it will turn into dust at any moment. It is probably mostly surface stuff, but that thing looks TIRED. The Ford looks much more serviceable even with the big dent and pretty darn nice inside, given the age. Extra points for the big slab of metal serving as a front bumper and the “F O R” on the hood. Oh, also, I have a newer F150 with the same motor, and can confirm that the legends are true. Voting for “FOR” tough, today!
i would normally choose the 350 for power and to be able to travel freeway speeds, except this is an 82 and probably pretty smog choked. I think 79 was the year after trucks required some smog stuff too, but I do not see near as much as I usually see under early 80’s GM trucks. I would maybe consider just driving the Ford if it is otherwise well maintained, just to see if the suggestion that they can attain 23 MPG is actually true in stock form.
These both suck, but I voted for the Ford because it was listed first in the poll.
Ford definitely. This series of Fords had far superior ride and handling to anything that Chevy was building at the time. My dad and I had a ’77 and then a ’79 for our business. One of my uncles had a fleet of Chevys. He drove our truck and never bought another Chevy. Replace the front bumper and the grille, fix the dent in the box (if you want) and drive the thing.
These are both automotive ICONS. Ford 300 vs Chevy 350… I’d normally put my slight Ford over Chevy preference aside and go with the 350 but based on the pictures I think the condition of this Ford vs this Chevy is what got me back in the Ford camp.
BTW, thanks for the South Park reference.
Also:
My favorite tell-tales are the ones on my 1972 Challenger front fenders. The car is a mish mash / best of album of 1970 and 1972, the guy who did it liked the tell-tales too much to keep it all 1 year.
Going Ford on this one, really like that old body style
’78-79 was Peak Ford PU styling
For what they are neither is a bad choice. I voted Chevy because it’s cheaper.
Ford, that 6 will run. Forever. Even on 4½ cylinders 😉
Ford mostly because Grandad had one like the one featured here. I remember he loved it because the idle was set a bit too high and as such, if you let off the gas it went exactly 25 MPH on its own, which was the speed limit in town. He thought it was a feature. I like both of these trucks because they look like pieces of shit. So you could use them to do nasty jobs and not worry about it.
Ford 300 > *
That’s it. That’s all. End of poll.
If you want to upgrade to a better flowing head to make HP, cut up LSx heads and weld them together.
Ford block pattern is 4.480″ on center, LS head is 4.400″ along the length, 4.240″ and 4.330″ along the width.
Chop chop, weld weld, drill drill, vroom vroom.
I’m building mine for a naturally aspirated daily driver, but the next LS4.9 I build after that will be turbo’d
Yep, came here to say this. Ford 300 uber alles. Having owned one that has gone through a frozen block scare, only to come right back around, tales of its durability are not overstated.
On a more subjective note, in general, my preference will always be: Dodge > Ford > Chevy
Look, just because you saw someone do it on Youtube means it worked all that well in the end and 2, you have enough talent to rob from your least preferred brand to make your second favorite better.
I mean, it probably helps that I’m a mechanical engineer, right?
Grabbing my popcorn. These comments better not disappoint. Ford vs. Chevy pickup is the classic rivalry. It’s Hatfield/McCoy, Hulk/Andre, Tom/Jerry, Crunchy/Smooth, Over/Under TP – LET’S GO.
Very well, since you insist. Ahem:
Those are both city-kid pickups. I drive a 3/4-ton International.
It’s pretty simple, there are people who put the TP going over the top, and then there are monsters.
Those monsters probably have toddlers or cats or both. Both of those creatures have been known to enjoy dispensing entire rolls on the bathroom floor.
I’ve never had cats and after it happened a couple of times my toddlers didn’t do it again so I guess it’s mostly cats.
The cats don’t care about over/under
Shredding is gonna happen!
Do I hafta?
Having slightly less than zero need for a pick-’em-up — especially one without 4WD — I’d pass on both.
But, since Mark no doubt insists, I guess the Chevy is, if not better, at least less worse. When it gives up, as it surely soon will, I could yank the 350 and throw it into something else.