Thunder Stick: 1993 Ford Lightning 5 speed

The first generation Ford Lightning pick up truck was marketed as a Mustang GT with a pick up bed.  The good folks from SVT worked their magic on a F150 and created a muscle truck complete with a brawny 5.8 engine and suspension make over.  The 1993-95 Lightning was not particularly quick new (definitely not now), but it was able to haul a real payload unlike the GMC Syclone.  Ford only fitted these trucks with E4OD auto trans, but today’s example has been converted to a M5R2 5 speed manual transmission making it a rare bird worthy of DT readership eyes.  Find this 1993 Ford Lightning for sale in Northeast, CT for $9,500 via craigslist.

The seller is reluctantly offering up his prized truck because he is looking for a newer quad cab.  The manual trans swap is said to look factory and only has covered about 1,500 miles since completed.  The odometer shows 144,000 miles.  This Lightning is a turn key driver that gets many compliments on the road.  AC blows cold and is still filled with R12.

The engine is stock aside from a side exit exhaust that is made up of Bassani and Magnaflow components.  Other modifications include a Exstang Trifecta cover with bedliner and mat and custom gauge inlay based off a second generation Lightning.  Recent maintenance includes new radiator, fuel pump, rear brakes, wheel bearings, seals, and more.

The negatives are a missing center cap and the cab corners are starting to bubble up with surface rust.  There is no rot anywhere and frame is rust free. 

See a truck where you can dump the clutch and melt the tires? email tips@dailyturismo.com

Cory is hoping to have the door panels and seats swapped in his 1995 Mercedes C36 this coming weekend.