Over 100 Years of Ford Trucks

While Ford truck design has evolved throughout the past 100 years, Ford has always kept the customer and their
demands in mind. It is not about making the almighty dollar, but about helping Americans make a living while letting
them blow off some steam on the weekends too in a vehicle they’re proud to own and drive. Ford trucks evolved to
meet customers’ changing needs, and that means the power, technology, reliability, and powerful capability of
today’s Ford Trucks are light years from where it all started. Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic Ford
trucks in the past 100 years.

1917 Model TT

Equivalent to a chassis-cab Ford Super Duty today, the TT was based on the Model T cab and engine, mounted to a
heavier frame rated at one ton capacity. A three-speed transmission meant two forward and one backward. Power came
from a 2.9-liter four cylinder delivering a whopping 20 horses, but the TT weighed less than half what a modern Ford
F-150 does, so it would still manage 40 miles per hour if the roads were smooth enough.

1935 Model 50

With drivetrain improvements, sleeker bodywork, alonger bed, and better weight distribution, the Model 50 brought
Ford’s soon-to-be-legendary flathead V8 to pickups. Three years old by then, the 3.6-liter V8 was cranked up by Ford
engineers for truck duty, producing 85 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque.

1948 F-Series

After World War II, Ford introduced the first F-series for ’48. It was the beginning of a dynasty that still
continues with the best-selling F-150, the most popular truck in America for over 40 years! The 1948 “Bonus Built
Line” trucks covered the 1/2-ton F-1 through the 3-ton F-8. The 1/2-tons F-series trucks came with a 95 horsepower
flathead six or a 13-cubic-inch-larger flathead V-8 with 100 hp, backed by either a three- or four-speed gearbox.
New features included a passenger-side wiper and taillight and optional, aftermarket-installed four-wheel drive from
Marmon-Herrington.

1959 F-series with factory 4WD

1959 stands out as the first year that Ford offered four-wheel drive from the factory production line instead of
relying on aftermarket conversions by Marmon or Napco conversions. For 1959, the F-series trucks began the shift
from “stepside” beds with pontoon-style external fenders to the slab-sided 8-foot beds with wheel tubs located
inside the cargo box. This new style of truck bed remains the most popular configuration to this day

1983 Ford Ranger

Responding to a wave of smaller compact trucks from Asian makers, Ford introduced the Ford Ranger compact pickup in
1983. Nearly half the size and weight of the Ford F-150, the Ranger offered a variety of four- and six-cylinder
engines putting out between 72-207 horses, plus one very limited-production electric model.

1999 Super Duty

The first heavy-duty Ford pickup line to be completely differentiated in both styling and engineering from the
1/2-ton model, the 1999 Super Duty had a unique chassis and bodywork that set new standards for what was considered
“heavy duty.” To bring the muscle, the 1999 Super Duty was powered by Ford’s 5.4-liter V8 cranking out 275
horsepower, or the 6.8-liter V-10 PowerStroke diesel achieving 235 horsepower.

2021 F-150

Designed with a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body on a high-strength steel frame, the all-new F-150
is built for endurance. The 2021 F-150 offers definitive power and capability, coming standard with the 3.5-liter
PowerBoost V6 engine. The all-new F-150 interior designs are all about utilization with an available interior work
surface, standard SYNC 4 technology, and a 12-inch productivity screen at your disposal.

What an amazing 100 years of Ford tough and ready trucks! What’s stopping you from becoming part of the Ford Trucks
legacy? Come check out our available selection of Ford trucks and quench your desire for a truck that can meet your
work needs and match your weekend fun, too! Stop by McLarty Daniel Ford in Bentonville to test drive the 2021 Ford
F-150 or Super Duty and experience the legendary quality of Ford.

CLICK TO CONTACT THE MCLARTY DANIEL SALES TEAM