Few — if any — vehicles have has as long and storied a history as the Ford F-150. If you want to get back to your roots and take a walk through the iconic pickup's long past, here's a brief history of the American icon.
The F-150's Ancestors: 1917-1941
Image via Flickr by rich701
The first Ford truck ever produced was called the Ford Model TT, which was released in 1917. This laid the tracks for the first F-150s to come onto the scene. The Model TT was sold with only a chassis, and a factory body wasn't available until 1923. As its name suggests, the Model TT was a modified Model T, the first production vehicle to roll out of factories.
Ford's truck offerings grew into the Model A and Model B during the 1920s and early 1930s. In 1935, they began to produce the Model 50, which looks closer to our idea of what trucks are supposed to look like. This model was offered until 1941, when Ford stopped production to aid in World War II.
First and Second F-Series Generations: 1948-1956
In 1948, the Ford F-1 light-duty truck was made available to the public. This first generation lasted from 1948 to 1952. The F-1 was the half-ton entry in a lineup of trucks that ranged all the way up to the heavy-duty F-8, which was called the "Big Job." During this first generation, the Ford truck got a lot of upgrades, such as a foot-operated windshield wiper and iconic round headlights. The Ford company got a lot of work down in the downtime from their pre-war offerings to this new truck that would pave the way for all future trucks.
The second generation of Ford trucks lasted from the 1953 to 1956 model years and was called the F-100. The F-2 and F-3 were brought together to create the F-250, while the F-4 full-ton truck was renamed the F-350. The Ford F-Series trucks use this naming convention to this day. The second generation was the first to offer an automatic transmission and the last to use the flathead V-8 engine that Ford put into its trucks since 1932.
Third and Fourth F-Series Generations: 1957-1966
The third generation brought a more recognizable boxy shape to the F-100. The F-100's overall style changed substantially in the 1957 model year: double the headlights, more metal in its grille and front fascia in general, flat sides with the option to remove the rear fenders, and more. It's in this generation that the modern truck bed begins to take shape. Factory-installed four-wheel-drive made its debut on the F-100 in 1959.
The F-100 begin to offer engines that produced over 200 horsepower in the fourth generation. These two generations marked a large shift in marketing and design schemes, as Ford found its drivers were using their trucks for more recreational and commuting purposes than ever. The company began to add more luxury features such as carpeted floors and packages designed for camping in the F-100.
Fifth and Sixth F-Series Generations (1967-1979): Enters the F-150
The fifth generation heralded the Ford Ranger, which was originally an optional trim level for the F-Series. The still-present XLT trim level also showed up for the fifth generation in 1970. Ford trucks improved cabin comfort during the fifth generation, replacing many of the formerly hard interior surfaces with padded materials.
In 1975, the F-150 was finally released. The F-150 was made as a heavy-duty F-100 option that would eventually replace the F-100 entirely. We first had a chance to get a SuperCab F-Series truck in 1973, during the sixth generation. Drivers could choose a model that offers a jump seat that faced toward the center of the cab or a rear bench seat that faced forward. The sixth generation also introduced the Lariat trim level in 1978.
Seventh and Eighth F-Series Generations: 1980-1991
The F-100 became history in 1984 when the F-150 became Ford's base-level light-duty model. This generation saw an increase in aerodynamics in the truck's design. The F-Series were made much lighter to improve efficiency in the seventh generation. The use of plastics, lighter steels, and aluminum became more commonplace in the manufacture of the F-Series. In 1983, the first diesel engine was made available, exclusively for the F-250.
Arguably, the 1980 generational redesign paved the way for the F-Series' dominance over the American pickup world. From its modern style to its reliable strength, the F-100 and, eventually, the F-150 became the high-water mark for pickup truck excellence. Need proof? In 1977, the F-Series became the best-selling truck in America, and it has never relinquished that title. In 1981, it also became the best-selling vehicle overall in the United States, and it still is to this day. We have the seventh and eighth generations to thank for that.
Ninth F-Series Generation and Beyond
Though much has changed from the ninth generation and on, the F-150 has maintained its place at the head of the American truck scene. The 1992 ninth generation gave us a simpler-looking truck. The 1995 F-Series took the title of the world's best-selling vehicle. The 10th-generation SuperCab introduced the industry-first standard third door. The 10th generation from 1997 to 2003 debuted the four-door SuperCrew cab and the first King Ranch. The F-150 grew more sporty until the 13th generation in 2015, when Ford returned to a more classic pickup style.
The F-150 is still history in the making today. The 2021 model year marked the first entry into the 14th generation. In 2021, we got our first hybrid F-150 with a powerful V-6. The 2022 model year brings us the F-150 Lightning, which is the first all-electric Ford truck ever produced. From the off-roading Raptor to the 2021 Super Duty that can tow up to an amazing 37,000 pounds, there truly is a Ford truck for every driver.
If you want to experience the culmination of the F-150's history of excellence, visit us at Tom Wood Ford. Take a test drive of a new Ford F-150 to experience why this truck has remained such an icon of America for so long.