"For more than 70 years, the Ford truck has been setting a _standard everywhere from farms to freeways. Ford's reputation as a truck leader and innovator is a big part of our heritage and an even bigger part of our future." - Jim O'Connor, Ford Division President

Today's multi-configuration Ford F-Series truck has a history based on innovation. As Ford continues to change the face of the industry with new features, improvements and new versions of its trucks, it's seems appropriate to note that the first Ford truck actually began its life as a platform derivative of the famous Model T.

The first factory-assembled pickup debuted in 1925 and sold for $281. Henry Ford billed it as the "Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body." The truck featured a cargo box, adjustable tailgate, four stake pockets and heavy-duty rear springs. Ford built nearly 34,000 the first year.

Three years later, the Model T based truck was replaced by the Model A. The first closed-cab pickup, built in 1928, sported innovations such as a safety glass windshield, roll-up side windows and a three-speed transmission.

It was powered by a four-cylinder, L-head engine capable of 40 horsepower. In 1932, the 65-horsepower Ford flathead V-8 engine was offered as an option in the truck.By 1936, Ford had already produced 3 million trucks and led the industry in sales.

The F-Series

In 1948, the famous F-Series truck was unveiled. Advertised as "Bonus-Built," the F-1 marked Ford's first all-new, post-World War II line of commercial vehicles that ranged from the half-ton F-1 to the three-ton F-8.

With a one-piece windshield and side vent windows, the redesigned cab's front end featured a recessed grille and headlamps along with squared fenders. The spare tire, moved from the side, was now mounted under the load floor as it is today. A new six-cylinder engine, the Rouge 226, boasted 95 horsepower. The redesigned 100 horsepower Rouge 239 V-8 was also available.

In the 1950s, the movement to make trucks more car-like in comfort and styling began. In 1951, a redesigned front end and cab modifications included a larger rear window and a new instrument panel. A new six-cylinder engine known as the "Cost-Clipper Six" made its debut in 1952.

When Ford celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1953, it offered a line of trucks that featured the most significant changes in design and product content in 20 years. The front overhang and wheelbase were reproportioned to provide better weight distribution and better turning radius.

The "Driverized" cab featured a larger, curved windshield and new instrument panel, new grille, shorter fenders and a hood that curved downward. The F-Series numbering system also changed from single digits to _hundreds, a tradition that continues to this day. The F-1 became the F-100, the F-2 and the F-3 merged to become the F-250 and so on.

In 1957, a new design featuring a slab-sided, all-steel pickup body was introduced as the F-100 Styleside. The fendered pickup box, now called the Flareside continued to be offered.

Design Innovations

Characteristics of the 1958 models included a dual (four-unit) headlamp system and a mesh-patterned grille. Its V-8 engine boasted more horsepower, rising from 167 to 186 in 1956.