There’s a certain lingo to Ford trucks. Even if you don’t know exactly what a “Dentside,” “Bumpside,” or “Flareside” is, you can probably guess that those names are related to the bodies of the respective pickups. But what is a “Highboy”? No, it’s not your stoner buddy from high school — it’s our Pick of the Day. You can find this 1973 Ford F-250 Ranger 4×4 “Highboy” listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Stow, Massachusetts. It is documented with a Deluxe Marti Report.
In 2022, Motor Trend magazine broke down the meaning of the word “Highboy.” “That term has an unofficial history of use in reference to the first four-wheel-drive trucks, and isn’t necessarily used for Fords alone. The first 4x4s were aftermarket conversions of two-wheel-drive trucks. These trucks generally had a divorced transfer case that made a taller stance obligatory. Later, the term began to be used to refer to pre-1977½ Ford F-250 trucks (1967-1977) with 4WD and a divorced transfer case.”
This may lead to another question: What is a divorced transfer case? That means it’s not directly connected (or married) to the transmission. Ford Truck Enthusiasts reports that this caused the front end to sit higher and necessitated adding lift blocks to the rear end to level things out, hence the name “Highboy.” Midway through the 1977 model year, Ford started using married transfer cases, leading to people calling the new trucks “Lowboys.”
Not only is this particular F-250 a Highboy, but it also has a lot of factory parts. The seller states that the “Original trim pieces, bumpers and factory glass all remain in great condition. Original floors, cab corners, rockers and doors are 100% solid and rot free.” Even better, the orange “Special Paint” is reportedly original, too. The original 360ci V-8 is “paired to the factory automatic transmission and divorced transfer case.”
Of course, this 53-year-old truck has some updates, too. The cabin is equipped with power brakes, power steering, dealer-installed air conditioning, and a bench seat that was reupholstered with black knit vinyl. Outside, the new Wimbledon White 16-inch eight-lug steel wheels are wrapped in fresh 9.00-16LT tires.
These days, a 4×4 truck with a separate transfer case and transmission is an odd concept but, for roughly 10-year span, it was how Ford made F-250s. That layout gave the Highboys two things that many people look for in pickups: a better view of the road and four-wheel drive. You can get both of those along with classic truck style in this 1973 Ford F-250 Ranger 4×4 “Highboy” for $59,900.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
