A 1976 Ford F-250 Highboy that spent almost two decades gathering dust has been given a second life thanks to the restoration experts at WD Detailing in Ohio. The rare pickup had been sitting idle for 18 years before its owner decided it was time for a revival, turning to the detailing crew to uncover the beauty hidden beneath years of neglect.
The story behind the truck is as personal as it is nostalgic. The owner first acquired the F-250 when he was just 18, convincing his aunt to sell it to him instead of another buyer. For $800, he took home the classic Ford and, with his father’s help, repainted the frame and worked on the body. The truck became a lasting connection between them, even if it eventually ended up parked and forgotten.
This particular model is a “Highboy,” the nickname given to the lifted four-wheel-drive F-250s produced between the late 1960s and 1977. The Highboy’s elevated stance came from its leaf-spring suspension and divorced transfer case—features that set it apart from later, lower-riding trucks. Despite its age, the pickup still rides high and proud, a testament to the rugged engineering of 1970s Ford trucks.
Under the hood, the team speculated whether it packed Ford’s 360 FE-series V8 or the larger 460 big-block, both staples of the era known for their durability and torque. Before the crew could get to the paint, they had to clear out years of debris, including a bird’s nest in the vents and a rat’s nest in the glove box.
After hours of deep cleaning and careful restoration, the F-250’s original blue finish shone once more. The owner now plans to continue the revival with mechanical upgrades and fresh wheels—bringing the once-forgotten Highboy back to the road where it belongs.
