Ford F-Series

The Ford F-Series is a series of trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford. In production since 1948, the F-Series is a range of light-duty trucks marketed as full-size pickup trucks, slotted above the compact Ford Ranger in the Ford truck model range. Since 1999, the F-Series also includes the heavier-duty Super Duty series, which includes pickup trucks, chassis cab trucks, and medium-duty trucks. As of current production, the Ford F-Series includes the F-150 pickup, F-250 through F-450 Super Duty pickups, F-450/550 Super Duty chassis cabs, and F-650/750 Super Duty Class 6-8 trucks. The most popular version of the F-Series is the F-150, now in its fourteenth generation.

The best-selling pickup truck in the United States since 1977 (the highest-selling vehicle overall since 1981); the F-Series is also the best-selling vehicle in Canada. As of the 2018 model year, the F-Series generated $41 billion in annual revenue for Ford. At various times, Ford has marketed the F-Series across all three of its divisions in North America. From 1948 to 1968, Mercury marketed the F-Series as the M-Series (in Canada); during the 2000s, Lincoln sold the F-150 as the Blackwood and the later Mark LT. The F-series platform has underpinned several sport utility vehicles, including the Ford Bronco, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

As of current production, the Ford F-Series is manufactured by Ford in four facilities in the United States.

## First Generation

The **first-generation of the Ford F-Series** (also known as the **Ford Bonus-Built** trucks) is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1948 to the 1952 model years. The introduction of the F-Series marked the divergence of Ford car and truck design, developing a chassis intended specifically for truck use. Alongside pickup trucks, the model line included also panel vans, bare and cowled chassis, and marked the entry of Ford into the medium and heavy-duty truck segment.

Across North America, Ford assembled F-Series trucks at sixteen different facilities during its production. In Canada, Lincoln-Mercury sold the F-Series under the Mercury M-Series nameplate to expand coverage in rural areas. The first generation of the F-Series is the sole generation produced entirely with "Flathead" engines (inline-6 and V8).

## Second Generation

The **second generation of the Ford F-Series** is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1953 to 1956 model years. In line with the previous generation, the F-Series encompassed a wide range of vehicles, ranging from light-duty pickup trucks to heavy-duty commercial vehicles. In place of the previous "Bonus-Built" series, Ford now marketed its truck range as the "Triple Economy" series.

To further emphasize the model update, Ford changed the F-Series model nomenclature from a single number to three numbers; subsequently, this system has remained in use on all Ford F-Series trucks to the present day.

Alongside the naming change, this generation marked several firsts for the F-Series, including an adjustable seat (wide enough for 3 people), power brakes, and the introduction of the Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission as an option. In line with Ford cars, seat belts were introduced as an option for 1956.

The second-generation F-Series was produced by Ford at eleven facilities across the United States; Ford Canada marketed the model line under both the F-Series and the Mercury M-Series nameplates. Ford of Brazil inaugurated local production with the model line, producing it from 1957 to 1962.

## Third Generation

The **third-generation of the Ford F-Series** are trucks that were produced by Ford from 1956 to 1960. Following its competitors at Dodge and General Motors, Ford widened the front bodywork to integrate the cab and front fenders together. Going a step further, the F-Series integrated the hood into the bodywork with a clamshell design; the feature would stay part of the F-Series for two decades. Although offered previously, the optional chrome grille was far more prominent than before. In the rear, two types of pickup boxes were offered, starting a new naming convention: the traditional separate-fender box was dubbed "FlareSide", while "StyleSide" boxes integrated the pickup bed, cab, and front fenders together. As before, Ford still offered a "Low GVWR" version of each model.

In May 1957, Ford discontinued building trucks at the Highland Park Ford Plant in Highland Park, Michigan. All light and medium trucks were transferred to 10 other plants in the USA. After 1969, Heavy-duty trucks (above F-350) and some light duty trucks were transferred to Kentucky Truck Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky. Third generation trucks were built in Brazil as the F-100, F-350, and F-600 from 1962 until 1971.

OHV sixes and V8s were the same ones as used in Ford cars of the era.

This was the last generation of the panel van. Ford would not offer a full-size van again until the 1968 introduction of the second generation E-Series.

## Fourth Generation

The **fourth generation of the Ford F-Series** is a line of pickup trucks and commercial trucks that were produced by Ford from October 1960 to August 1966. Sleeker and wider than its predecessor, the new F-Series introduced several firsts to the truck line. In Canada, the F-Series continued to be distributed by Mercury dealers as the M-Series.

Along with the traditional separate Flareside beds, Ford introduced unibody trucks. These were originally named as the "integrated pickup" and consisted of the cab and the bed into one continuous piece, with no gap between them. The design required fewer stampings, such as the back of the cab served as the leading edge of the bed, less complicated assembly, such as the single-wall bed sides were spot-welded directly to the door sills, and the body had a less complicated path through the assembly plant's paint shop. This achieved cost savings in the manufacture of the truck, but the one-piece cab and bed body was still mounted to a traditional ladder frame chassis. Only two-wheel-drive F-100 and F-250 models used this one-piece construction--four-wheel-drive models and all F-350s, as well as all models with Flareside beds, continued to use separate cabs and beds. Styleside beds were carried over from the 1957-60 models.

## Fifth Generation

The **fifth generation** **of the Ford F-Series** is a line of pickup trucks and commercial trucks that were produced by Ford from the 1967 to 1972 model years. Built on the same platform as the fourth generation F-series trucks, the fifth generation had sharper styling lines, a larger cab and greenhouse, and expanded engine options.

Three trim levels were available during the production of the fifth generation F-series, though the names were changed in 1970. The "Base" trim became the "Custom" and the "Custom Cab" became the "Sport Custom" joining "Ranger" as optional levels of equipment and trim. Late in production the Ranger trim level was upgraded with the additional "Ranger XLT" option.

## Sixth Generation

The **sixth generation of the Ford F-Series** is a line of pickup trucks and medium-duty commercial trucks that were produced by Ford Motor Company from the 1973 to 1979 model years. Produced by Ford in North America, Argentina, and Australia, this is the third and final generation of trucks derived from the 1965 Ford F-Series.

This generation marks the introduction of the F-150 and the SuperCab extended-cab body. Introduced in 1975, the F-150 would ultimately replace the F-100, becoming the most popular version of the F-Series. After several years of delays, the second generation of the Ford Bronco was released (as a shortened version of the F-100). In 1977, the Ford F-Series became the best-selling truck in the United States, a position it has held ever since.

## Seventh Generation

The **seventh generation of the Ford F-Series** is a range of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1980 to 1986 model years. The first complete redesign of the F-Series since 1965, the seventh generation received a completely new chassis and body.

Distinguished by its squarer look and flatter body panels, this generation marked several firsts for the F-Series, including the introduction of the Ford Blue Oval grille emblem. However, this generation marked the end of the long-running F-100, the Ranger trim, sealed-beam headlamps, and would be the final generation to offer a FlareSide bed with rounded rear fenders.

The seventh-generation F-series was produced by multiple sites in North America and by Ford Argentina and Ford Australia. The model line served as the basis for the eighth and ninth-generation F-Series and the third, fourth, and fifth generations of the Ford Bronco. Though sharing no body parts, the model line shared mechanical commonality with the Ford E-series.

## Eighth Generation

The **eighth generation of the Ford F-Series** is a line of pickup trucks and light- to medium-duty commercial trucks produced by Ford from 1987 to 1991. While the 1980 cab and chassis was carried over to the new model, the 1987 model was more streamlined, and maintenance items were made simpler. The exterior was facelifted with new composite headlamps, a more aerodynamic front end, and circular fenders. Inside, the interior was given a complete redesign. Rear antilock brakes were now standard, the first pickup truck to boast this. For the first time, all models were produced with straight-sided Styleside beds; the Flareside bed was discontinued except for a small number of early 1987 models using leftover 1986 beds with new circular fenders. In 1991 Ford premiered the 9th gen tail lights (the white reverse light was decreased in size) on the last year of the 8th generation.

## Ninth Generation

The **Ninth Generation Ford F-Series** is a line of full-size and medium-duty commercial trucks that were produced by Ford from 1991 to 1997. While still based on the basic design dating from for the 1980 model year, the 1992 F-Series brought a number of minor changes to the exterior and interior (where most enthusiasts consider this a facelift for the same existing truck that first appeared in 1979 as a 1980 model instead of a redesign). This is the last generation of the F-Series that was produced as a complete range of trucks from a half-ton pickup to a medium-duty Class 6 truck. As this generation was replaced during the 1997–1998 model years, the larger models of the F-Series (F-250 and above) were split from the F-150; these became the Ford Super Duty trucks, related to the latter with a few powertrain components.

In the interest of aerodynamics, the lines of the hood, front fenders, and grille were rounded off for 1992. Along with the larger grille, the headlights were enlarged (with the turn signals again moving below). Inside, the interior was updated with a redesigned dashboard along with new seats. Extended-cab (SuperCab) models received larger rear side windows. A notable change included the reintroduction of the Flareside bed that returned for production since 1987. Instead of the previous classic-style bed, the Flareside bed was now a narrow-body version of the dual rear-wheel bed; the rear fenders were repositioned to fit the width of the cab. Also, unlike with the classic Flareside bed, dual gas tanks were available with it, but only for 2-wheel-drive models.

## Tenth Generation

The **tenth generation of the Ford F-Series** is a line of pickup trucks produced by Ford from 1995 to 2004; it was sold from model years 1997 to 2004. In a major product shift in the Ford truck lineup, the F-250 and F-350 were split from the F-150. Beginning production in early 1998 (model year 1999) the newly branded Super Duty trucks had a distinct body and chassis, while still branded as F-Series trucks.

This generation of the F-Series was also sold by Lincoln as the Blackwood for the model year 2002 (2002-2003 in Mexico). In Mexico, the F-150 was rebranded as the **Ford Lobo** from 2004 to 2010, when it was replaced by the twelfth-generation model. In late 1989, during mid-stage development of a facelift due in late 1991 for model year 1992, Ford commenced the PN-96 program on a new truck platform and designated Thomas Baughman as chief engineer. In mid-1990, Andrew Jacobson was designated as design director for the PN-96 truck program. By 1991, designers had developed clay models indicative of car like styling, based on a new design theme. Despite the disapproval from focus groups towards "softer" styling, during 1991 and 1992 in concept design clinics, Ford management backed the "aero" design philosophy. The end result by Bob Aikins reached in November 1992 and frozen for production in February 1993, took the aero styling further with a rounded nose on the new F-series. The PN-96 mules went into testing 1993, with prototypes running from early 1994. Pilot production began in 1995.

## Eleventh Generation

The redesigned eleventh generation **F-150** was introduced by Ford in January 2003 at the North American International Auto Show. Designed by Tyler Blake under Patrick Schiavone between 1998 and January 2000, the styling was a revolutionary, more angular update of the PN-96. On August 29, 2000, the final production design was frozen. Development began in 1997, with scheduled production for September 2002 alongside the U222 Expedition. Development later ended in 2003 due to delays.

The side windows changed to a Kenworth "Daylight Door" and Ford Super Duty-like appearance; dipping towards the front of the door. Most F-Series have two large "closed loop" front tow hook design (no hooks on some 4x2 models) as opposed to conventional open hooks. Initially, only Ford's 4.6 L Triton or new 3-valve 5.4 L 3V Triton V8 engines and four-speed automatic transmissions were offered to the retail public on the new trucks. For the 2005 model year, Ford's 4.2 L Essex V6 and manual transmission became available and standard on base models after they were available only for fleet orders for 2004 and automatic headlamps became available. The 11th generation F-150 is the last vehicle Ford manufactured with a gasoline pushrod V6.

## Twelfth Generation

The **twelfth-generation Ford F-Series** is a light-duty pickup truck produced by Ford from the 2009 to 2014 model years. On the outside, the design was restricted to evolutionary styling upgrades, with a larger grille and headlights bringing it in line with the styling of the Super Duty trucks; as with many other Ford vehicles of the time, the interior saw the introduction of higher-quality materials in all but the most basic trim levels.

Outside of Mexico, the Lincoln Mark LT was discontinued, replaced by the *Platinum* trim of the F-150. However, this trim line is still sold as the **Lincoln Mark LT** in Mexico. For the 2010 model year, the SVT Raptor high-performance truck was introduced; unlike its Lightning predecessor, it was a vehicle dedicated to off-road driving.

In North America, the twelfth-generation F-150 was produced at the Dearborn Truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan, as well as the Kansas City Assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri. In December 2014, it was replaced by the thirteenth-generation 2015 F-150, unveiled in January 2014. Ford revealed the 2009 F-150 design at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Development began under chief engineer Matt O'Leary in November 2003 under the code name "P-415", after P-221 production began in June 2003. General design work was done under Patrick Schiavone into late 2005, with further exterior changes taking place during late 2006 to the tailgate design and wheel lip arches during a development hiatus. The final design freeze later took place by early 2007. Production of the series began in October 2008 at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Ford originally planned to expand the F-Series platform by reintroducing the F-100 as a midsize truck. Known internally as P525, the F-100 would have served as the global replacement for Ford Ranger in 2010 or 2011, The project was ultimately shelved, with the company developing the Ranger T6 as a global midsize truck and in North America, Ford focused on developing fuel-efficient powertrains such as the EcoBoost V6 and the 6-speed automatic transmission for the F-150.

The 2009 F-150 featured a larger and more flexible interior, an updated three-bar grille, and additional choices of trim levels. The chassis included lighter-weight, high-strength steel for better fuel economy and safety and improved payload and towing capacity. For the first time in the history of the F-Series, a V8 engine was standard in all models; no 6-cylinder was available. All F-150s included an automatic transmission as standard equipment, as a manual transmission was no longer available. Regular cab models were once again produced with standard-length doors rather than two short, rear-opening doors. All Flareside models in 2009 were made with new badging on the previous generation's boxes and were discontinued at the end of the model year when stock had run out, echoing a similar situation in the first year of the eighth generation. The interior was more luxurious and offered more features than previous-generation trucks. The Ford Sync system became available for the first time, including both Bluetooth functionality, and USB and auxiliary inputs, and a premium Sony audio system was also available for the first time on higher trim levels. The center stack was also redesigned to integrate the audio system and climate controls into a single unit (the base XL model still included a separate AM/FM radio unit with an auxiliary audio input as standard equipment). The instrument cluster was now the same in all trim levels of the F-150 (and now included a tachometer as standard equipment), although the gauge facings still varied by trim level.

For the 2010 model year, the SVT Raptor off-road truck was introduced. Initially available as a SuperCab with a 5.5-foot box, it was available with either a 320 hp 5.4L V8 or an optional 411 hp 6.2L V8 from the Super Duty line. The standard wheel on FX4 models was enlarged to 18".

For 2010, the F-150 saw minimal changes, although the warning chimes were changed to match the rest of the new Ford lineup. The keyless entry remote design was also changed, and now offered integrated remote start (previously, opting for remote start would require an additional, single-button remote), as well as an integrated key. Also new for 2010 was the new MyKey system as standard equipment on all F-150 models (excluding the base XL, where the MyKey system was an option). The MyKey system allowed for parents of younger drivers, as well as fleet operators, to configure one of the vehicle's ignition keys as the vehicle's MyKey, and could limit the vehicle's top speed, mute the vehicle's audio system until the driver's seatbelt was fastened, limit the maximum volume of the audio system, and provide both audible and visual warnings whenever a predetermined speed was reached. When the MyKey system was enabled, a message would appear on the instrument cluster display screen, denoting "MyKey Active, Drive Safely", to remind the driver to drive responsibly.

2011 marked a major upgrade to the powertrain lineup. In the interest of increasing fuel economy, both versions of the 4.6L V8 and the 5.4L V8 were discontinued. In their place were a 3.7L V6 and a 5.0L V8. Between the two engines was an all-new 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6. Dubbed *EcoBoost*, the 3.5L V6 produced 365 hp. Also for 2011, the instrument cluster was redesigned, and a new "premium" instrument cluster was introduced with a 4.2-inch (4.2") color LCD "Productivity Screen" that included "Truck Apps" that provided information such as approach and departure angles, altitude, current 4WD system status, and other important information. The base XL trim received new styled steel wheels as standard equipment, replacing the older, five-spoke styled steel wheels that were carryover wheels from the Ford F-Series (eleventh generation).

For 2012, the F-150 sported a ten-grade lineup (XL, STX, XLT, FX2, FX4, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Harley-Davidson and SVT Raptor).

For 2013, the F-150 received minor changes such as 3 new grilles (replacing all 4 previous grilles), new optional 18-, 20-, or 22-inch wheels, Sync with MyFord, MyFord Touch navigation system, new power-folding and telescoping trailer tow mirrors (taken from the Super Duty models), high-intensity discharge headlamps, 3 new color options (Blue Jeans Metallic, Kodiak Brown Metallic and Ruby Red Clearcoat Metallic), new Alcantara seats in the FX Appearance Package, black or pecan leather in Platinum, the return of the Limited model and the 6.2-liter V8 being made available in XLT, FX2, and FX4 (SuperCab and SuperCrew only).

For 2014, a special truck called the Tremor was introduced, essentially an EcoBoost-equipped FX2 or FX4 truck in a regular cab model with a 6.5' bed, a special FX Appearance Package, a flow-through center console with bucket seats and a 4.10 rear gear final drive ratio.

Also new in 2014, the STX trim level also became available on SuperCrew models with the 5.5' box. In addition an STX Sport package was added for 2014 including 20" wheels, black cloth seats, and black exterior accents.

## Thirteenth Generation

The **thirteenth-generation Ford F-Series** is a range of pickup trucks produced by Ford. Introduced for the 2015 model year, this generation of the F-Series is the first aluminum-intensive vehicle produced on a large scale by an American vehicle manufacturer. For the 2017 model year, the fourth-generation Super Duty line adopted the cab design of the F-150, consolidating the cab design for the first time on Ford light-duty trucks (F-550 and below) for the first time since the 1996 model year; the Super Duty trucks still retain separate bodywork and a higher-GVWR frame.

After a two-year hiatus, a second generation of the Ford Raptor made its return for 2017 as a high-performance variant of the F-150, dropping the SVT prefix). In Mexico, the F-Series XL trim is marketed as the *F-150*, XLT and higher trims are named *Lobo* (Wolf in Spanish). The Mexican-market Lincoln Mark LT was discontinued completely, replaced by the Limited and Platinum trims sold elsewhere.

The thirteenth-generation F-Series is produced by Ford in Claycomo, Missouri (Kansas City Assembly) alongside the Ford Transit van and at Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn Truck Plant).

## Fourteenth Generation

The **fourteenth generation Ford F-Series** is a range of pickup trucks produced by Ford, introduced for the 2021 model year.