I ordered a new 1972 F250 4x4 that was delivered in December 1971 just in time for winter driving. It came in not the burgandy color I had ordered but RED, wasn't going to take it but they knocked some good money off. It was rust proofed by the dealer before i took delivery too.
It was a 360 powdered dog with a 4 speed tranny of which 1st was the granny gear. I loaded the 11' Wolverine slike in camper on it to take our yearly fishing trip to Canada. got there sparking all the way. I got in the habit of timeing it with a vacum gauge and useing add octane to stop the constiant spark knocking.
in 18 months the valves in the engine were bad and will admit Ford footed the bill on that.
By 24 months the bed had holes in it so big you could throw a full grown herford bull thru, Ford would fix that how ever so I should have stopped at that.
Came out later Ford had been useing cheap chinese steel.
At 27 months I traded it for Another Ford a 1974 250 4x4 360 4 speed trans. Right color this time Beautiful black with lots of XLT chrome. Good Year rust proofed this one and did a really good job. Engine didn't spark knock like the 72 did but the USA was on the verge of lead gas, so ford had advance notice to make changes.
Problem was it was useing a quart of oil ever 165 miles.
The truck today has a rebuilt 390 engine out of a 1968 Mercury station wagon my dad found. but I decided to do a self build and it pulled really well with the camper loaded on and a pair of 14'and 12' fishing boats in tow.
Got 19 MPG loaded too running a 780 CFM double pumper Holley.
But my family all Ford people never bought another Ford car or truck. My dad went GMC truck and a Jimmy SUV, Brother and two sisters went Jeep (AMC then) my other sister got a fish bowl AMC Pacer and I liked that car my self. I also went Jeeps till I wanted a newer PU than my 74 Ford. then I went Dodge in 91 with a cummins. Best truck I have ever owned.
Should have never traded it for the 98 Dodge with a cummins the first truck I didn't order the way I wanted it.
4:10's with a 3/4 ton cummins powered 5 speed just it to low for what i do.

Al