Custom Order Your Ford Click Here
History of the Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 stands today as America’s favorite and best-selling pickup truck. Such a distinguished title would not be possible were it not for the F-150’s long history of greatness, strength, and innovation.
The F-150’s Heritage
The Ford F-Series was launched in the U.S. in 1948. The series was comprised of several trucks designated F-1 to F-8 and was the first post-WWII truck produced by the automaker. In the F-Series’ early days, it came equipped with a manual transmission and had a maximum cargo capacity of one ton.
The second-generation F-Series trucks ran from 1953 to 1956 and included a comprehensive redesign with updated features. The F-1 truck became the F-100 and offered a cutting-edge V8 engine, and the F-2 and F-3 combined to become the F-250.
Through the F-Series’ subsequent generations, we saw the modern F-150 we know and love begin to take shape. In 1965, a Twin-I-Beam front suspension was added, which remained in the F-150 until 1996 and in the F-250/350 until 2016, allowing for a smoother driving experience. During the truck’s sixth generation, which ran from 1973 to 1979, larger cabins were added, more steel was used in the truck’s construction, and an advanced 4-wheel-drive system was introduced.
The F-150 Makes Its Debut
The first F-150 debuted in 1975 to thunderous acclaim, marking the beginning of the best-selling truck ever to be made. The F-Series entered its seventh and eighth generation in the 1980s, offering even more capable engines – like a 5-liter Windsor V8 engine with fuel injection technology – and increased fuel efficiency. Modern amenities like power windows and interval windshield wipers were added. In 1988, the F-150 became the first-ever pickup truck to run on a non-carbureted engine, offering inline 6 and V8 engines that couldn’t be beat. By 1996, the aerodynamic and bold F-150 outpaced the combined sales of its Chevrolet and GMC competitors.
The Modern F-150
With the release of the F-150’s tenth generation in 1997, the F-150 was labelled as a contemporary personal use truck and was named Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year. 2001 marked the first time a full-size pickup offered four full-size doors. Modern technologies continued to be added to the F-150 like a navigation system and state-of-the-art V8 engines, and it was consistently named the best pickup truck by various auto-industry experts at Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and U.S. News & World Report throughout the 2000s.
Today, the F-150 is in its thirteenth generation, which launched in 2015. Its body is now constructed with strong and durable aluminum on top of a high-strength steel frame. The modern F-150 features the most up-to-date safety, off-roading, entertainment, and connectivity technology available on the road, providing an exceptional driving experience. 2018 marked a mid-cycle redesign, and the F-150 now offers six formidable engine options to drivers, including an advanced 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine with best-in-class torque and towing, a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT with best-in-class payload, and an all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel engine that offers best-in-class diesel horsepower, torque, towing, payload, and fuel efficiency.
