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This Beautiful First-Gen F-150 SVT Lightning Could Fetch Supercar Money
The undercarriage was cleaned using dry ice in preparation for the sale.
A limited-edition 1993 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning with only 150 miles on the clock is up for auction on Bring A Trailer, and this pickup's bid price has already risen to $66,000 with just over five days to go. The only items we can see missing are the original tires. However, 32-year-old tires sitting on a car in a garage in Florida would not be safe for use now. Not that this truck has been used much, or likely will be used at this point.
With such low miles, one might expect this truck spent its life in a climate-controlled garage. However, it's unclear if that was actually the case. The auction listing mentions some surprising factoids for a car with such mileage, such as refinishing work on the rear to fix faded paint. The engine bay shows some corrosion on metal surfaces. And there are the tires, which have been replaced and tragically, the seller just pitched the originals. Even in non-streetable condition, they're still the original tires. For a 32-year-old specialty vehicle like this with almost no miles, things like that matter. But, we digress.
It Belongs In A Museum
Along with the 1993 SVT Cobra Mustang, the 1993 SVT Lightning was among the first specialty performance vehicles from Ford's then-new Special Vehicle Team (SVT). Starting with the smallest, lightest F-150 possible, SVT modified the engine, suspension, brakes, and strengthened the frame for better handling. SVT also removed all the chrome, added a unique front bumper with driving lamps, and swapped the rear bumper for a tubular one.
It had 240 horsepower with 340 pound-feet of torque, which was a lot by 1993 standards. That power came from a 5.8-liter Windsor V8, but it wasn't supercharged. Forced induction wouldn't arrive until the second-generation Lightning in 1999, but Ford gave the V8 a better intake to breathe through, along with some other minor changes. For grip and handling, Ford worked with legendary racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart on the tuning, and it actually handled surprisingly well for being a full-size body-on-frame pickup. A limited slip differential with lowered suspension and bigger sway bars certainly helped. A 4.10:1 axle ratio helped it accelerate, too.
The term "out with the old, in with the new" certainly doesn't apply to classic pickups.
Putting A Price On Nostalgia
This particular SVT Lightning looks really good, almost showroom fresh. The interior appears flawless, and a portion of the 339 images show a very clean undercarriage. That's due in part to a dry ice cleaning done prior to the auction, per the auction description. The engine bay was detailed, too, but sadly it shows quite a bit of corrosion. The CarFax report shows this truck lived in Florida nearly all its life, and the corrosion suggests it wasn't stored in a climate-controlled garage. Hot, humid air can exact a toll, even on vehicles kept out of the beating sun.
The original owner sold the truck to the current seller, a dealership based in Arizona. That explains the hundreds of exterior photos showing it in the desert looking very red, but it has us in a bit of a quandary as to who the buyer is for this truck. With only 150 miles, it's right up the alley for a collector seeking a factory-original SVT Lightning. Except it isn't factory-original – the rear has been refinished and the tires are gone. Nor is it showroom fresh considering the corrosion. You can't clean rust and corrosion.
It's done just 12 miles in 32 years.
On the other hand, someone looking for a nice, low-mile Lightning to occasionally drive might have to invest considerably more money to replace hoses, seals, and bushings that have deteriorated over the decades. Frankly, there are smarter choices for such buyers to make than nabbing a decades-old Lightning with just 150 miles on the odometer. However, at $66,000 with five days still to go, this SVT clearly has some buyers stepping up.
The F-150 SVT Lightning comes from an era when the purse strings weren't so tightly controlled and automakers let their hair down a bit. On paper, the F-150 SVT Lightning was a silly truck for truck buyers, but it was built for fun. It was also an answer to the Chevrolet 454 SS street truck and its muscular 7.4-liter V8, which itself was a nod to the old 1978 Dodge Lil' Red Express truck.
The nostalgia is strong here with Gen X as well as Boomers, and Gen X is now at an age where empty nests and higher incomes mean they might have some money to spend on classic cars and trucks. It will be interesting to see how this auction plays out.
Source: Bring A Trailer