Fox-body Fords are easy to come by. But finding a Ford Durango is like finding a diamond in the dirt while pulling weeds in your backyard. Numbers vary, but somewhere between 80 and 350 of the utes were converted by National Coach Corporation, using the Fairmont Futura coupe as a starting point. While many people have copied the ute design, there is one true way to tell a real Durango from a fake, and that is the “tailgate”…the entire taillight panel folds down for access to the bed. They were all straight-six cars and nobody knows how many of them remain, so finding this fairly clean example on eBay was a big surprise. The pictures aren’t the greatest, but they do show a nicely-kept original that is still wearing it’s California blue plates and turbine wheel covers. It’s hard to tell if the paint has been redone at some point or if the owner has stock in Turtle Wax, but just by the four pictures included we don’t doubt that the interior and under hood look as good.
Now, here’s the sincere question: could you resist messing with it? Sure, it’s rare, but it’s rare because of it’s body, not it’s engine or options. All of the Mustang mods work here, and while the coffee-and-cream paint looks good, they aren’t exactly eye-catching colors, are they? A nice, streetable 5.0, T-5, and ten-hole Mustang LX wheels would set this ute up nicely with little investment, but that’s just me. What do you think?
eBay Link: 1982 Ford Durango
I love it! It would have to get a wicked stroked 302 and a t5 swap, but leave everything else exactly the same. I think Ford could have sold tons of these in the 80s.
I was going to say the same thing!
It would be best to keep it bland looking for the sleeper aspect on the outside, but a nicely built 305 and a T5 on the inside pushing it forward sounds like a great combination.
I’ll keep it short …. and 3rd the motion 😉
Thanks for keeping it short for once!!!
I had a 81 Zephyr in the same color scheme when I was 15. I always thought it would look cool made into a Ranchero….I was right….dig it!
Shotgun 429, flat black paint steelies and a serious attitude!
5.0/5spd swap is s given. The only thing I would change on the outside is widen the rear wheels.
Wow, never knew these existed! I would add nicer rims and tires and thats it. Done.
Ford 347 stroker with a T5, and wider ( but subtle) rear wheels and tires.
It’s already a cut up Fairmont. I wouldn’t hesitate a second to rework it.
A wise man once said “Rare does not mean valuable”. Remember in the 1970’s & 1980’s a coach builder was doing this with Cadillacs too. RWD Devilles & FWD El-Dorado’s. They don’t hold much market value over a regular vehicle with the same mileage.
That said, 5.0L, 5 speed, 5 lug,8.8 rear disks, 16 or 17 inch wheels, and a receiver hitch too.
Would make a awesome swap-meet hauler/light-duty shop truck.