ZeroTX

When I was about 12, my dad's best friend (like an uncle to me) bought a brand new 1987 F150 Supercab. It was the first brand-new vehicle I think I'd ever ridden in, or at least the very first brand new pickup truck. It was a 302 fuel injected with a 5-speed manual stick. Probably an XL, though I don't remember noticing. I was impressed by the way the gauges lit up, since the first time I rode in it was at night. It had no power features and it had vinyl seats and hub caps. That truck served his family for about 15 years before it moved to serve his dad's missionary work in Mexico. I'm fairly sure the truck is probably still in use. It hauled boats and people, the carpeted bed with camper top served as the riding place for us kids.... Yes, we kids rode in the bed of the truck, no seatbelts :O :O

End of random '87 F150 memory :-)

88xlt

Just one comment. I didn't think the 5 speed manual transmission came out until the '88 model year, but possibly some late '87s had the 5 speed.

ZeroTX

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Could've been an '88. It was December of '87.

SaltEater

Oh man, I got one of these. Was the reason for picking up an f150.

So when I was little we had a ten year old 1980 f150 single cab, it had that baked dusty coolant exhaust smell that only an old truck with no a/c could have. Anyways, before my sister was born my mom would put me in her lap idling down back alleys and let me 'drive'.

Reason for picking up the '90 I got is that smell brings back those memories, don't have that with the '93 I actually drive around.

raski

I'm still "livin the dream" with my 87 which I bought from my father in 1997.

ZeroTX

Wow, nice. With all the threads about rusted out frames on not-very-old trucks, it had me freaked out about the longevity of these trucks, but I'm going to chalk that up to some pretty extreme winter use without any type of washing done afterward. I pressure wash the bottom of my truck even if I just drive down the beach for a couple of hours.... if I lived up north, I'd have to get my own home pressure washer to keep the truck properly cared for. Thankfully, in Texas, we have plenty of rust-free (small amount of frame surface rust only) trucks of as many as 40-50 years old, depending on how they're cared for.

AZ_HighCountry_F150

That reminds me of my 86. Funny thing was it had 86 AND 85 parts on it. I had to replace something on it and called the dealer to confirm. Kind of funny yet kind of annoying.

raski

The newer trucks boast a box frame. All those do is trap the bad stuff in and they rot out. The older models have an open frame resembling an I-beam which can be rinsed more effectively.

jkenprice1

I can relate. My memories are of my grandfather's 1958 GMC. I've heard our strongest memories are smell related.

ZeroTX

Is there any evidence that this is true? They've been making trucks and SUVs with fully boxed frame for quite a long time. GM has at least since the early 2000's. From what I hear, 15 years in the "rust belt" is death to all truck frames (new and old style alike).

Also, the older frames are C-channel frames, not like an I-beam.

The main advantage of the boxed frames is strength/rigidity. Jack up just one corner of an pre-04 Ford and then do the same on a new 2018 and see the difference.