This is a pretty cool history, but they're missing a few things. I had Ford's first twin I-beam suspension pickup...what highlights do you have?


Important Dates in the History of Ford Trucks

1900
Henry Ford builds his third vehicle – a truck.

1917
Ford introduces the Model T One-Ton truck chassis, its first chassis specifically built for trucks.

1925
The first factory-assembled pickup debuts, with a price tag of $281. It featured a cargo box, adjustable tailgate, four stake pockets and heavyduty rear springs.

1928
The Model A Open Cab Pickup and AA Chassis are introduced.

1932
An all-new Model B pickup and a new Model BB truck chassis are introduced; so is the Ford flathead V-8.

1948
The F-Series is Ford Motor Company's first all-new, post-war line of vehicles. F-Series trucks range from F-1 (1/2 ton) to F-8 (3-ton).

1953
The F-100 pickup is introduced, replacing the F-1.

1959
Ford introduces the first factory-built, F-250 four-wheel drive models.

1965
Twin I-beam front suspension is introduced, improving ride quality.

1965
The name "Ranger" is first introduced as a styling package for the F-Series pickup trucks.

1965
The F-250 Crew Cab becomes Ford's first four-door pickup.

1974
Ford introduces the F-Series SuperCab for F-100 through F-350.

1975
Ford introduces the F-150.

1980
The F-150 is redesigned to offer a more finished cab and more comfort options for drivers.

1981
Plans for the all-new Ranger pickup truck are unveiled at a press conference in Dearborn, Michigan.

1983
The debut of the F-Series 6.9-liter diesel V-8.

1986
The Ford Ranger is named "4x4 of the Year" by Petersen's 4-Wheel and Off-Road magazine.

1988
F-150 is now available as a 4X4 Super Cab model.

1994
A driver's side air bag becomes standard equipment.

1995
The F-Series overtakes the Volkswagen Beetle as the world's best-selling vehicle nameplate.

1998
Ford builds a limited number of NASCAR edition F-150 trucks.

2003
The 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel is added.

*where's the 7.3L diesel and ...*

Source, Ford Media and www.about.com

 

Excellent information

couple of things...

Ford Motor Company founded in 1903

Model T one ton truck was designated TT

1932: Model B pickups are 4 cylinders, Model 18 pickups are V8's

1959: 4WD was offered in both F100 & F250's

The name Ranger was first used in 1958 on the Edsel. it was the cheapest model.

1983: Compact Ranger pickup introduced.

 

Speaking of the Ford Ranger I just read where Ford is introducing a new 3.0L Powerstroke engine, with common rail injection, 163 hp @ 3800 RPM, in thier South American Rangers.
Pity it won't be available here due to EPA regulations.

 

Wasn't 69 the year they first put the 302 in the F100's?

 

yes......

 

Cool info guys. Bill is it true that Henry first experimented with the 32 V8 by grafting to 4 cyl's together?

 

That's curious about early V-8 tech... this history got me to looking around for interesting trivia and there's a bunch of it!

1914 wages at Ford plants was increased to $5 a day for a shorter eight-hour workday. (Those were iron men!)

In 1982 Ford F-series started their long run of being the most popular light trucks in America.

 

I should PM NumberDummy as I am sure that Henry's first experimental V8 was two 4 Cyl's grafted together before he built the molds for the 32. And the 4 banger heads would work on the V8. But I know not for how long. I think it is in the Ford Museum some where.
I think Ford needs to do a compleat redesign of there new trucks if they what to be around much longer as the new ones are butt ugly. And as for the thread on that subject, I ain't the only one to feel that way.
What do you think Rex? I hope when they do it looks better than there T-Bird coup.

 

Before the V8, Henry experimented with a X8! Two four bangers were tried, a straight eight was the result..too long to fit. All kinds of other crazy things were done. Attention fellow FTE members, all these experimental engines were saved and can be seen today at Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.


Only senior workers were paid $5.00 a day. The problem was assembling autos was (and still is) a tedious and repetitive job. Seasoned workers were leaving Ford for other jobs. The problem became so acute, that "ol Henry began paying senior workers the 5 dollar a day wage....unheard of at the time....to keep them on the job. Starting pay was $2.25 a day for new workers. Foundry workers were paid a little more to start.


Did'ja know that the V8 60 grew out of the V12 Zephyr engine?

 

I think 1994 was the first year of the Super Duty and the Powerstroke

don't kill me if Im wrong

 

Excellent info Placermike... My Grandfather actually had the 1948 F-8 (3-ton)
when I was growing up. God I loved that truck. Everytime I see one I look for a for sale sign. Most are rusted out here in WA but I know I could make that a great farm truck... With the help of members of course.

 

Careful when bashing Cadillac, the first Cadillac was a Ford designed by Henry himself.

In 1902, Ford procured a group of backers who were impressed by his car and engineering talent. But Ford was stubborn, and left the company before one car was produced. The backers then placed Henry Martyn Leland in charge. Leland was the former chief engineer for Brown & Sharp and before that Colt Firearms. Leland took Ford's car, and made a few changes. Leland then honored the founder of Detroit, Walther de la Motte Cadillac by naming the car and the business after him.


Leland left Cadillac in 1915 to form another concern to build Liberty Aircraft engines. Leland named his new business after his favorite president. The Lincoln Motor Car Company was born. After WWI ended, Leland began designing his new car. Introduced in 1921, the new Lincoln was a engineering masterpiece and a styling disaster. Lincoln soon went bankrupt. Put on the auction block in 1922, there was only one bidder-Henry Ford.

 

New Ford trucks are for sure butt ugly. Joe showed me the 2008's and they're even worse, looks like a boxer with a toothache. I want a truck that looks like a pickup, not a car front end or a diseased boxer. Whatsa' matter with those designers!?! And what's with selling the 2008 model in February 2007 or earlier?!? They're already being sold as used trucks. They're 2007's (06's?)!!!

And the Tritons are spitting out plugs, not covered by warranty. What's my company doing?
- -

BOT truck history :~)

(I hope this is accurate)
-April 25, 1925 Ford Motor Company introduced their first factory produced pickup truck. Officially called the Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body. Priced at $281.00 F.O.B. Detroit.

A roadster type pickup with an all steel bed that was 56 inches long, 40 inches wide, and 13 inches high. The sides of the bed had pockets for stakes and the tailgate was adjustable. If you wanted, or needed, a longer heavier duty pickup truck you could opt for a Model TT (1 ton rated) Ford truck with an 8 foot long Express Body.

The Ford model T Runabout with Pickup Body was a pretty popular model with over 33,800 of them being sold in 1925.

 

1953 was the first model year of pickup to offer an automatic transmission (the "Ford-O-Matic") in the F-100 model

 

-2000: Ford purchases Land Rover from BMW.
-2006: Ford buys Rover brand name from BMW.

Could this be why we have a hinky front end design on the 2008 F truck?
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History of the massive Ford Rouge Plant south of Detroit.


in 1947
.