10 Ford Facts You Probably Don't Know
Ford fans are a passionate and knowledgeable group, but we found ten facts that even some diehards might not know.
Intro
Ford has been in business a very long time and they have produced hundreds of cars and trucks along the way. And with that amount of history not even the most diehard Ford fan can remember all the interesting facts that happened along the way. That is why we decided to present to you ten interesting and perhaps forgotten facts about Ford since they started building trucks. How many of these did you already know?
1. Ford Built a 10-Ton Turbine Truck
At the 1964 World's Fair the new Mustang was not the only Ford to make its debut. “Big Red” was also on hand. It was a 13-foot tall, and nearly 100-foot-long (with trailers) turbine powered truck. The gas turbine was rated at 600 horsepower and could haul two trailers at a time. The turbine engine was developed in-house by Ford. The fuel tank could hold 280 gallons and provided a range of 600 miles. You can do the mpg calculation on your own. The turbine truck never materialized as a viable method of transportation and “Big Red” disappeared for decades and was only rediscovered a couple years ago.
2. First Ford Truck Cost $600
The first Ford truck was the Model TT which first appeared on July 27, 1917. This first truck used the Model T cab and engine. However, the frame was heavier-duty and capable of carrying one ton of payload. The factory price for this truck was $600. Only 209 were sold that first year. By 1928 Ford sold 1.3 million of these early trucks.
3. Electric Shaver Was an Option
The 1950 Ford F-1 had a slew of options that many of us will find hard to believe in 2023. Some examples include the optional right-side taillight, and right-side windshield wiper. Even turn signals were an option that year. But by far the most surprising option must be the electric shaver. It was a real option, that Ford offered on the F-1 back in 1950.
4. Ferrari Built an F150 and Ford Sued Them
In 2011 Ferrari announced the model name for its newest Formula One racecar for the upcoming season. They called it the Ferrari F150. Ferrari said it got the name to mark the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. But Ford was not amused and sued Ferrari over the F150 designation. Eventually Ferrari changed the name to the Ferrari 150 Italia and Ford dropped the lawsuit. Ferrari then released a snarky statement on their website: “In order to avoid the slightest risk of anyone confusing a Formula One car with a pick-up truck... the men from Maranello have decided that the car will lose the F that precedes the number 150 and which stands for Ferrari.” Perhaps there was still some bitterness over Le Mans 1966.
5. Ford Built Trucks with the Wrong Beds Installed
In 1961 the new unibody design of the fourth-generation trucks went on sale. Quickly it was reported that when these were loaded with cargo the truck would flex and it would become difficult to open the doors in the cab. Ford had to scramble to quickly correct this issue. They took the bed from the 1957 to 1960 truck and modified it to fit on the newer truck. These trucks are called the ‘Wrongbed’ by Ford fans. The character lines of the bed do not match those of the cab and it is obvious the bed was not designed for the truck.
6. First Ever Monster Truck was a Ford
The original “Bigfoot” started out as a 1974 Ford F-250. It was modified by owner Bob Chandler to promote his new 4x4 shop. In 1979 the truck made its first paid public appearance. And with 48-inch-tall tires and a modified 460 big block V8 it was quite the appearance. The truck starred in the Hollywood film Take This Job and Shove It. Bigfoot started the entire monster truck industry. And it all began with a 1974 Ford F-250.
7. Ford F-150 PPG IndyCar Pace Truck
This is a one of one truck built in collaboration with Ford, Roush, and McLaren Performance Technologies. It was nicknamed the “Sport Boss” and used in the PPG IndyCar World Series between 1991 and 1994. Roush took care of the power thanks to a 5.0L V8 rated at 500 horsepower. There is also a dual exhaust system and a whole host of visual upgrades that make this the most nineties truck you will ever see. To keep everyone safe the truck has a roll cage, fuel cell, fire suppression system, and strobe lights. Admit it. You didn’t know this truck existed.
8. World’s Largest Flag Pulled by a Moving Vehicle
In November 2016, a Ford F-450 claimed the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD title for the World’s Largest Flag Pulled by a Moving Vehicle. The flag measured 45 feet by 92 feet, and it did four laps around Homestead-Miami Speedway’s 1.5-mile track. The truck was powered by the legendary 6.7L Power Stroke diesel producing 925 pound-feet of flag towing torque. To set the official record the truck had to travel beyond the 100 meters (328 feet) previous record mark, without the flag touching the ground. The F-450 covered a verified distance of 109 meters (360 feet). Another Ford in the record books.
9. One F-Series Sold Every 45 Seconds
From 1977 through 2022 approximately 31 million Ford F-Series trucks were sold. That means that every 45 seconds an F-Series is sold. And that has happened for 45 years straight! Through chip shortages, recessions, and even pandemics. And that is not just during business hours. That is every 45 seconds around the clock. Weekends, holidays, and the middle of the night. That is astounding. In the time it took you to read this incredible fact, someone else just bought a brand-new F-Series truck.
10. Ford F-150 Loses 700 Pounds in One Year
The 2015 Ford F-150 was the first pickup to use a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body coupled with a high-strength steel frame. The result was a shocking weight loss of nearly 700 pounds compared to the previous year. This had major benefits ranging from fuel economy to tow and hauling capabilities. Some were skeptical that this would make for a weaker truck. But it has not slowed down F-150 sales. Trucks change from year to year all the time. But it is not often that we see such a dramatic shift like this in the history of Ford.