The Ford F-250 is typically known for being a rugged and capable workhorse that is very good at getting the job done. But ask owners around the watercooler what would happen if the truck went to aerodynamics school? They would give you a hearty laugh, impossible one might even say. Well wonder no more, because a very unconventional answer has emerged thanks to an Ebay listing that was discovered by Jalopnik.
Before we get into the truck itself, we have to go into the exciting world of space vehicle construction and time travel back to the mid nineties. Back then a company called Xcor was created in 1999 by former members of the Rotary Rocket development team. The company would embark on a number of projects including the Rocket Racer and the EZ Rocket before folding into bankruptcy in 2017. However, the company did manage to begin work on the Lynx sub-orbital vehicle which was an early proposal to bring a reusable vehicle for passenger travel.
The Lynx project required Xcor to get creative with some of the aerodynamic tests for select components, and this is where the F-250 featured comes into play. Billed as a solution that could be done in a more cost efficient and time focused manner, the truck was modified to carry some of the shuttle’s prototype panels, and actually driven at high speeds down the runway at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
As the images suggest, this is indeed an F-250 that has been heavily chopped to fulfill its new role. The front fascia is pure F-250 with the 7.3 liter 235 horsepower diesel V8 being retained. Things get otherworldly beyond this point, with the cabin and the rear all being transformed into a custom shape that roughly mimics the Lynx’s proposed lines. The cabin is very minimalist in appointments, while a large fin occupies the area where the bed used to be.
This odd but unique rolling test platform (complete with Xcor stickers) is currently for sale on Ebay, but while the seller is happy to point out that “it has the cool factor and starts and drives” time is of the essence. The auction ends in 3 hours, with the bidding currently sitting at just over $3,000 at the time of this writing.