Cody’s 1973 F-350: Finding Dad’s Truck After 25 Years

Shared by @Bumpsidecrewcab. The timeline and plans reflect the owner’s original account.

Cody’s dad bought this 1973 F-350 crew cab in 1975 from a friend who had brought it from Arizona to California. New trucks were beyond his budget, but this one was nearly new. It carried the painted name of Blodgett’s Bug Barn, his San Bernardino business opened in 1973, through Cody’s childhood.

Cody's 1973 Ford F-350 Crew Cab — Full Restoration

In 1979, his dad fitted a 1979 grille to make it look new again. Before selling it in 1997, he repainted it, redid the interior and rebuilt the engine described as a 460 that was actually a 512. After a couple of months advertised in the paper, it sold for $5,000.

The work and the years behind it

Cody looked for it for years. A buddy reposted a photo from Roman, @keepinitclassic, and Cody recognized it immediately. A phone call made the deal; the next day it was home. After 25 years, the massive truck of his childhood suddenly seemed smaller, but its memories were unchanged. Six months into ownership when he shared the story, a full restoration was underway, with details kept secret until completion. He hoped his children would love it as he had.

Read the owner’s original account and build details

Truck year:

1973

Ownership when this account was shared:

6 months

How the truck came home

This exact truck

The memories behind the truck

When I was a kid this truck was massive. The biggest truck is ever seen! I remember looking up at the green bug deflector thinking man this is the best truck ever it’s huge!! For some reason even in my 30s I still pictured it this way even though I owned 2 other 60s crewcabs. I know how big they are but dads truck was just bigger. When I finally bought it back and stood at the front looking down on the hood finally after 25 years I realized how much this truck meant to me, the memories, my dad, trips, riding up front barely able to see over the dash. I was right all along it’s definitely the best truck ever and I hope my kids feel the same way!

Build details, in the owner’s words

The truck is undergoing a full restoration, engine trans, interior, rust repair but the details are a secret until it’s done…

Plans at the time of the story

Enjoy it till I die.

More from the owner

My dad bought this 1973 crewcab F350 truck in 1975 off a friend who purchased it in Arizona and moved to California. He couldn’t afford a new truck but this was practically new. In 1979 he upgraded the front grille to a 1979 so it looked like a new truck again since a new truck was still not an option. He owned his own business called Blodgetts Bug Barn in San Bernardino Ca opening in 73 so the painted on decals were there my whole life. Occasionally getting them repainted through the years. In 1997 he wanted something new so this truck was put for sale but not before he had it repainted, rebuilt the 460 that was actually a 512 with hooker headers, Mallory ignition and distributor, rv cam, h pipe exhaust and a few other mods. And completely redid the interior. He was able to get $5k for it after sitting in the paper for a couple months. I looked for this truck for years and finally caught a break when a buddy reposted a picture Roman (@keepinitclassic) and I immediately recognized the truck. A quick phone call and a deal was made and the next day the truck was in my driveway.