The 1948-1960 Ford F250 History: Third Generation (Part 1)

F250 Second Generation

The Ford F-Series has held the title as the top selling truck for over a decade, and the popularity is thanks in part to the ¾ ton Ford F250.  The Ford F-Series was introduced in 1948, but the F250 name was not introduced until 1953, having previously being named the F2.

The 1953 Ford F250 was very similar in design to the previous year, with many of the F250’s parts being shared with 1952 models.  The engine options were a 215 cubic inch straight 6 making 101 horsepower and a 239 cubic inch flathead V8 making 100 horsepower.  The major addition to the 1953 F250 was the Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission; a first for the F-Series.  There were 4×4 F250s offered, but they were outsourced to Marmon Harrington for their all-wheel drive system.  

1953 brought about new engines for the Ford F250, as the new base model engine was the 115 horsepower, 223 cubic inch inline 6 dubbed the Mileage Maker and the premium engine was the Y-Block V8 making 130 horsepower.  

The 1956 Ford F250 got a jump in power to 137 horsepower, and the Y-Block V8 was increased to 272 cubic inches, now making 173 horsepower.

F250 Third Generation

The 1957 Ford F250 got a new look with a wider looking front end, with the hood extending out to the top of the wheel openings.  The F250 cab was wider, and there were now two bed options, with the familiar separate box and flare style now referred to as the Flareside, and a new style with the bedsides flush along the sides of the cab were named the Styleside.  The F250 engine options were the same as the 1956 F250 trucks, and there was still both an automatic and manual transmission, with the F250 4×4 models being produced by Marmon Harrington.

1959 brought about a big change to the Ford F250, as this marked the first year that the F250 4×4 would be produced in-house.  The F250 engine lineup was improved by a new 292 cubic inch Y-Block V8 making 186 horsepower.  The look and option of the F250 trucks would remain the same through the end of the generation in 1960.