A Brief History of the Ford F-150

September 08, 2021 · 6 min read

A black 1918 Ford Model TT is shown from the side.

Ford truck fans are in a league of their own, which is no surprise since the Ford F-Series of trucks is also in a league all its own. As your Ford dealer near you, there are few things we love more than talking with our customers about the Ford vehicles they drive and enjoy every day. Over the years, we've found that the incredible legacy of Ford trucks and the F-150, in particular, is one of the topics that people really get excited about. And we certainly don't blame them.

The Ford F-150 has been America's best selling truck for more than 40 years - that kind of legacy is something that no other vehicle can match. In honor of that, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at where the F-150 has come from and the kinds of changes and different forms it's taken over the years. We'll also cast our gaze forward and consider where we're headed and what the future of the F-150 might look like. Whether you're a long-time Ford truck fan or interested in getting your first taste of what the F-150 has to offer, this is for you.

How It Started: The Ford Model TT Pickup

Although it's tempting to just jump right in with where the Ford F-150 got rolling, we think it's more fun to look at the history of Ford trucks, in general, to see how we got here. The F-150 itself wasn't introduced until 1975, and the F-Series didn't hit the road until 1947, but the first Ford truck rolled off of the factory in 1917, more than 100 years ago. A lot of people don't realize that Ford has been in the truck game that long, but once you think of it that way, then it's no surprise that they've learned how to make the best truck in America.

Of course, the Model TT Pickup that was available in 1917 was a far cry from the Ford F-150 of today - not only in terms of performance but also design. It was based on the Model T but offered a sturdier frame for a bed or other platform to be built onto it. In fact, at the time, it was essentially just an engine, frame, and cab - the customer had to build on their own body. It wasn't until 1925 that someone could buy a fully assembled truck from Ford with a frame, body, and everything else necessary.

While the Model TT kicked things off for Ford in terms of truck design, it was not the only model available prior to the F-Series. Model AA and Model BB trucks, based on Ford's Model A and Model B cars, were available in the years that followed, and they were all very popular among construction workers, farmers, and others with similar needs. In 1935, Ford released the Model 50 truck that was similar to a car introduced in the same year. It was successful but still based on a car design; its production ended in 1941 when Ford put all of its production capacity to work for the US Army as we entered World War II.

A red and white 1964 F-100 is shown from the side parked in front of a house.

Post-War Pickup: The Ford F-Series

Following WWII, Ford needed something new to capture the attention of Post-War America, and they began developing a new type of truck. Rather than being based on a similar car, like their previous trucks had been, the new pickup they were working on was its own thing with an all-new platform purpose-built for a truck. In 1947, this design came to fruition when Ford introduced the first F-Series trucks to the world.

The first generation of the Ford F-Series kicked off with the 1948 model year and ran through 1952, offering a full-size pickup that blew away everything else on the road. That first generation used a different naming convention than the modern F-Series, though it was somewhat similar. Eight different models were available, increasing from the Ford F-1 to F-8 with greater payload capacity and power as the numbers went up. The Ford F-1 was a half-ton truck, followed by three-quarter-ton F-2 and F-3 models and a full-ton F-4.

When the second generation of the F-Series launched for the 1953 model year, the names were changed to what we now recognize, with three digits rather than just one. The half-ton model became the F-100, followed by a three-quarter-ton F-250, a one-ton F-350, and medium-duty F-500 and F-600 models. As you can see, the F-150 we know and love today was still missing from this lineup, and that remained the case throughout several generations that followed.

Forging a Legacy: Birth of the Ford F-150

The sixth generation of the Ford F-Series of trucks kicked off with the 1973 model year, and this is where things were changed forever. In the midst of this generation, in 1975, Ford introduced the F-150 as an option designed to offer greater payload and muscle than the F-100 without going all the way up to the capabilities of the F-250. It should come as no surprise that this proved to be a very popular option - for several years that followed, however, both the F-100 and F-150 remained available.

Ford kicked off the 1980s with the seventh generation of the Ford F-Series of trucks for the 1980 model year. Advertised as the "First new truck of the 1980s," this marked the first full redesign for the F-Series since 1964. As you might expect, that was huge, and a lot of what we still associate with Ford truck design came about with this new generation. Also of note is that this generation was the last time the Ford F-100 was available: production on it came to an end in 1983 as the F-150 proved a far-more popular option.

Although there were numerous changes made for the eighth generation of the F-Series in 1987 and the ninth generation in 1992, both generations were still largely based on many of the core aspects of the Ford truck introduced in 1980. In 1997, for its tenth generation, Ford decided to effectively divide the F-Series into two lineups: the standard F-150 and the F-250 and F-350 models that became the Ford Super Duty trucks in 1999. This generation also marked a major redesign for the F-Series, with a fully independent front suspension and other changes.

Since that time, the F-150 and Ford F-Series, in general, has been updated several times: the eleventh generation in 2004 was built on an all-new platform, the twelfth generation and thirteenth generation were based on this platform, and the fourteenth generation for the 2021 model year redesigned 92% of its parts. This was one of the biggest redesigns of the last 20 years and has completely refreshed the F-150 for a new generation of drivers. This includes some of the most powerful and impressive engines we've ever seen, including an all-new full-hybrid PowerBoost engine that offers incredible performance and terrific gas mileage.

A red 1975 Ford F-150 is shown from the side after leaving a Ford dealer near you.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the F-150

As the Ford F-150 continues to dominate the truck market, there's no denying that Ford could, if they wanted to, simply rest on their laurels and do well. That's never been Ford's style, however, so we're already seeing what the future of the F-Series is going to look like thanks to the all-new F-150 Lightning. An all-electric version of the F-150, this pickup is going to revolutionize everything we've come to expect from Ford trucks. As the F-150 Lightning and similar EV pickups start to take the world by storm, we're excited to see Ford continue leading the way just as they have for more than 100 years.

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A close-up of the front end is shown on a blue 2025 Ford Maverick LOBO.

Jan 25, 2025 in Henderson Ford Dealer

An Emphasis on Fun: The 2025 Ford Maverick

Have you noticed a trend on the roads lately? If you've been paying close attention, you've likely noticed a surge of a spunky little truck, one that's significantly smaller than most of the others you see but one that still has the strong and attractive appearance you'd expect from a truck. The Maverick has absolutely taken off in popularity, and it absolutely deserves all of the hype it's getting. This truck may be a compact model, but it is a solid, capable truck with an outstanding price point; it's providing the opportunity for many people who couldn't previously afford a truck, catering to a much wider audience than any other truck on the market right now. The truth is that even drivers who previously could afford a full-size or midsize truck are trading their trucks in for the Maverick. The Maverick's compact size is a huge asset and one of the things that makes it so appealing to drivers, as it offers some unique performance and capability features that can't be captured by full-size or midsize models. If you're looking into trucks for sale near Morganfield, the Maverick needs to be on your list if it's not already. The 2025 Maverick has five trim options, but the three top-tier options--the Lobo, the Lariat, and the Tremor--all offer very specific packages for the vehicle, transforming it into something unique with a particular driving style in mind. Each of these trims takes the foundation of the Maverick that people have fallen in love with and expounds upon it to develop great themes that will attract even more people to this great little truck. Let's take a look at each of these trims and see how they're bringing out the appeal of the Maverick in their own unique ways. The 2025 Maverick Lobo Street trucking may be a thing of the past, but it certainly is not dead, and the 2025 Maverick Lobo proves that fact. While a lot of trucks are focused on off-roading and tackling the elements, the Maverick Lobo takes a different approach and caters to city dwellers by leaning into the nostalgia of street trucks from the mid-80s and early 2000s. The first two things you'll notice about the Maverick Lobo are its exterior glossy colors and its lower ride height. While many trucks are often showcasing their higher ride heights for greater off-road capability, the Maverick Lobo's strength is in it's low, closer-to-the-ground ride, making for a controlled drive and a feeling of connectedness with the road. The Lobo's street performance offering is not mere aesthetics; it takes its racing capability very seriously. The Maverick Lobo offers a twin-clutch rear drive unit, which allows for torque vectoring. For any car enthusiast, you're likely excited about the torque vectoring capability. For those of you who may not know what that means, in practice, it translates to fantastic grip and stability, especially when taking tight corners. That's exactly what you want for urban street racing. Now, you may not have the intention of doing any street racing. That's perfectly fair! You don't need to be in a literal race for features like torque vectoring to be thrilling; if you have some nice open space, you can play with the Lobo's torque vectoring. On that note, there is a special Lobo drive mode that is designed for closed courses only. If you're looking to play hard in a stylish model, the Maverick Lobo is fun and fashionable. In terms of styling, the Lobo is designed to be a blank canvas that can be filled with the owner's personality. If you're looking for something customizable, the Lobo provides a great foundation for you to make your own. Style, thrills, and fun are the Lobo's focuses. If that's what you're looking for, you've found your match. The 2025 Maverick Lariat The Lariat trim is familiar to any F-150 fan out there. The trim's focus is ultimate comfort and convenience, providing standard hardware and technology to improve the towing experience, and it even provides some extra luxury features to up the ante a little bit. Towing is an intense operation, and you need to have a trim that's ready to make the job a breeze. The Lariat trim provides some great features to make any towing operation a success, well beyond a mere trailer hitch. A 360-degree camera ensures that you have a holistic view of the entire truck, your trailer, and your surroundings. With the Maverick's large center console, you'll have great visibility. As if this wasn't a great enough feature, the Lariat offers standard Pro Trailer Backup Assist. If you've ever hauled a trailer, you know that backing up can be incredibly stressful, annoying, and difficult. That does not have to be the case any longer. Pro Trailer Backup Assist intakes a few measurements from you and then uses those to monitor the trailer's position and allows you to use a knob to guide the trailer in the preferred direction as you are backing up. It's a fun system to use, and it sure makes towing easier. The Maverick Lariat also provides some great luxury features like heated seats, heated steering wheel, and heated sideview mirrors (bye bye winter frost). If you need something to help you with projects or trips that require towing, and you want some extra luxury features to make the ride nicer, the Lariat will check all your boxes. The 2025 Maverick Tremor The Tremor's reputation precedes it. Having been a popular trim on the F-150 in years past, anybody with an inclination towards off-roading thrills knows that the Tremor will provide the excitement and style you want. While the Tremor was previously offered as a special edition package on the Maverick, it has been elevated to the status of an official trim, meaning it's offering an array of options and is hopefully here to stay. The Maverick Tremor is designed to hit the trails and take on the thrills and spills that come along the way. If you're looking to explore the nature surrounding Morganfield, you'll want to pay close attention to the Tremor options. With a twin-clutch rear drive unit just like the Lobo, the Tremor offers precise maneuvering, which is highly necessary when driving off-road. With off-road tuned suspension, including trim-specific springs and shocks, the Maverick Tremor is able to absorb the ups and downs that often come when exploring non-traditional terrains. Of course, the body of the truck is also protected by skid plates and appropriate armor, so the risk is mitigated when it comes to damage. The Maverick Tremor also comes standard with a 360-degree camera, which is equally beneficial to off-roading as it is to towing; making sure you're fully aware of your surroundings, you'll avoid any unintended obstacles. A feature Ford has introduced in other models, now available in the Maverick, is 1-Pedal drive, allowing the acceleration pedal to function as the brake pedal when your foot is removed. While it may seem like a subtle difference, the small increment of time saved by not having to depress the brake pedal could be the difference between a successful venture and an off-road collision. The 2025 Maverick Tremor is ready to get at the adventure, wherever it may be. There's no doubt that this is one of the most exciting Maverick models yet, and anybody who's driven a Tremor trim previously will find a new level of fun with the same great trim in the Maverick's compact body. Small But Versatile The Ford Maverick is a compact truck perfect for Morganfield drivers. Its size is its big point of differentiation from other trucks on the market right now; most brands don't have compact options, and the Maverick is paving the way for a whole untapped market (in classic Ford fashion). But, for how compact this truck is, it's got some fierce features behind it to make it well worth its price, which is not as high as it could be given the truck's quality. Beyond the Maverick's appealing foundation, the 2025 Lobo, Lariat, and Tremor trims all provide very specific offerings to particular types of truckers with differing needs, preferences, and styles. If you're looking for an affordable, sturdy truck to suit your unique needs, the Maverick has you covered. The value is too good to pass up, and the 2025 trim offerings are fun and functional.

A white 2023 Ford Escape is shown driving on a road past city skyscrapers.

May 08, 2023 in Henderson Ford Dealer

Understanding the Ford Escape's Popularity

The Ford Escape has emerged as a top pick for drivers requiring greater capacity and fuel efficiency without compromising style or comfort. The Ford Escape's popularity is based on its ability to meet both the passenger and cargo needs of drivers who've outgrown their sedans and the fuel efficiency requirements of those same drivers. Thanks to its roomy interior and substantial cargo capacity, it can easily fit families, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone in between. The Ford Escape is also an excellent choice for drivers who want to save money at the pump, thanks to its efficient EcoBoost and hybrid powertrains. Not to mention, it is a versatile and dependable vehicle. If you need a compact crossover that combines what sedans and SUVs do best without compromising style, visiting Kate Faupel Ford to find a Ford Escape for sale near Owensboro, KY, is a good choice. The Ford Escape Offers Exceptional Comfort and Cargo Space The Ford Escape is a great option if you're looking for an SUV. The 2023 Escape provides seating for up to five people, but it's what it offers passengers that makes it a top choice for many. With sliding second-row seats, passengers can adjust their legroom up to 5.9 inches. Or you can fold down the seats when shopping and expand your cargo space to 65.4 cu.ft. Even with the seats up, you have a good-sized cargo area of 37.5 cu.ft. Passengers also get plenty of headroom, with 40 inches in the front and 39.3 inches in the back. As far as seating goes, textured cloth upholstery is standard, but you can opt for quilted leather in the Platinum and Plug-In Hybrid trims. If you want something a bit out-of-the-box, you can choose the ST-Line trims, which offer special cloth and vinyl seats with detailed red stitching. This stitching gives the Escape a fun, sporty look. The fun nature of the ST-Line is also evident on the exterior, with specialized wheels and accents that continue the fresh feel. Driver-Assist Technology in the 2023 Ford Escape When shopping for cars, you probably scan to see the available technology before looking at many other features. Ford understands this, which is it strives to offer the best technology for all its cars. This focus on innovation makes us proud to offer the Ford Escape to Owensboro drivers. Ford offers various driver-assist technologies that help keep you and your passengers safe. Many of the systems offered are standard on all Escape trims. Pre-Collision Assist The Ford Escape utilizes radar and a camera to assess objects in the path of your vehicle. These sensors alert you with both visual and audio cues, allowing you to correct your course or slow down. The system applies automatic braking if you are too close to the object or do not react in time. Blind Spot Monitoring The Ford Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) is crucial when driving or reversing. BLIS alerts you to cross traffic and vehicles to your sides in multi-lane situations, allowing you to proceed more confidently. The system works in conjunction with your use of mirrors and judgment while driving. Rearview Camera When your mirrors aren't providing the whole picture, it's nice to have a rearview camera for support. When the rearview camera is activated, you will see what is behind you on your infotainment screen, allowing you to back up with precision and safety. There is also a grid line and an available auditory warning that lets you know how close you are to the objects behind you. Active Park Assist 2.0 Have you ever parked on a side street only to come out hours later and realize the people around you parked closer to you than you might like? With Active Park Assist, you will feel confident in navigating out of the spot quickly so you can get on your way. The system also helps when parking, allowing you to slip into tight spots when attempting to parallel park. This system is a blessing for new drivers or anyone who doesn't parallel park regularly. Connectivity and Infotainment Features While driver-assist technologies are great, passengers want to know what's in it for them. To be fair, as the driver, you might also want to know. You'll be pleased to learn that syncing your phone or a passenger's phone is easy, as the 2023 Ford Escape offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can even charge your devices wirelessly on the center console without worrying about messy wires. Do you have more than one device to charge? The Ford Escape has multiple USB-A and USB-C ports. The connectivity features are simple to control from the 13.2-inch center touchscreen, which allows you to swipe through messages, choose music, find your destination, and more. With SYNC 4 technology, you can even connect with Amazon Alexa. This provides you with voice-activated navigation and the ability to control devices at home. Knowing you can do this from your Escape is a nice perk if you've ever left home and wondered if you remembered to turn down the thermostat or leave a light for your return. Ford Pass Connect takes connectivity to another level, providing a 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot. The hotspot is powered by AT&T and allows up to ten devices to connect at once. Maneuverability and Performance Not only does the Ford Escape offer great technology and safety features, but it's also fun to drive. The wide frame offers the utmost stability, no matter the terrain. If you're heading outdoors with friends for the weekend and need to haul a trailer or small camper, the Escape is up for the task. The base model has up to 2,000 lbs of towing capacity, and if your model has the 2.0L EcoBoost engine and Class II Trailer Tow Package, it can haul up to 3,500 lbs. The 2023 Escape comes standard with front-wheel drive and electronic traction control. If you prefer, you can choose an all-wheel drive model. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options have a turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 181 hp, making them responsive in the hills and around the curves. You can upgrade to a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with 250 hp if that's not enough. Finally, there are two hybrid options for exceptional fuel economy. Customize Your Drive on the Fly The Ford Escapes gives you plenty of choices regarding driving modes, allowing you the control you need no matter the road conditions. Take a closer look at each mode below. Normal Mode For everyday driving, this is the mode to select. Unless you're focused on fuel efficiency, performance, or tackling tricky conditions, you will usually drive in this mode, as it provides the most well-rounded driving experience. Eco Mode This mode is best when you're concerned about fuel efficiency and responsible driving. It reduces the engine output, meaning you accelerate slower and create fewer emissions while driving. Eco Mode is great for daily driving, particularly at lower speeds. Sport Mode This mode increases the throttle response, giving you a bit more get up and go. It allows for quick shifting and responsive steering. You can use Sport Mode to get the most out of your Ford Escape, whether merging on the highway or enjoying that backroad with many twists and turns. Slippery Mode This mode is perfect for unexpected rainy days or when you're still miles from home as the snow starts. Slippery Mode tames torque output and chooses less aggressive gears, keeping the wheels from spinning and providing the best possible scenario for stability in these conditions. The 2023 Ford Escape Has Much to Offer There are many reasons why the Ford Escape is so popular. From its roomy interior to its focus on technology, you will enjoy driving your Ford Escape from the minute you leave our lot. If you're looking for a vehicle that can get you around Owensboro or help you get away for the weekend, the Ford Escape is the answer.

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