Reversed Ranchero: 2002 Lincoln Blackwood

Just how luxurious and plush can you make a Ford F-150 and still call it a pickup?  The Lincoln division of Ford pushed that extreme in 2002.  Intentionally or not, they found the limit. Find this 2002 Lincoln Blackwood for sale in Jackson, MS for $22,000 via craigslist.

The Lincoln Blackwood was not a seller.  With its initial sticker price north of $52,000, it was a four-door truck that didn't even have four-wheel drive.  Even though the interior was tarted-up to the max, the only thing that really distinguished the Blackwood from its compost-hauling kin was its box. Perhaps too many potential customers were cognizant of the fact that this was a 2WD Crew Cab F-150 with a fancy short bed bolted on.  Demanding a $25K+ premium for this option was tough to justify. 

Interestingly, there does not seem to be an upper limit to the amount of luxuriousness you can sell in the cab of a truck as long as you keep the bed intact.  Today's trucks evolved pretty quickly from their steel-dashed ancestors into vehicles with interiors like SUVs.  Bear in mind, however, that most non-commercial truck buyers are very much concerned with the rugged image that goes along with a functional bed, regardless of how often it gets used.  A stumpy, enclosed, carpeted box simply does not convey the requisite hard-working appearance.   Finally, the simple presence of the Lincoln name is off-putting to potential American truck buyers who tend to stick to oval, bow-tie or ram.

The featured vehicle is a fine example of the 3,356 made during a brief run in 2002 and 2003.  With less than 60K miles, this truck has a lot of life left in it.  Parts and service availability will be about as easy as can be for a limited production vehicle.  Will the Blackwood ever be a serious collector's item?  It is hard to say for sure, but this would be a great example to preserve for posterity.

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