The F-Series hit the market way back in 1948 and has produced many iterations of the mighty truck. Here is a dozen of our Ford favorites.
1. The 1969 Specials
The Ford F-Series has always been the first choice for the men and women who really use their truck for not just getting around town, but helping to put food on the table. In 1969 Ford tipped their hat to these hard working individuals and introduced the Specials package that had actual modifications done to them in order to cater to three specific occupations: the Contractor Special, the Heavy Duty Special, and the Farm and Ranch Special.
2. The 1954 V8
When Ford was coming up with the new engine for this truck, they really wanted something special and powerful to set a new level of performance. After a ton of research, Ford brought a new V8 for the F-series to the table. This engine is actually the architect for all the V8s that Ford would produce for the entire lineup for years to come. From the Ford Falcon to the Shelby Mustang to the Thunderbird, this engine was the skeleton that helped to get these cars where they needed to go.
3. The 2010 Hennessy Raptor
The Raptor has always been a magnificent truck that amazingly comes off a factory line. With the majority of things in place that would make any driver happy, Hennessey went and fixed a giant hole in the truck's capability to withstand big jumps. If you have deep pockets, and a need for speed, you can even get up to 810 horsepower surging under the hood in order to turn great into exceptional.
4. The 1978 F-100 Lariat
In 1978 the F-150 got a spruced up face with the grille moving from a split to a single piece, the headlights on the Lariat trim going rectangular instead of the round, and the turn signals lowering below the headlights. Ford wanted a touch of class for a hard working owner and added fancy chrome to this "luxury" model.
5. The 2009 Super Snake
When someone utters Super Snake, it is pretty synonymous with Mustang and Carroll Shelby. But, in 2009, this F-150 variant was offered to enthusiasts as all the power they could ask for and the added capability of towing capacity. For those wondering what those differences are that came with this over a standard F-150, a Whipple supercharger, Borla exhaust, 22-inch wheels, six-piston brakes, and Shelby body panels.
6. The 2005 F-650 Super Duty
What do you come up with when you take an F-Series truck and pump steroids into every part of it for the commercial market? The 650 and 750 are medium-duty trucks that compete against market mates Freightliner and International Durastar. These massive trucks are as intimidating as they come and would no doubt cause fear in any lesser vehicle.
7. The SVT Lightning
The early 90's were a time of the sports truck market really coming to life and making a deep wedge in the young American conscious. So in 1993, Ford put out the SVT Lightning and it was one of the fastest, best pickups to ever to produced. It hit the streets packing a 240 horsepower with 325 ft-lbs of torque V8 aerodynamic body styling and a luxury-ish interior. This truck is one of the rare few to actually grace a child's bedroom wall alongside more conventional sports cars.
8. The 2011 Ecoboost V6
Take a Ford truck and throw in two turbos as a way to, no pun intended, boost power as well as gas mileage in the American icon and you have the Ecoboost. Taking the truck out meant luxury interior level, comfort for driver and passengers even in less than pleasing surfaces, and power on tap without needlessly sacrificing fuel. The Ecoboost has been a hit and had to be included on our list as a great compromise between utility and earth friendly.
9. The 1959 F-100
The 1959 F-100 is the third generation of the truck and is the year that Ford began producing the 4x4 in-house. Previously, if you wanted a 4x4 it was done by an outside house like Napco. Additional fun fact, 1959 is also the year that Ford Motor Co. sold its 50 millionth vehicle!
10. The 1974 SuperCab
The 1974 model year was the one where Ford introduced the extended cab. Prospective buyers could get either a full-width rear seat or a zany two facing jumper seat. There were 16 colors to choose from for the paint, in addition to a two-tone paint scheme. The F-100 is a real deal 1/2 ton and the F-150 is a 5/8ths of a ton and is coming with stronger axles and running gear.
11. The 1948 F-2
The F-2 was the first ever 3/4 ton pickup and came saddled with an eight-foot bed for hauling damn near anything you could think of.
12. The 1948 F-1
Last but surely not the least, we have the truck that started it all! At the time, it was the Bonus Built and was the first true truck from the brand. Prior to this, the pickup range offered was car-based and lacked in weight ratings. This new vehicle was offered in five styles that included pickup, panel truck, cab-over-engine, conventional, and a school bus chassis.
