1996 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4 [cool-looking hard-working classic] for sale

Premium, vintage, district, powerful, and still exceptionally capable – this 1996 Ford F-150 XLT 4×4 really knows how to do it all

This is a cool-looking classic. It starts with a factory-correct white paint that is also the original application. It has a good gloss from proper respect, and there’s a premium XLT look with the silver lower section. The finish is not perfect, but it’s quite impressive for a vehicle passing the quarter-century mark. And the side decals are done in a silver and blue fade that has a sharp and tasteful style that’s cool for far more than just the nostalgia. The chrome bumpers, clean headlights, and bright grille continue the well-respected style. This is joined by tasteful upgrades like the brush guard, windshield overhang w/lights, step bars, a diamond plate toolbox, and a nice set of alloys that look like they were borrowed from an 18-wheeler. In fact, that last piece helps highlight the long-haul useful appeal of a classic truck that can still get to work. That’s why you have the long bed protected with a drop-in bedliner and a proper trailer hitch on the back.

The gray interior was also built with long-haul comfort in mind. It starts with the seat that lets you have a classic bench with three across. But when you want more individualized comfort, the fold-down armrest turns the setup into more like two high-back buckets. There’s even power lumbar support. While the odometer is suspected to reflect the full actual mileage, this one shows a level of care that says it has not been an industrial workhorse. A premium XLT means a ton of features, like a tilt steering column, an airbag steering wheel, sliding rear glass, cup holders, power windows, power locks, and keyless entry. And this has provisions for more great factory options like an auxiliary fuel tank and air conditioning (they will need servicing before fully functioning again.) There are also nice upgrades like tinted windows and an AM/FM/CD stereo with aux input for your iPod.

The 5.8-liter fuel-injected V8 is a terrific Ford powerhouse, and so it’s great to see this motor looking so tidy and correct under the hood. It’s known for being both powerful and smooth, and so the four-speed automatic transmission w/overdrive maximizes its versatility. This is a proper 4×4 with a two-speed transfer case and a nice set of Cooper Discoverer A/T tires. But the appeal here is much more than the off-road. Power steering, power brakes, front discs, and cruise control make for a fine highway and byway pickup.