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The Features of the 1977 Ford F150
There are many reasons to extol the virtues of the 1977 F150. For one thing, sales of the F150 exploded (having been introduced two years prior) as owners purchased the F150 over the lighter F100. Of the 337,068 F150s produced that year, 82% were equipped with a V8 engine. Most F150s were 4x2s since only 29% of owners bought 4x4s.
Cab Configuration
Owners could order their pickups with two different cab configurations, Regular or SuperCab. The Regular Cab trucks had a Flareside or Styleside choice (although both were built with 8’ beds). The SuperCab offered 6.5’ and 8’ beds but did not come in a Flareside (Styleside only). While you can still see a Flareside roaming around, the straight Styleside comprised most of the trucks Ford produced that year. Only about 30% of the units that Ford produced were 4x4s (which is why the market for them is so strong today).
Exterior
While the basic design is a holdover from the 1975 facelift, there were some tweaks to the ‘77. Insignia badging was made smaller, and the location was moved toward the bottom corner of the front windshield. The long chrome design strip continued to run down the side of the truck, giving it a straightforward, all-business appearance.
The grill continued to present the same features as the previous versions, with round headlights in black and square backdrops bookending two three-slat sections. The parking lights sat above the headlights, and the iconic Ford lettering was under the hood lip. Chrome bumpers were set on the front and rear, matching the chrome handles on the doors.
Ford improved the rust-inhibiting polymers it used on the sheet metal and installed plastic fender liners to help combat rust. A sales brochure for the F-series proclaimed that the truck had fenders that would never rust (which technically was true since they were made of plastic).
The cargo box was double-walled with rounded corners to make cleaning easier. The tailgate could hold over 2k lbs by itself, and for the first time, Ford moved the gas tank away from the back of the cab to underneath the bed. (Safety critics had been urging Ford to do this for years).
Even though you could still get a side toolbox on the 8’ Stylesides, most owners chose to mount their toolboxes directly behind the cab.
Sixteen exterior colors were offered, and owners could choose one of three options for the two-tone paint job, using Wimbledon White as the contrasting color. Colors ranged from Raven Black, Light or Dark Jade Metallic, Copper, and Cinnamon.
Engine
Four engine choices were available for the ‘77 F150. While the standard engine was the 300 cu. inline six, there were three V8 motors that owners could purchase. The 351 would be used for several years, while the 400 would eventually be dropped in 1981.
Transmission
The standard transmission was the 3-speed manual, but most owners opted for the 4-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. (The automatic C4 transmission backed up the 300 ci Inline six, while the upgraded C6 handled the duties for the V8s). Ford offered speed control on the larger V8s (an early version of cruise control).
Suspension
Ford’s development of the Twin I-beam suspension in 1965 was a breakthrough regarding ride quality. Ford had made a name for itself with the suspension system, but they hyped the dual beams as making a “tough truck even tougher.”
Interior
Ford offered top-notch luxury with the Ranger XLT trim, which had wall-to-wall carpeting, extra insulation in the door panels, and cloth/vinyl seats that covered seven full inches of foam. The dash was padded and accented with woodgrain applique with a backlit instrument panel. Customers could order intermittent window wipers, a locking glovebox, and a 12” day/night mirror.
Ford offered power brakes and power steering as standard equipment (seatbelts had been a part of Ford trucks for years). The AM radio was standard on all models, although owners could upgrade to an AM/FM stereo for their listening enjoyment. Ford offered a rear window defroster, sliding rear window, and you could even have all the windows tinted.
The Regular cab allowed owners to unlatch the seat back from either side to access additional storage. The area was carpeted (both on the floor and the rear cab wall).
The Specs of the Ford F 150.
The following table contains a list of some of the specifications for the F150 during the 1977 model year.
What Issues Did the ‘77 F 150 Have?
The Ford F150 encountered a couple of issues in the years following its production. The first recall dealt with a leaking fuel hose connecting to the carburetor, which affected over 60k vehicles.
Another recall was issued for Ford trucks built from ‘69 - ‘80 regarding the fact that the parking brake would sometimes not engage when shifted into Park.
An issue with the steering box led to owners having their steering bearings replaced. Finally, a carburetor issue affected some F150s with sticking throttles. Some owners experienced their trucks accelerating even after the gas pedal was released.
The general understanding is that the sixth generation F150s are petty stout, with their cast iron engine clock and cast iron transfer case (NP205), which makes them almost indestructible.
What Are Ford F-150s Worth Today?
According to Hagerty, you should expect a 4.9L 300 ci Inline six to bring $13,500 in good condition. The market for 4x4s is much stronger ($25k) because less than 30% of all 1977 Ford F 150s were equipped with 4WD. The highest sale ever recorded for a 1977 F 150 was $220,000.
Today, the market for the sixth generation F-Series trucks is strong, and due to their production numbers, parts are readily available. For a listing of Ford F150s with their current selling price, visit classiccars.com.
