1994 Ford F150 – Ryan P.

Marvin

My wife says I love Marvin more than I love her. Marvin is my 1994 Ford F-150 XLT, four speed automatic, 5.0L. He is named after the original owner, my grandfather.

When I was in high school I remember seeing the truck at the Ford dealership. Pulled off the lot when new, it first found use as their parts department delivery truck. My grandad brought his current truck in for service and spotted Marvin parked by the parts department entrance door. They were his colors and he wanted it. He asked how much and they responded “that’s our parts department truck.” “Is it for sale or ain’t it?,” he responded. A deal was struck for his trade in and it was his. The same truck I saw one day at the Ford dealership now sat in his driveway when I cruised by a couple of evenings later.

Grandad drove it to about 45,000 miles. When he passed away in 2004 it became my father’s daily driver. Dad drove it until 2018 (from about 45,000 miles to 108,000 miles). Now it’s mine to take care of until I hand it down to the next generation. He’s just like I first saw him long ago in high school. Aside from the usual maintenance and repair nothing about him has changed. As he was for my father before me, he’s mostly a back and forth to work rig but, with a 3.08 rear gearing and overdrive, he’ll cruise down the interstate at 70 just fine. I’ll continue to make sure he’s mechanically sound and safe to drive but he’s going to stay as original as possible.

Yes indeed, I love Marvin. I love the tactile connection I have to my grandad and my father on a near daily basis. But then again, I love older Ford trucks through the ninth generation. They possess a rugged simplicity that I fear is lost in a modern truck with all of the gimmicks and tech. When I was in high school, a 1994 Ford F-150 XLT was the top of the line and a four door truck was almost unheard of. My grandad’s new truck had it all. Today, it still does. I’m comfortable and content – doubtful I’ll drive another truck before I pass it down to my sons. All three already love Marvin too.

Oh, I love my wife too.[lmc_story_gallery]