The Ford F-150 is the most popular car in USA, but this one found in a barn is a lot rarer than the rest

It might be the most popular American-made vehicle ever, but this barn find example of the Ford F-150 is a rare gem.

The much-loved pickup truck has sold 41.5 million units since its debut in 1948.

It grew from a humble utilitarian to a luxury muscle truck.

However, this F-150 Ranger Free Wheeling pickup that’s been off the road for 17 years but has only 45,000 miles on the odometer is a unicorn.

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Ford F-150 Ranger Free Wheeling pickup

The rainbow-dashed F-150 Ranger Free Wheeling pickup was around from 1977 to 1981.

The short window of time it was on the market means it’s a rare sight nowadays.

Survivors are considered collectible, no matter what condition they’re in.

In 1979, the F-150 was the number one choice for light truck buyers, with 400,000 units sold.

Motors ranged from a 300 cubic-inch (4.9-liter) inline-six to the other end of the scale and a huge 460 V8 (7.5 liters).

The famous 351 V8 (5.8-liter) was the go-to powerplant for F-150 pickup truckers with more than a third of buyers opting for it.

This barn find is a six-cylinder example, carrying a four-speed manual to send to the 114 horsepower and 223lb-ft of torque (116PS, 302Nm) to all four wheels.

This made it a reliable truck that used fuel economically.

Although, as this video of a Cyberbeast rescuing a Ford F-150 out of a ditch in Texas – it isn’t the most powerful.

The barn find

Car detailer and vlogger from Traverse City, Michigan, US, Dane Shemwell, aka Detail Dane, struck gold when he chanced across one.

He visited a customer in Southern Michigan to grab a Ford.

Said Ford had been sitting in the woods for four decades.

The 1970 Ford Torino was so overgrown with flora and fauna that it was impossible to shift.

However, owner Leslie also has a Ford truck that she planned to get back on the road.

The F-150 Ranger had been sitting gathering clutch since its clutch broke and was never repaired.

Leslie had planned to sell her Torino to repair the Ranger however, the detailer still took the Ranger to his shop.

After its first clean in decades, its patina sparkled against the chromatic tape rainbow detailing to the hood, sides, and roof.

The good news is its livery is the same as the truck from the Ford brochure of 1979. courtesy of the Free Wheeling package.

The Free Wheeling package also included a sport steering wheel, a push bar and fog lamps, a GT bar, nice-looking wheels (either forged aluminum or styled steel), a rear step bumper, the handling package, a blackout grille, and a unique interior trim.

The bad news is that the wheels aren’t original.

Plus, as it only had a clean, we can’t be sure whether it runs.

In similar news, this detailing expert made a wild discovery while cleaning inside a Ford F-150.

To bring this story up to date, this 2024 Ford F-150 gets new trims, tech, and a brand-new badge.