Much like today, Ford trucks, SUVs and vans were the leaders in fuel economy back in the ’80s, and it knew it.
This week’s “Throwback Thursday” takes us back to the glamorous ’80s. In case you don’t recall, that’s when the entire Ford lineup had just been refreshed due to fuel prices steeply on the rise. According to the US Department of Energy, the average price of gasoline in the USA was $0.63 cents per gallon in 1978, but prices jumped to $0.86 cents per gallon in 1979 and skyrocketed to $1.19 in 1980. American consumers were rightfully worried about the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, and such concern extended to large trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles.
The refreshed 1980 F-Series truck lineup sported a new look and the best fuel economy in its class. At 19 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, the 1980 F-150 offered better fuel economy than any of its competitors. The Ford Bronco was also new for that year, and like the half-ton pickup truck, the SUV lead its segment.
As this video by Bionic Discoshows, Ford decided to tackle the problem of rising fuel prices head on. Heck, even the massive Econoline van was advertised with an average figure of 18 mpg. If you think about it, it’s pretty darn good for the behemoths of that era.
Although the Ford lineup has changed a great deal since 1980, the Motor Company still leads many of the fuel economy segments today. It’s just one more reason why Ford trucks have been the bestselling vehicles in America for 40 years straight!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
