Full-size means something far different today than it did decades ago.
Size Matters
For those of us that don't own a vintage Ford truck, it's often easy to forget how much the pickups we drive have grown over the years in terms of physical size. If we go all the way back to the origin of the F-Series in the late 1940s and compare those pickups to, say, a modern F-150, it's pretty amazing how much of a difference there is in terms of size. And that's clearly on display from this pairing of a new Ford Maverick and a 1951 F-100, both of which are owned by Maverick Truck Club member Leroy.
Photos: Maverick Truck Club
Compact Pickup?
When parked side-by-side, it's immediately evident that these two trucks are amazingly similar in terms of exterior size. In fact, the Maverick almost looks wider than its great-grandfather in this case, and likely longer thanks to the fact that it's a SuperCrew-only configuration.
Photos: Maverick Truck Club
Even Smaller
Leroy also owns a Falcon Ranchero, which was also once deemed a compact vehicle, but as we can see in this photo, it looks like a kid's toy compared to the Maverick. Many will point to the modern truck's small bed as a downside, but in reality, it's quite a bit bigger than the vintage car/truck.
Photos: Maverick Truck Club
Redefining a Word
Though we don't have precise dimensions to provide a more comprehensive comparison between these vehicles, the eye test doesn't lie - it's pretty clear that the Maverick redefines what we know as a "compact" pickup.
Photos: Maverick Truck Club
Major Growth
However, this is true of almost every type of vehicle currently on sale. Pretty much everything has grown over the years, with automakers creating new, smaller models to replace the void left by those that have grown so much that they have to move up a class.
Photos: Maverick Truck Club
Small, but Large
The Maverick is a perfect example of this, as it took over the empty spot left in Ford's lineup when it decided to reinvent the Ranger as a mid-size pickup. However, for most truck fans, the Maverick is still pretty small, and for those that are buying one after owning compact cars their whole lives, it also likely feels pretty substantial.
Photos: Maverick Truck Club
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