I got my Marti report the other day and it was a great read ! There were 4,225 "Indianapolis Speedway" trucks built in 1979. That's not very many really but it's a lot more than I expected. The report also gave me the dealers name and date of sale. I called the dealer just on a long shot that they might have some info. Believe it or not the dealership is still owned by the same family and when I asked the nice lady on the phone about any old paperwork, she kind of giggled ( I expected that ) and said "sure" (I didn't expect that). She gave me the original purchaser's name and address and emailed me a copy of the original sales invoice.
So........... being the pseudo sleuth that I am I googled his name and sure as heck, he still lives where he did in 1979 and he has a listed phone number. After a couple of phone attempts I got his wife and he called me back today. He thinks he's got some old photos and literature for the truck.Some of the "things" he says he has are the original "Official Truck" stickers that go on the doors, fenders and tailgate. Those stickers were shipped in a box in the seat and the dealers would apply them if the customer wanted them on the truck. MOST of them never got used.
The original owner was forced to part with the truck in 1982 amidst a bitter divorce and he hasn't seen it since ! The guy I bought it from lives just 22 miles from the original owners house ! I don't know the history in between but I'll find it I'm sure.
Again, these trucks really don't have much value as a collectable vehicle. Most people don't even know they existed. This was the first "special edition" truck Ford ever offered. GMC followed it up in 1980 with the Indy truck but Ford laid the groundwork for the trucks at Indy.
I stopped by the local body shop last week and scheduled the truck in for paint. They will start work on it the last week of October and it should take 3-4 weeks.
Now, if I could only find one of the legendary Indy Pinto's. Yes really, Pinto.
As for power. it's got a 351-W in it right now. There's a Coyote motor in the future though. Either in this one or my original Indy F-150 sitting quietly in the corner of my shop.
I'll keep you posted.
So........... being the pseudo sleuth that I am I googled his name and sure as heck, he still lives where he did in 1979 and he has a listed phone number. After a couple of phone attempts I got his wife and he called me back today. He thinks he's got some old photos and literature for the truck.Some of the "things" he says he has are the original "Official Truck" stickers that go on the doors, fenders and tailgate. Those stickers were shipped in a box in the seat and the dealers would apply them if the customer wanted them on the truck. MOST of them never got used.
The original owner was forced to part with the truck in 1982 amidst a bitter divorce and he hasn't seen it since ! The guy I bought it from lives just 22 miles from the original owners house ! I don't know the history in between but I'll find it I'm sure.
Again, these trucks really don't have much value as a collectable vehicle. Most people don't even know they existed. This was the first "special edition" truck Ford ever offered. GMC followed it up in 1980 with the Indy truck but Ford laid the groundwork for the trucks at Indy.
I stopped by the local body shop last week and scheduled the truck in for paint. They will start work on it the last week of October and it should take 3-4 weeks.
Now, if I could only find one of the legendary Indy Pinto's. Yes really, Pinto.
As for power. it's got a 351-W in it right now. There's a Coyote motor in the future though. Either in this one or my original Indy F-150 sitting quietly in the corner of my shop.
I'll keep you posted.