Sunday, May 01, 2005

Ford F series trucks


46 Mercury truck

Ford Motor Company reluctantly started building and selling trucks after many customers converted their Model T's into pickups. The First Ford Truck was the Model TT. When Ford came out with the F series of trucks in 1946, things really took off. Ford trucks became the standard for trucks worldwide. You will notice the truck pictured is a Mercury Truck from 1946. In Canada Ford sold trucks as Mercurys from 1946 to 1968, before switching all trucks there to Ford. The first F series truck was the F-1 and later F-100. The number coming after F determining the weight classification of the truck. Today's trucks run from F-150 to F-450 and beyond.

For quite a few years now, the Ford F series truck has been the best selling vehicle in the world.
Yes, you read that correctly, the WORLD. The Ford F series is available the world over. Although not listed on European websites, the F series can be purchased through your Ford dealer anywhere on the globe. F series trucks are recognized as a staple in the US, but also find a big market in South America, Africa and Australia. From personal transportaion, and light industrial and commercial applications to heavy duty and specail applications, there is an F series truck for almost any job. Australia is probably the second home of the F series, it's loved there as much as in the US.

From humble beginings, to the wide aray of trucks you see today. The Ford Lightning, a hot rodded version of the F-150 that first appeared in 1995, was the fastest production truck for several years. GM and Dodge have tried for years to knock off the top perch, but Ford domminated the truck market at home and abroad for years. The latest F-150 is so smooth and capable that it can sometimes blur the line between car and truck. I rented a 2004 F-150 4x4 crew cab for a week and was amazed at the comfort and road holding ability of the truck.

Last year, I attended the GM Auto Show In Motion, and had the opportunity to drive the new Ford and Chevy pickups one after the other on a test course. The Ford was so impressive, even without the Chevy's four wheel steering, I couldn't imagine buying anything but a Ford if I was in the market for a full size truck.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

in the early 90's I sold comercial vehicles for a living. I was selling some of the best vehicles available at the time. Isusu , Iveco , Freightliner , Mercedes Benz. Back then 90 % of towtrucks were Ford F series. Even cuttting the price of a Mercedes Deisel Lower then an F series Ford was a hard sell. The most loyal vehicle owners are Ford F series , and for good reason.

Big Ford Fan said...

Well once you've driven a Ford, can there be anything else?