The 1973-1983 Ford F250 History: Sixth and Seventh Generation (Part 3)
F250 Sixth Generation
The 1973 Ford F250 got another major facelift, but mechanically the F250 trucks remained unchanged. The F250 engine options from 1968 were all available, but new government restrictions on engine power measurements caused a dramatic drop in stated horsepower, even though the actual output hadn’t changed from the previous year. The one bright spot was the addition of the powerful new 460 V8. This big block offered 200 horsepower, and it was available only in the F250 Heavy Duty models. The F250 cab options were either a standard or crew cab, and those cabs could be mated to either a Styleside of Flareside bed, all of which were available in either rear wheel drive or four wheel drive. The F250 pickup would remain the same from 1973 to 1977, when the 360 was replaced by a 163 horsepower 351 V8. There was also an optional 400 cubic inch big block for the F250 making 169 horsepower. The 1978 F250 grille changed again, and there was now a set of rectangular headlights on XLT and Lariat trimlines, and for the 1979 model years, all F250s had the rectangular lights.
F250 Seventh Generation
The 1980 Ford F250 had a similar appearance to the 1979 models, with another upgrade to the overall shape of the truck. The 1980 through 1982 F250 trucks shared engines with the F150, but in 1983 Ford made a move that would change the face of their truck lineup. The 460 returned, having left the lineup in 1980, but more importantly the first F250 diesel was introduced. The F250s 420 cubic inch Navistar diesel offered just 170 horsepower but it made 315 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful than any Ford truck engine with the exception of the 460 V8. The F250 diesel quickly became a popular option, and the diesel F250 engine would remain unchanged throughout the rest of the generation.
