Why This Car Is Special

The 1996 Ford F-250 Lariat Eddie Bauer Edition occupies a narrow slice of truck history that collectors are starting to pay serious attention to. This is the final model year of the ninth-generation F-Series, the body style that ran from 1992 through 1996 and is now commonly referred to as the OBS — or "Old Body Style" — among enthusiasts. That generation has aged into genuine collectibility, and clean examples like this one are becoming harder to find as more get used up or modified beyond recognition.

What makes this particular truck stand out within that generation is the combination of equipment it carries. The 460 cubic inch, 7.5-liter V8 was the largest gasoline engine Ford offered in a pickup truck during this era. It was a purpose-built towing and hauling engine, and in 1996 it came with sequential electronic fuel injection, putting out 245 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. That torque number is what matters for pulling a trailer. The 460 was never about acceleration — it was about authority at low rpm, and it delivered that in full measure.

The Eddie Bauer trim on a heavy-duty F-250 is a relatively uncommon combination. The Eddie Bauer package was better known on the Ford Explorer and the F-150, where it emphasized outdoor lifestyle branding with two-tone paint and upscale interior appointments. Finding it on an F-250 with the Lariat badge and the Trailer Special Package means this truck was built at the top of the options sheet. The buyer in 1996 wanted everything: the most capable engine, the most refined interior, and the full towing equipment group — all in one truck.

The VIN on this truck confirms it was built as a two-wheel-drive, extended cab unit with the 460 engine and automatic transmission. Two-wheel drive was the preferred configuration for serious towing buyers who wanted maximum payload ratings without the added weight and mechanical complexity of a four-wheel-drive system.

Features List

• 460 7.5L V8 with sequential electronic fuel injection
• Automatic transmission
• Extended cab with front bucket seats and rear bench seat
• Center console with armrest
• Trailer Special Package with chrome tow hitch
• Eddie Bauer Edition with Lariat badge
• Wood grain interior trim
• AM/FM cassette radio
• Air conditioning
• Power windows
• Power steering
• Power brakes with front disc brakes
• Tilt steering wheel
• Twin I-beam front suspension
• Chrome front and rear bumpers
• Chrome body side molding
• Chrome side mirrors
• Roof clearance lights
• Long bed with bed cover
• Spare tire

Mechanical

The 460 cubic inch V8 — Ford's largest gasoline truck engine of the era — is the right engine for this chassis. By 1996, it had been updated with sequential multi-port fuel injection, which improved throttle response and cold-start behavior compared to the earlier throttle-body injection versions. The result was a cleaner, more consistent powerplant that still carried the low-end torque character the 460 was always known for.

The Trailer Special Package is more than a badge. It included factory-calibrated equipment intended to make the truck a capable tow vehicle right off the dealer lot. The chrome tow hitch visible at the rear is part of that package. Combined with the heavy-duty rear axle and the 460's torque output, this truck was rated to tow significant loads in period — making it a working tool, not just a dressed-up show truck.

Up front, the twin I-beam independent front suspension is a Ford design that dates to the early 1960s and was used on F-Series trucks for decades. It allows each front wheel to travel independently, which improves ride quality compared to a solid front axle while maintaining the load capacity needed for a three-quarter-ton truck. Front disc brakes handle stopping duty, paired with drums at the rear, which was standard practice for this class of truck in this period.

The underside photos show the frame and undercarriage in good structural condition, consistent with a truck that spent its life in a dry or warm climate. The exhaust components show normal age-related surface oxidation, but the frame rails and floor pans visible in the lift photos appear solid. This is a two-wheel-drive truck, which means there is no front axle, transfer case, or front driveshaft to inspect or maintain — a simpler mechanical picture overall.

Interior

The Eddie Bauer interior package brought a level of finish to the F-250 that most buyers of heavy-duty trucks didn't expect in 1996. The dashboard carries a wood grain applique that runs across the full width of the dash and continues onto the door panels — an unusual touch for a truck of this class. The signed Eddie Bauer badge on the passenger-side dash is intact and legible, identifying this truck's trim level at a glance.

Seating is configured with front buckets separated by a center console armrest, which was a practical and comfortable arrangement for long-haul driving. The gray cloth upholstery is in good condition with no obvious wear or damage visible in the photos. The rear bench seat, accessible through the extended cab's rear doors, shows similarly clean cloth in the same gray. For a truck approaching thirty years old, the interior is holding up well.

The dashboard layout is straightforward: analog gauges for speed, fuel, temperature, and voltage, with the AM/FM cassette radio and climate controls on the center stack. The tilt steering wheel and air conditioning were standard on Lariat-level trucks. Power windows operate from switches on the driver's door. The overall impression is a truck that was maintained and kept clean, not one that spent its life as a work truck hauling mud and gravel.

Exterior

The dark red exterior is clean and consistent across all panels. The paint has good depth and shows no evidence of repainting on the major body panels visible in the photos. The chrome front bumper, rear bumper, body side molding, and side mirrors are all present and in good condition. Chrome trim on trucks of this era is often pitted or showing corrosion by now — on this truck it is still presentable.

The roof clearance lights, which run across the top of the cab, are intact and correctly positioned. These lights were part of the Trailer Special Package group and helped identify the truck's height clearance when towing or navigating tight spaces — a practical feature, not just visual. The long bed is covered with a bed cover that protects the cargo area. The overall silhouette of the 1996 F-250 extended cab long bed is a substantial one — this is a full-size, full-length truck in every sense of the term.

The spare tire is mounted in the factory under-bed carrier position, visible in the underside photos. The body panels are straight with no visible collision damage or rust-through on the exterior surfaces.

Conclusion

The 1996 Ford F-250 Lariat Eddie Bauer Edition with the 460 big block is a specific truck for a specific buyer. It represents the top of what Ford offered in a gasoline-powered, two-wheel-drive, extended cab heavy-duty pickup in the final year of the OBS body style. The combination of the 460 engine, Trailer Special Package, Lariat trim, and Eddie Bauer interior puts this well above a standard-spec F-250. Clean, original OBS trucks with this level of equipment are not easy to find in this condition, and interest in this generation has been building steadily among collectors and enthusiasts who remember these trucks from the first time around.

To ask questions or arrange a viewing, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.