1974 Ford Courier Pickup Slammed Rat Racer Project

1974 Ford Courier Pickup - NO RESERVE!

I acquired this project awhile back and I'm heading off into retirement and need to thin the heard. My main focus has always been 60's Detroit muscle, but my son thought this would make a good driver until something else caught his eye!

I'm no expert on Japanese anything, but from I have researched, these mini trucks were made by Mazda (B1600) and supplied to Ford. The main difference between the two seems to be the miniature F-100 grill treatment and emblems. The prior owner has made significant modifications to this as is evident in the pictures. No way of telling if this is the most highly modified Courier on the planet, but it's got to rank right up there.

The truck is slammed, bagged and will lay frame. The bags are currently on individual fills, but the compressor, tank, and valves are mounted and need to have the airlines plumbed. It also comes with a new air bag controller. The front spoiler will be removed for shipping; even with the bags fully inflated, it's a little too low for a transporter to get it loaded. The prior owner told me the 351W was freshly rebuilt but had no paperwork to back it up. I removed the valve covers and everything is clean, but since it's never been fired, I have no way of knowing (or guessing) it's internal condition. I see nothing that gives me a reason to doubt it, but I don't have any proof either. It has an electronic distributor and aluminum radiator with dual electric cooling fans.

The transmission is supposedly an NOS Tremec TKO 500 fitted with a hydraulic slave pushed by a standard Miata clutch master. The trans looks pristine, but again, I have nothing to show its NOS, new, rebuilt, or whatever. It rows through the gears flawlessly, and is fitted with a Steeda shifter, but that's all I know about it.

The body of the truck is very nice. A lifelong California resident, so the dreaded tin-worm failed to reduce this to dust as was the fate of most of these. The pictures of the bed speak for themselves. Most of these were used as work trucks and were beat to death. This one, thankfully, shows none of the expected dents and gouges almost all of these suffer from. The prior owner spent a lot of time on body modifications including a full cage with stiffeners and 4-point belt mounts. The lower bed sides (from between the door and rear wheel well) were extended down the meet the lower bodyline. If you google a '74 Courier, you'll see the huge gap the bed has in front of the wheel well. The tailgate has a custom ducktail, rear roll pan, and of course the front spoiler. The body mods were all done in metal. The hood scoop is a fiberglass unit that bolts through the hood panel. The bed has a small removable panel that reveals a battery box that is integrated below the bed. A receiver hitch was integrated into the frame and a formed metal cover slides in to completely cover it from view.

The front suspension is basically stock, but the front spindles and disc brakes are from an early '90s Miata. A Toyota power steering box was fitted to deal with the additional engine weight. The rear independent suspension was also sourced from a Miata and is equipped with tubular adjustable upper control arms. The truck comes with new drilled and slotted rotors and pads for all 4 corners. The master cylinder / brake booster are also new Miata items. It's riding on 18" Rota wheels.

The exhaust consists of shorty headers with custom reversed down pipes that meet up with Magnaflow mufflers and tail pipes that exit under the back just past the rear edge of each door. Truck comes with all it's glass and a bunch of small parts - parking/taillights, side markers, wiper assembly, fuel filler neck, etc. It also has a crudely mocked up driveshaft that will come in handy for measuring what's needed for final shaft construction.

It's got a new Omega Kustom Quad gauge set fitted to the original cluster bezel and has all the required senders present. It also has a new dash pad cover, although it will take some fitting as I'm guessing the original base pad has disintegrated. The steering wheel is mounted to a quick release hub. It has a new carpet kit still in the box too.

All in all, it looks like 90% of the heavy lifting was done. It will take some fabrication and assembly, but it's a solid project that deserves to be completed. Mini trucks are hot right now and few will be hotter than this when it's finished. Most everything on the truck appears to be new, or slightly used. There was a ton of $$$ invested in this and just the 351 with a TKO is worth more than the opening bid. The majority of what it needs for completion is already there. The 3 major things it needs to be a rolling resto are a harness, a driveshaft, and your mechanical ability. Don't let this one get away - this is a NO RESERVE auction and the high bidder will own it.

Study the pictures carefully and ASK ALL YOUR QUESTIONS PRIOR TO PURCHASING. I welcome your questions and can usually respond quickly. Again, I am certainly not an expert on Fords or Japanese anything, but I'll try my best to get you an answer. The car has a clean, clear, California title in my name that matches the VIN plate. For California bidders there are no back fees, the car is currently registered non-op. The winning bidder is responsible for all shipping costs and arrangements. I will assist your carrier in loading at this end.

Please check with your significant other, your spiritual advisor, your neighbor, your parole officer, or astrologer before you bid. Scammers that want to overpay with a bank check are encouraged to give it a shot - the comedic value is priceless. A $500.00 deposit is required via Paypal immediately (which loosely translated means at the close of the auction). The balance is payable in cash, or wire transfer within 3 days of auction close. Vehicle need to be picked up within 2 weeks of auction close. All funds must clear my bank before the vehicle leaves without exception. Should go without saying but....the vehicle is sold AS IS, WHERE IS, AND IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. Only you can determine if it is suited for your intended use, and there are no returns or refunds under any circumstances.

Thanks for taking a look!