Ford F-250
The F-100's heavier-duty 3/4-ton sibling — the same classic Ford truck styling, built for real work.
The F-250 shared its cab, chassis design, and styling with the F-100 across the same generations, but rode on a heavier-duty frame and running gear rated for 3/4-ton payloads. It's a less common find today than the F-100 — many were used hard and not preserved — which makes clean survivors and well-done restorations genuinely harder to source.
History
Introduced alongside the F-100 in Ford's 1953 truck lineup as the mid-weight option in the redesigned F-Series (F-100 half-ton, F-250 3/4-ton, F-350 one-ton), the F-250 used the same body and cab as its lighter sibling but with reinforced frame rails, heavier springs, and available higher axle ratios.
Like the F-100, the F-250 carried through the 1957 Styleside/Flareside bed choice and the 1961–63 unibody experiment before Ford reverted to a conventional separate-bed design for 1964. Because F-250s were bought primarily as work trucks rather than personal vehicles, survival rates in good original condition are lower than for the more commonly preserved F-100.
Notable Versions
Custom Cab
Upgraded trim package shared with the F-100, adding chrome and interior comfort to what was otherwise a pure work truck.
4x4 F-250
Four-wheel-drive versions (available via aftermarket conversion in earlier years, factory-optional later) are meaningfully rarer and more sought after than 2WD examples.
What to Look for When Buying
Key inspection points from experienced collectors.
Expect more wear than an equivalent F-100
F-250s were bought to work, and it shows — inspect the frame, bed, and cab floor especially closely on any unrestored example.
Confirm axle and spring ratings match F-250 specification
Because the F-100 and F-250 share a body, some trucks have been mixed-and-matched over the decades; verify the heavier-duty running gear is actually present if that matters to your intended use.
Parts overlap with the F-100 for body and trim, less so for drivetrain
Cab and sheet metal parts are shared with the more common F-100, but heavier-duty axle, spring, and brake components can be harder to source.
Quick Specs
- Engine options
- 223 I6, 272–352 V8 (varies by year)
- Horsepower
- 101–208 hp (varies by year/engine)
- Wheelbase
- 114–133 in (varies by bed length)
- Payload
- ~1,900–2,500 lbs (3/4-ton rating)
- Transmission
- 3-spd manual, 4-spd manual, Ford-O-Matic/Cruise-O-Matic auto
Market Price Guide
Approximate USA asking prices
Ford F-250 For Sale
3 listings currently available
