[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Feb-02 AT 03:35 PM (EST)]
Obvious answers aside, what do you think is the most attractive current model truck? You can't simply say Ford trucks as their HD line looks more Dodge-like. And I have seen concepts of Ford's design direction that would lead me to believe that the dropped-fender look of Dodge is rubbing off more than just on the HD Fords. I haven't particularly cared for the General's truck design in the past. They looked square, upright and too utilitarian. Even right up until the previous generation. Remember the instrument clusters that had no needles, just rotating discs??? Now, their current design is a nice evolution of the previous generation. I like the front ends and how it looks from the side. Ford on the other hand, hasn't seemed to be able to find an evolutionary path to take. The early 80's did blend somewhat with the late 70's but then Ford went thru what I personally consider it's "GMC" period with blunt and square. No offense to those who luv em, I don't. The flush square headlights?? No way. Then, rather than evo, it was revo again with the early 90's style, nicer lines, facias. They became attrative again. But even THAT didn't work for them. It was revo again when the current design came out even tho they did continue the F350 in the old body style. But then, instead of rolling it into the current (and what I consider the most attractive) theme, they went all Dodge on us. What's next for the prolitariate Fords? If I wanted something that looked like a Dodge, I'd buy one. Come on Ford, give us something DIFFERENT!

 

Here is my biased opinion: I think the SuperDuty is a great looking truck! Never cared for the Dodge ram (looks kind of flattened), but the new restyled ram is a big improvement (might even take one if there were no such thing as Fords). My Ford-engineer neighbor told me that when the SuperDuty was designed, they were told to revise the design to look more like the Ram and they did. Well so be it. Not only did they make it look slightly like the Ram, they made it look 10 times better, and now has a six-ratio gearbox! Should make a half-ton in the SuperDuty body style. Still has twin-I-beam, just add a truck inline six and I'd be all set.

As for the late model F150 ... great looking truck too, but better for the Lightning. It's appearance says "sport truck," not "work truck," as does the SuperDuty design. Still one tough truck and can do a lot of work.

Rangers were better in the 80s. Too stylish now. Ranger should have a big block inline four, say 200 cid or a straight six.

Ch**y trucks? ....My sunday school teacher said, "if you can't say something good, don't say anything at all."

INLINE SIX POWER!
300 Cubic Inches of Low RPM Truck Torque! And twin-I-beams too!

 

I suspect this will end up being moved to the "Appearance" forum, but for what it's worth -

Just as MOPAR came out with a retro-styled mini-van, I'd like to see a ford concept truck based on either a pre-war *****'s, or a '32 like the ZZ TOP street rod.

I think that would SMOKE 'EM ALL...

 

On mention of mini vans, I have to get this off my chest: Dodge did NOT invent the mini van! Look at one of the pathetic things. Do you see a frame? It is a sham, nothing more than an overblown front wheel drive station wagon--at best. I believe it was based on the K-car? There are only two true mini vans (to me a van is a TRUCK!). The Aerostar and the Astro are true mini vans. I'll take the Aerostar any time over the plastic rear leaf springed Astro.

 

Looking back now I see I could be misunderstood. No offense meant GreyWolf. That was not directed at you, just a bother that has been weighing on me for a long time and you happened to mention minivan, and I happen to be in a spouting off mood.

 

>On mention of mini vans, I have to get this off my chest:
>Dodge did NOT invent the mini van!


Well for all intents and purposes they DID invent the mini-van. Well, to the mainstream population anyway...The mini-van was "invented" when the VW bus came out.


You can't deny that the Dodge mini-van is the target for all manufacturers. That in itself says a lot about the Dodge "mini-van". Yeah, I own one...don't tell anybody.

 

if ya ask me ford didnt come colse to copying dodge. if ya compare em side by side u can see a good size differeance. all they did was to bring out the lines of the early trucks alittle more bodly. they kinda evolved into that look like the half tons did. they still have the same basic design to em if ya look real close. but thats just my oppinion.

jon
88 150
300 cubic inches of big block straight six.

 

I too see old Ford in the new Ford. But see more big (read f650 and up) in the smaller Fords than anything. I don't think the F650 is a Dodge copy...

 

The Superduty is by far the best built and best new truck today. The Silverado and the F-150 are both ranked 2nd in new trucks, Then the GMC Sierra, and way way down the line the new ram.

Phatfarm: Are you saying that the Superduty is an evolved 80-97 F-series and they combined some traits with the current F-150?

I think your right, if that's what your saying, and they made it better by adding a SFA. Wish they would have kept the old windsor's and used the tritons.



'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
Check my Gallery

 

IMHO, the best-looking new truck is probably the Superduty, followed by the Silverado, followed by a tie for the new Ram & the F150. I'm not a big fan of the new F150's looks, even though I do happen to own one...it just looks too much like a overgrown Taurus (I have actually had several Taurus owners make that exact comment).

I can't help but wonder what the '04 F150s will look like when they come out...now that they were outsold by GM for the first time since the early '90s, I suspect that they'll try to come up with styling that'll swing buyers away from GM and Dodge (and Toyota and even Nissan, which will have a fullsize in '04). The Toyota has sold quite well, and has pulled sales away from both Ford and GM...and I'm not sure Ford has quite figured out how to deal with that yet. And, with the Nissan showing up with a truck that's rumored to be at least as large as the F150, that'll draw even more sales away unless Ford pulls off a good redesign. While Ford is selling one heck of a lot of trucks, their market share of the fullsize trucks has been dropping over the past 10 years or so.

And before anyone mentioned the thing about GM outselling Ford, it's true - the reason Ford can take the credit for most sales is because they don't combine the fullsize GMC trucks and the fullsize Chevy trucks (which are actually the same truck).

As far as older trucks, I like the '79 Fords (with the square headlights), and the '70-'72 Chevys. Well, I guess I'd have to say the '78 Fords as well because the later production year models also had the square headlights (as did my '78 Bronco).

LK

 

Gosh, I REALLY REALLY hope they don't follow the trend toward super-ugly front ends.

The fronts of GM and Nissan trucks are just so frickin ugly, but the Car Show concept-look-alike design is all they can come up with to make their vehicles seem as if they're up to date (or futuristic).

That new chrome front end on the Dodge, if I'm interpreting the commercial correctly, looks to be just as bad.

I agree that the Superduty looks alright.

Now ask me if I'd really care what it looked like if the F-150's still had strong frames, instead of car frames, under them...

Actually, the mid and rears of even those GM's and Nissans is looking OK to me.

And since current Rangers were brought up... Kee-riminy - a few weeks ago I saw a new F-150 parked (behind or in front of - I can't remember) a new Ranger. I thought they were both new Rangers until i got beside them!

I'm not sure if the F-150 got smaller, or the Ranger bigger, but if and when I make the move to a newer style of truck, my choice will not be the current style of F-150's. Too weak, too small - great grocery-getters, though.

 

Funny you should bring up that the new F150s look smaller, like Rangers. When I was home for a family gathering a few weeks back, I brought up something about possibly trading my truck on another one...and found out that everyone thought the longbed F150 I had was actually a Ranger. It has to be the styling - I put it next to the '91 F150 I used to have, and it was just as wide, just as long and a bit taller...but it *looks* smaller. I think it's mainly because of the rounded-off front end...the hood looks shorter, because the windshield isn't as steep and it has a deeper dash. Inside the cab it seems about the same as the old one, or maybe a tiny bit smaller - tough to tell. However, one area that gained is behind the seat - but I think that's mainly because they raised the seats up higher than they were in the older ones, so you don't need to put them back quite as far.

LK

 

Nice write up on the comparison, LK.

 

>Just as MOPAR came out with a retro-styled mini-van, I'd
>like to see a ford concept truck based on either a pre-war
>*****'s, or a '32 like the ZZ TOP street rod.

Let's not let this one slip by. Greywolf has a great idea. Only hope they make it rear wheel drive and have an engine bay so you can put in a small V8! (Most minivans don't have an engine bay, just a slot under the dash where they wedge 'em in and hope they never have to come out.)


Floor it every now and then--WOT feels good!

 

Alright, TallPaul, we won't let it go...

Now there are real-world concepts, and enthusiast concepts... enthusiast concepts normally don't get made.

So let's say Ford keeps up their effort to keep the fleetwide mile-per-gallon numbers in good standing... what, then, should we ask for?

Along the lines of the '32 or typical rods, we could hope for a spacious and styled 'rod with a V-6. The thing that Ford could do to ensure it went over well, AND to keep thier name in high standing*, would be to make the front end long and sloped. This space could be used by future rodders to fit V-8's in, plus the long sloped front hood might be quite aerodynamic.

I would take a guess, though, that asking for it to be rear-wheel drive from the showrrom floor would be asking too much.

*(the reason I use the term "in good stadning" is becasue I believe it is car company's past models that having staying power (continue to run and serve) that make true names for these companies, and develop their fan base and repeat buyers. If a car company makes a fleet of Tempo-like vehicles (crappy cars, and just nightmares to the wallet if you try to keep one running any length of time), they may very well sell them all off of the lots for a few years - but in six to ten years when they're all dying from multiple weak designs the car comapny's reputation will fail.)