Ford F150 Facts and Timeline

Ford has made great innovations and improvements to the F-150 when compared to the Model T.

With over five years of manufacturing, the F-series trucks are the best selling on the market.

Currently Ford offeres two different models of Ford trucks- the F150 and the F250/F350 series.

There are over 11 generation of the F-series trucks, with the twelfth series starting in 2009.

1917

Ford created the Model T and entered the light-truck market. The first Model T's were sold as cab and chassis. The customer added the body.

1925

Ford built its first factory assembled pickup truck, the Model TT, and sold it for $281. The truck was based on the Model T, featuring a cargo box, adjustable tailgate, 4 stake pockets, and heavy duty rear springs. The Model TT truck offered a 1-ton, 8-foot Express body built for heavy duy pickup.

1928

Ford replaced the Model T trucks with the Model A truck design. The company added a safety glass windshield, roll-up side windows, and a 3-speed transmission. Ford powered the Model A by a 40-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine.

1932

Ford introduced the Model B truck which featured the new Flathead V-8 engine, the first of its kind.

1948

Ford introduced the first of the F-Series, the F-1, which featured a 95-horsepower, 6-cylinder engine. The truck had a one piece windshield, recessed grille, and headlamps. It was also offered in 100-horsepower, V-8 engine as well the 6-cylinder.

1950

Ford redesigned the F-1 front overhang and wheelbase in order to improve the weight distribution and the turning diameter of the truck. Ford also changed to a larger, curved windshield, added a new instrument panel, grille, shorter fenders, and a downward sloping hood.

1953

Ford changed the F-Series numbering system from single digits (F-1) to hundreds (F-100), which is what has kept throughout the F-series trucks.

1957

Ford introduced a slab-sided pickup box in the form of the Styleside. (The older fendered pickup box became known as the Flareside.) Ford remodeled the F-100 to feature the Y-block, V-8 engine with 272 cubic inches of displacement, 167 horsepower, and 260 pound-foot of torque.

1965

Ford improved the riding comfort of the truck when they introduced the Twin I-Beam suspension.

1974

Ford introduced the Supercab, which featured a 44 cubic feet behind the driver's seat, and was sold with either a bench seat or two jump seats in the back. Ford's Supercab was the first real step for the development of the personal-use pickup.

1973

Ford redesigned the truck to feature a longer wheelbase, new doors, floor pan, and an instrument panel.

1975

The F-150 debuted and with a more finished, car-like interior than the F-100. Ford improved aerodynamics by creating a swept-back front end and the independent front suspension by featuring Twin Traction Beams.

1987

Ford made rear Anti-lock Braking System the standard amongst their truck designs.

1994

Ford innovated car safety by introducing the driver's side airbag, and made it a standard amongst their designs.

1997

Ford completely redesigned the platform of the truck's design, added new engines, and an aerodynamic styling. Ford introduced the first 3-door Supercab. The F-150 first featured the SOHC Triton engine.

2000

Ford debuted the F-150 SuperCrew, which offers a full rear seat and front-hinged rear doors; it featured a 5.5- foot pickup box that extended to 7 feet with an optional bed extender.