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 needed to run larger-diameter tires without contact issues. The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires mounted on aluminum wheels are a practical, period-appropriate choice for a lifted 4x4 of this type — the All-Terrain T/A has been in continuous production since 1976, and its tread pattern is suited to both off-road use and everyday highway driving.

The undercarriage photos show solid, intact framerails and axle housings consistent with a truck that has not been used hard or left to deteriorate. The front solid axle, transfer case, and driveshaft components are all visible and present.

Interior

The Ranger XLT interior on this 1979 Ford F-150 is one of the cleaner examples of late-1970s American truck design you'll find. The full-width bench seat is upholstered in the tan plaid cloth that was characteristic of Ford truck interiors in this period — a combination of woven fabric panels with vinyl bolsters and trim. The seat appears in very good condition with the pattern intact and no obvious wear through the seating surfaces. This is the kind of interior that typically gets replaced on trucks that were worked, so seeing it in this state is a good indicator of how the truck was treated.

The dashboard carries the Ranger XLT woodgrain applique across the full width, with a Ranger XLT badge mounted on the passenger-side dash panel. The instrument cluster uses Ford's three-pod layout for 1979, with the speedometer centered and warning indicators flanking it. The odometer in the cluster photo reads 53,397 miles. The climate control panel sits above the radio with clearly labeled slider controls for fan speed and temperature, including the A/C position. The factory AM/FM radio is mounted below the climate panel and retains its original appearance with chrome knobs and push-button presets. Brown carpet covers the floor, and the overall condition of the cabin reflects a truck that has been preserved rather than used as a daily driver or work truck.

The door panels carry the same woodgrain and tan vinyl treatment as the dash, with a chrome accent strip and brown carpet at the lower section of each panel. The window cranks are intact with their original brown knobs. The headliner appears to be the original tan unit and shows no sagging or staining visible in the photos.

Exterior

The two-tone paint scheme on this 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT is correct for the era — a beige upper body with a darker brown lower body separated by a chrome accent strip. Ford offered a range of two-tone combinations on the F-Series in 1979, and the beige-over-brown palette was among the most popular in that model year. The vinyl roof covering the cab is intact without visible cracking or lifting at the edges, which is a common failure point on these trucks after more than four decades.

The front end presents the 1979 F-Series facelift grille — a more rectangular, grid-style design that replaced the earlier egg-crate pattern and gave the truck a broader, more squared-off face. Rectangular headlights were introduced on the F-Series for 1979, replacing the round units used earlier in the generation. The chrome front bumper is present and shows the condition expected on a preserved truck. The chrome rear step bumper is also fitted, a practical option that added both utility and a finished look to the back end.

The Trail Master lift kit provides a noticeable increase in ride height, and combined with the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires on aluminum wheels, the stance is what the classic lifted truck market is specifically looking for. The Ranger XLT badges are present and legible on the exterior, and the two-tone body stripes follow the factory line placement. Door-mounted side mirrors are fitted on both sides, consistent with original equipment on 4x4 long-bed configurations of this truck.

Conclusion

The 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT 4x4 is the last year of its generation, equipped with the largest V8 Ford offered in the F-150 that year, mated to the most durable automatic transmission in Ford's lineup at the time. The Ranger XLT trim package adds a level of factory refinement that separates it from a basic work truck, and the combination of 4x4 hardware, lift kit, and all-terrain tires means it was set up to actually go somewhere. The interior is preserved, the exterior two-tone paint scheme is correct, and the undercarriage photos back up what the rest of the truck suggests. These trucks are increasingly difficult to find in this state of preservation, particularly in a 4x4 long-bed configuration with the 400 engine.

If you'd like more information or want to schedule a time to see this 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT in person, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.