The Ford F-150 Black Ops Edition Isn’t as Cringe-Worthy as It Looks
Not every special-edition truck is valuable. Many offer little beyond cosmetic upgrades. For example, you can option a normal F-150 to match up with the Harley-Davidson edition and save almost $20,000. But monetary value isn’t always what makes special editions appealing. Some, like the F-150 Tonka edition, have an emotional appeal. And despite its appearance, the Ford F-150 Black Ops Edition is also one of those special editions. Tuscany, the company behind the Tonka and Harley-Davidson editions, also made the Black Ops Edition. And there’s more to it than the paint job.
What’s different about the F-150 Black Ops Edition
Motor1, reporting on the F-150 Black Ops for sale at Brown Lee Ford, states it’s based on the F-150 Lariat. So, the truck already comes with features like a power tailgate, powered running boards, tie-down hooks, and LED bed lighting. But Tuscany adds quite a bit to the pickup to make it a Black Ops Edition.
First, Tuscany lifts the F-150 by 6”, and fits heavy-duty performance shocks. The stock 18” wheels are replaced with 20” Tuscany “Black Ops” wheels, and get fitted with 35” BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. Fender flares are installed to make sure the wheels and tires can clear the truck’s body. The front bumper is replaced with a “Black Ops” one that also houses an off-road LED light bar and powder-coated bull bar. The running boards are also off-road-prepped through black powder-coating, as are the dual performance exhaust tips.
The 5.0-liter V8 hasn’t been modified. However, the hood now features a functional ram-air intake. The fender vents are also functional. Normally, the vents, hood, grille, and indeed most of the F-150 would be painted black. However, on the truck Brown Lee Ford’s selling, these have been finished Lead Foot Gray, to match the rest of the F-150.
Black Ops badges are everywhere. Both outside, as well as inside. The headrests have embroidered Black Ops emblems and American flags. There’s also a faux carbon-fiber dash trim and a custom gauge cluster. Tuscany also tints the windows.
Yes, these mods are extreme for driving around suburbia. But for storming the desert, at least the exterior mods make a lot of sense.
How much does the F-150 Black Ops cost?
All these modifications do cost quite a lot. A stock F-150 Lariat starts at $42,500. The F-150 Black Ops Edition, though, has a similar cost to the Harley-Davidson Edition. Brown Lee Ford lists the MSRP as $88,525 before any dealer discounts or incentives. That’s quite a lot of money to pay for a pickup truck that doesn’t even have a bed liner.
That kind of cash would also land buyers a PaxPower V8 F-150 Raptor. And the Raptor is much better off-road than the Black Ops Edition would be. The Mac Truck F-350 would arguably be just as good off-road as the F-150 Black Ops, but significantly cheaper. It’s also a heavy-duty truck, meaning it could tow and haul more than the light-duty F-150.
Is it worth it?
In terms of pure cash, not really. Even with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. But remember that bit about emotional appeal?
Tuscany states that for every Black Ops Edition sold, the company will make a donation to wounded veteran charities. Exactly how much, and which charities, isn’t given. But buying a new truck like this would actually benefit wounded soldiers. The Black Ops badge, then, isn’t just a marketing gimmick.
That being said, you can still donate to these charities without buying this truck. But at least Tuscany built this for a good cause.