Without looking it up, take a guess when the first Ford F-Series truck went on sale. Have a guess? Did you guess somewhere around the end of World War II?
1949 Ford F-Series
It’s hard to believe that the F-Series has been around for over six decades, but it’s no surprise that the truck line has stood the test of time. What started out as a farmer’s truck around 1948, has turned into a line of trucks that offers something for every truck driver out there. In the mid-1950s, Ford changed the numbering of the trucks to reflect how you know them now; for instance, the F-1 changed to F-100, then the F-2 and F-3 combined to make the F-250.
By the end of that decade, the F-100 and F-250 became the first Ford trucks to offer a four-wheel drive option, and within a few years, 2/3 of F-Series owners were using these work trucks for recreational use. Driving a Ford truck wasn’t just about farming and hard work anymore — it was about fun, too.
1977 Ford F-150
One of the best selling trucks of all time, the F-150, came along in the mid-1970s and changed the truck landscape completely. This amazing truck was included in the sixth-generation lineup that covered 1973-1979.
1997 was a great year for the Ford F-Series trucks because the awards started rolling in and they haven’t slowed down over the years, either. The ’97 F-Series was named “North American Truck of the Year” by a selection of journalists, and “Truck of the Year” by Motor Trend magazine.
What started out as a farmer’s work truck has developed into what is arguably the most recognizable truck on the road today. Engine, cab, and bed options have changed over the years, but the truck line has only gotten better. More towing power, cleaner burning engines with no sacrifice of power, and envy from truck drivers that aren’t driving an F-Series.
What’s your favorite generation of Ford F-Series trucks? Still have one you drive from the first few generations? I’d love to see pictures if you have them!
