Ford’s First Big SUV: A (Very) Brief History of the Ford B-100
Built between 1963 and 1994 for Latin America, the B-100 wore the crown as Ford’s biggest SUV before the Expedition and Excursion.
Before the United States had the Expedition and Excursion, the biggest SUV in the lineup was the 1978 through 1996 Bronco. However, Latin America had a precursor to the big SUVs from the Blue Oval, the B-100.
Sold south of the U.S. border between 1963 and 1994, the B-100 filled a niche as a family hauler built to battle Volkswagen’s offerings in the market. Here’s a (very) brief history on the big Ford.
According to Jalopnik, the B-100 is a special machine built upon the frame of the F-Series. Ford provided the sturdy frames, the coachwork crafted by 13 third parties, per MotorTrend. Said coachwork included barn doors in the back, and only two doors up front when production first began. A rear passenger door would be added later.
The B-100 lived up to its name as a carryall. The one above, owned by Solomon Lunger of Ford Era was originally an ambulance in Argentina before the previous owner’s father turned it into a family truckster. Other B-100s served as panel vans, delivering everything from flowers to telephone service.
Those built to haul people from the get-go, though, could hold up to 10 occupants thanks to the B-100’s three rows of seating. Only the Excursion could pull off that feat as comfortably as this rare and unusual Ford. And to move everyone and everything around, the Mexican-built B-100s came equipped with a 302 V8 and a four-speed manual or an automatic.
Already rare in Latin America, the B-100 is the proverbial needle in a haystack in the U.S. Yet, a handful of these unique rigs have found their way up. Some, like the above ’76 B-100 dubbed “El Chapo,” wind up as the basis for cool customs. After all, it’s an F-Series underneath. Thus, all the aftermarket upgrades meant for them also work for the big SUV.
According to a comment by Flickr member Alfred!, the B-100 was built to battle Volkswagen’s own vans. However, the big Fords consumed more fuel, and were more expensive to maintain. Thus, the scarcity of these rigs, and the info about them (even in Spanish).
In the end, NAFTA opened the doors to tons of trade. This included sales of the Econoline/E-Series van, according to Ford Truck Enthusiasts member IFHP2. Thus, the B-100 and its bigger siblings faded away. Imagine if these magnificent beasts were sold in the U.S., though.
Photos: Bring a Trailer, Ford Authority, Facebook/CarSpotting USA, Ford Truck Enthusiasts/1985 Bronco
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