Social Media in 1977 When Ford F-Series Started its Streak
The F-150 first debuted 40 years ago as of 2017. What has changed since then?
1. 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the Ford F-150
Everyone has heard of the Ford F-150. It's been the best-selling truck in the United States for four decades now. More than that, the F-150 has arguably become the definitive model people think of when they imagine a pickup truck. While the F-150 and Ford's F-Series as a whole aren't news by any stretch, 2017 marks the 40th anniversary since the F-150 was first released. We think that's a milestone worth celebrating.
2. "Social media" has changed a lot since 1977
In January 2017, Ford's spokesman Mike Levine posted a picture of an old citizen's band radio to commemorate 40 years of the F-150. "This was social media in 1977," he writes, "when [the] Ford F-Series started its 40-year streak as America's best-selling truck. While CB radios are a far cry away from the internet in one's pocket, the free flow of communication provided by them was big then and is still associated with the truck today. Although CB radios aren't as much in use anymore, GM still makes them. This, combined with the F-150's perennial success, is a sign that GM knows to uphold tradition even as they look to the future.
3. Methods of advertising have changed too
Car ads and online advertising have become ubiquitous. However, it's interesting to see still how advertising has changed over the past decades, particularly with regards to the longstanding F-150 line. While you can usually get a good idea of a car's mettle these days through online reviews, print and TV advertising were the respective bread-and-butter an automaker used to get the word out. Would the F-150 have been as popular back then if people had been able to communicate as easily with modern social media? Considering how America's pickup truck has lasted now for nearly half a century now already, we're inclined to say yes.
4. The F-150 has not been without its imitators
The F-150 dominated the sales market for pickups for a long time. It still does. With that in mind, it's understandable that other automakers would try to swoop in and claim a piece of the pie. Many US makers have modeled their pickup trucks after the F-150 formula. Others still don't stop there. China's Jianghuai Automobile Co., for instance, made a near-exact copy of the Ford F-150, going as far as to imitate the blue distinctive oval of Ford's logo. Ford was quick to investigate the JAC 4R3 and barred the company from using their designs. While this must have been an obvious headache for all involved, it does prove how influential and solid the F-150 design truly was.
5. Ford have continuously updated the F-150 to stay on top
The F-150 from 40 years ago most certainly isn't the one sold today. The basic design of the F-150 has been fairly conservative over time, but the inner workings under the hood have been constantly developing to compete with the modern trends. Because the auto industry is always in such flux, even a heavyweight brand like Ford would not be able to rest on their laurels for the F-150 to maintain its success. The 2018 iteration of the F-150 is slated to have the model's first-ever diesel engine. With a possible EV or hybrid version of the F-150 coming soon, there's still much to be excited for with the F-Series.
6. The F-150 legacy isn't going anywhere soon
At this year's National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) show, Ford proudly announced that sales of trucks had upsurged 54% in 2016 when compared to the year prior. You can rest assured that the success of the F-150 factored heavily into that tally. At 40 years and counting, it is remarkable that the F-150 is still succeeding as well as it has. With the economy now on an upswing, there's no reason to believe the powerful legacy will stop anytime soon.
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