About Early Ford Trucks
The Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford Motor Company, founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, began producing factory assembled light-duty trucks in 1925. Its first truck chassis was produced in 1917. Following its introduction, the Ford truck competed against a large field of similar entries from Dodge, Chevrolet, GMC and many independent truck makers, including Studebaker.
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Origins
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The Ford Model TT chassis sold for $430. Body was extra.
Henry Ford, the son of a hardscrabble farmer, was driven as an inventor to make life easier, more productive and ultimately better off financially for the average worker. This single-minded ambition brought about the Ford Model T. The Model T's short wheelbase, high ground clearance and economical, but reliable engine made it a perfect candidate as a truck. Farmers and ranchers instantly converted the automobile to a workhorse by installing a wooden cargo bed.
Slow to Change
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The 1924 Model TT version.
Ford was notoriously slow to adapt to change. It wasn't until 1917, nine years after he introduced mass-production of the Model T to the American consumer, that he developed the Model TT truck chassis. It still wasn't a commitment to an official light-duty truck, but it was the first step.
Model TT
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The restyled 1930 Model A runabout.
The Model TT was conceived as a heavier version of the Model T. It featured a heavier frame and rear axle to accommodate one-ton loads. Its gearbox was equipped with an intermediate gear positioned between the high and low gear for climb steep grades. Only the chassis was provided, and the buyer was required to supply the body and cargo bed.
The Runabout
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The first postwar truck to feature modern styling: The 1948 Ford F-1.
The popular factory-produced Ford Model T Runabout pickup truck debuted in April 1925 and cost $281. It was equipped with a 56-inch long steel bed that was 40 inches wide. More than 33,800 were sold the first year. The 1926 model also sold well with a redesign that streamlined the cowl, fenders, hood and running boards. Accessories included an electric starter.
Ford F-1
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The 1953 Ford F-100 served as a workhorse and second family car.
Ford was the first to break new ground after the end of World War II when automakers returned to civilian truck production. Ford introduced in 1948 the F-1 Series, which integrated the headlamps into the front fenders, flattened the hood and provided a more streamlined appearance that completely abandoned prewar styling. From 1948-52, it was powered by a 215-cubic-inch or 254 6-cylinder engine or the 239- or 337-cubic-inch flathead V-78. The 279 or 317 Y-block V-8 also was offered.
Modern Look
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The 1957 Ford F-100.
The 1953-56 F-100 Series, which replaced the F-1 line, was even more modern, revolutionizing the light-duty truck industry with a single-piece wraparound windshield and redesigned headlamp-fender-hood styling. Its cab featured passenger car-like appointments, smoother lines and a lower profile.
Legacy
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The 1963 Ford F-100.
The F Series Ford trucks left a lasting legacy in the light-duty truck industry. It ushered in the idea of modern styling for a vehicle once deemed as solely a workhorse, but is regarded today more often than not a second family car. Today the F-150 versions are the besting selling light-duty truck in North America.
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References
- Photo Credit Ford Motor Company
