Key Details
- Seller : Daniel619
-
Location : El Cajon, CA 92021
- Seller Type : Private
Build Sheet
- VIN: 1FTHW26F4VEB35520
- Rare 1996–1997 only OBS Crew Cab Short Bed (CCSB) 4x4 configuration
- 7.3-Liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8 engine
- ZF5 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive
- Dual-range 4x4 transfer case with floor shifter
- Recent full exterior repaint in factory-style finish
- Long-term ownership history by Bilstein shock engineer with detailed trip/service logbook
- Nearly $8,000 in recent maintenance receipts (new fuel pump, CPS, fluid flush, switch repair)
- Mickey Thompson DC-2 16-inch cast aluminum wheels with Michelin all-terrain tires
- Rear suspension helper airbags & Bilstein shock absorbers
- Aftermarket exhaust downpipe upgrade
- Trailer brake controller unit
- Power windows, power door locks, & power side mirrors
- Dual fuel tanks with dash selector switch
- Verified operational instrument cluster and dashboard lighting
- Clean title, CARFAX
Wrench Report
RestoMods Head Mechanic. 20 year classic car mechanic & builder.
Being located here in San Diego I actually got to drive this truck myself and let me tell you, it's astonishingly well maintained for the mileage and drives wonderfully. The 7.3L Powerstroke turbodiesel displays a well-maintained engine bay, showing off fresh sensor wiring, a new fuel pump assembly, and an upgraded downpipe routing. Underneath, the ZF5 five-speed manual gearbox, dual-range transfer case, rear air helper springs, and Bilstein shocks reflect decades of precise engineering care and heavy-duty chassis maintenance. Combined with its newly refinished body and highly sought-after crew-cab short-bed 4x4 layout, this '97 F-250 exhibits the ultimate specification for an OBS Ford enthusiast.
Description
This 1997 Ford F-250 Heavy Duty XLT is a rare, late-production "Old Body Style" (OBS) crew-cab short-bed (CCSB) 4x4 pickup powered by a 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8 engine paired with a ZF5 five-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Offered only for the 1996 and 1997 model years, the F-250 CCSB four-wheel-drive configuration remains one of the most elusive and sought-after truck variants of the entire OBS era, combining heavy-duty turbodiesel utility with a maneuverable short-bed footprint. Formerly owned for over two decades by the lead engineer for Bilstein shocks, this truck was recently repainted and serviced with nearly $8,000 in mechanical reconditioning and is now being offered by the truck's third owner along with a detailed handwritten maintenance log, recent service receipts, a clean CARFAX report and a clean California title.
The steel body is refinished in a recent complete respray in a red and white two-tone color scheme, detailed with a chrome front bumper, a matching chrome rear step bumper, dual side mirrors, cab marker lights, and a short-bed cargo box. Additional exterior features include dual fuel filler doors and factory-style badging. Some imperfections on the body are noted, such as paint drips near the rear wheel wells, some visible scratches in the paint in various spots, some surface rust on the side mirror arm mounts, rock chips in the windshield, and dents and dings in the bed from normal usage.
The truck rides on Mickey Thompson's Dick Cepek "DC-2" 16-inch cast aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Agilis Cross Climate tires measuring 265/75 R16 at the front and rear.
The four-door cab features front and rear bench seats upholstered in factory grey cloth, complemented by color-keyed door panels, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, carpeting, and front rubber floor mats. This truck does have factory air conditioning and heat equipped, and the seller notes that the A/C blows cold.
The interior also features the factory steering wheel mounted to a tilt column, set ahead of factory instrumentation including an 85-mph speedometer, a 4,500-rpm tachometer, gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, battery voltage, and fuel level. Cabin hardware includes a trailer brake controller and an auxiliary air bag pressure gauge console. The seller notes that the air bag pressure gauges are currently not hooked up. An A-pillar instrument cluster is also neatly mounted with gauges for boost pressure and a pyrometer. All dash lights and indicators have been verified operational. A floor-mounted shifter manages the ZF5 five-speed manual transmission, flanked by a floor-mounted transfer case selector lever for the 4x4 system.
The engine bay houses a 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8 engine equipped with a direct-injection fuel system, a new replacement fuel pump, an updated crankshaft position sensor, a fresh fluid flush, and an aftermarket performance down-pipe. Power is sent through a ZF5 five-speed manual transmission with overdrive and a dual-range transfer case to a solid front axle and a heavy-duty rear differential.
The chassis features a heavy-duty perimeter frame equipped with an independent front suspension with leaf springs, a leaf-sprung rear axle, rear suspension helper airbags, and Bilstein shock absorbers. Stopping power is provided by power-assisted front disc brakes and rear drum brakes backed by a dual-circuit master cylinder setup.
Photo Gallery
Videos
Comments & Bid History
Commenting on this auction is now closed.
Good morning everyone! I’m the owner of this F-250 and wanted to introduce myself. I’ll be following along throughout the auction and am happy to answer any questions.
I originally purchased this truck to enjoy with my family. I’ve always loved the nostalgia of these OBS Fords, and this particular configuration isn’t something you come across every day, which is what drew me to it. One of my favorite things about owning it has been how many people stop to share memories of growing up around one. It seems like everyone had a dad, grandpa, or friend who drove one of these!
I’m happy to answer questions, provide additional photos or videos, or help however I can. Thanks for checking it out, and I look forward to following along!
With regards to service history, I have taken a few photos of a spiral bound notebook that the Seller of 20+ years kept with the truck. It shows every trip that he took starting in 2000 along with all of his service since he purchased it in 2000 with approximately 40,000 miles on it! I am also uploading to invoices from the service work that I did on the truck. Let me know what additional questions you have and I’m happy to put it together for you. Thanks!
All vehicle descriptions and listings are provided exclusively by the seller and are assumed accurate by the platform without independent verification. Buyers maintain the sole responsibility to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of any description, and independent research and physical inspections must be completed prior to bidding.
The Wrench Report is generated solely for informational purposes and is based on a subjective analysis of information provided by the seller. The contents of the Wrench Report constitute a good-faith opinion only; they do not constitute mechanical advice, professional valuation, or an assurance or guarantee of the vehicle's quality, safety, or condition.
Vehicles may possess latent mechanical, cosmetic, or bodywork defects not visually apparent in photography. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all lots are sold "As-Is, Where-Is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. The sale is conducted between the buyer and seller. Please review our full Terms and Conditions for comprehensive liability terms.
Key Details
- Seller : Daniel619
-
Location : El Cajon, CA 92021
- Seller Type : Private
Build Sheet
- VIN: 1FTHW26F4VEB35520
- Rare 1996–1997 only OBS Crew Cab Short Bed (CCSB) 4x4 configuration
- 7.3-Liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8 engine
- ZF5 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive
- Dual-range 4x4 transfer case with floor shifter
- Recent full exterior repaint in factory-style finish
- Long-term ownership history by Bilstein shock engineer with detailed trip/service logbook
- Nearly $8,000 in recent maintenance receipts (new fuel pump, CPS, fluid flush, switch repair)
- Mickey Thompson DC-2 16-inch cast aluminum wheels with Michelin all-terrain tires
- Rear suspension helper airbags & Bilstein shock absorbers
- Aftermarket exhaust downpipe upgrade
- Trailer brake controller unit
- Power windows, power door locks, & power side mirrors
- Dual fuel tanks with dash selector switch
- Verified operational instrument cluster and dashboard lighting
- Clean title, CARFAX
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