7 Ford Trucks That Need to Make a Comeback
These seven trucks should make a return and join the Ranger alongside the Bronco in Ford's lineup.
1. SVT Lightning
We'll kick things off with the most obvious choice - Ford's SVT Lightning. The beloved two wheel drive, high-performance version of the F-150 will probably never again see the light of day, but we can certainly dream. A reborn Lightning would ideally use a blown Coyote V8 for power, but knowing Ford, they'd probably put an Ecoboost in it. But considering how fast the current Raptor is, just imagine how much faster this thing would be! We say it's high time Ford ignited the pickup truck performance wars once again.
2. Harley-Davidson Edition
The Harley-Davidson F-150 was a very underappreciated truck that isn't just for Harley enthusiasts. Far from just an appearance package, the H-D F-150 also came with some fairly potent engine options. In 2002-2003, the H-D F-150 got a slightly detuned version of the Lightning's supercharged 5.4 liter V8. And it ended life in 2012 with the Raptor's 6.2-liter V8 producing 411 hp. Ultimately, the Harley-Davidson F-150 was an expensive truck marketed to a limited audience. But it was also a highly attractive trim level with formidable (V8) performance.
3. Tremor
A true one year wonder was the Tremor, which was only produced for the 2014 model year. But the special edition street truck provided gutsy performance from its 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6. And it was available in regular cab, two-wheel drive configuration like a true street truck. A 4.10:1 rear gear provided instant thrust off the line, pushing the Tremor to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and through the 1/4 mile in 14.5. Now that Ford produces a more potent version of the 3.5-liter, there's no doubt a lighter, modern version of the Tremor would be even faster.
4. Explorer Sport Trac
The Explorer Sport Trac was really just a victim of changing times. Once the Explorer made the switch to unibody construction, Ford pulled the plug on the converted utility/truck. But the Sport Trac was a sales success from day one and did rather well throughout its lifespan. The idea of bringing it back might be moot now that the Ranger is coming back to the U.S. as a mid-size truck, however. But there are probably a lot of folks out there who would line up to buy one.
5. NASCAR Edition
Alright, so NASCAR racing isn't nearly as popular as it once was. But man, was the F-150 NASCAR Edition cool. Only 3,000 of the original trucks were produced in 1998, and all had the 5.4 liter V8. Heck, a few even came with a manual transmission. The looks, of course, came straight from the race track, with everything from a lowered and tuned suspension to yellow letter tires. A new version of the truck doesn't even need to carry the NASCAR name. Just make something similar with street performance/handling/autocross in mind, and we'll buy one.
6. Ranger GT
Ahh, the elusive Ranger GT. Designed as a sporty version of the compact pickup, the GT was difficult to ignore with its period correct ground effects package. And power wasn't too impressive, with a 2.9-liter V6 producing only 140 ponies. But the suspension featured a host of improvements, including stabilizer bars and upgraded shocks. The idea of a hot Ranger has always been enticing, and we'd love to see a tuned version of the new mid-size truck. Even if it is just a baby Raptor instead of a GT-like handling package we'll take it!
7. Excursion
The Excursion is a perfect example of what happens when media hype and misled public opinion gets in the way of a good thing. The massive SUV, based on the F-250, was the longest and heaviest SUV to enter mass production. That, of course, ticked off the environmentalists. But the Excursion remains one of the most beloved trucks Ford has ever produced, and it would certainly benefit from the Blue Oval's new, more efficient series of engines.
Check out the how-to section of Ford-Trucks.com to keep your truck on the road and working hard.