1948: the Bonus-Built trucks
Ford’s earlier pickups were based on its passenger cars. In 1948 Ford replaced them with a dedicated truck line, the first F-Series, marketed as the Bonus-Built trucks. It came in a range of sizes, from a light half ton pickup to heavy commercial chassis, each with its own F number.
1953: three digit names
With the second generation in 1953, Ford moved to three digit names that still sound familiar today. The half ton F-1 became the F-100, the F-2 and F-3 were merged into the F-250, and the F-4 became the F-350.
New generations followed in 1957, 1961, 1967 and 1973, roughly every five to six years, a rhythm Ford would keep for decades.
1975: the F-150 arrives
The name that would define the line appeared almost by accident. In 1975 Ford slotted a new model, the F-150, between the F-100 and the F-250. The reason was regulation: the new model sat outside certain emission control restrictions. The F-150 quickly became the core of the range, and after 1983 Ford dropped the F-100 altogether, making the F-150 the entry model from 1984.
Number one since 1977
The F-Series has been the best selling pickup line in the US since 1977 and the best selling vehicle of any kind since 1981. It has also been Canada’s best selling truck for more than 50 years. Ford has sold more than 43 million F-Series trucks worldwide, which makes it the second best selling automobile of all time.
| Year | Trucks sold |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 876,716 |
| 2001 | 911,597 |
| 2009 | 413,625 |
| 2025 | 828,832 |
The dip in 2009, the year of the recession, shows how closely truck sales follow the economy. Even then the F-Series stayed on top.
Super Duty splits off
By the 1990s the light and heavy trucks were serving very different buyers. In mid 1998 Ford introduced the Super Duty line as 1999 models, replacing the larger F-Series trucks with a separate, tougher design for heavy towing and work. The F-150 kept its focus on daily driving. That split is still there today: the F-250 and up are Super Duty trucks.
Turbo sixes, aluminum and adaptive cruise
In 2011 the F-150 gained the 3.5 liter EcoBoost twin turbo V6, alongside a new 5.0 liter V8. The bigger shock came with the 13th generation in 2015: an aluminum body on a high strength steel frame, which cut curb weight by nearly 750 pounds. The 2015 F-150 was also the first pickup offered with adaptive cruise control. In 2018 a 3.0 liter Power Stroke diesel V6 joined the range.
Hybrid and electric
The 14th generation, launched for 2021, added the PowerBoost hybrid, which pairs an electric motor with the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6. Ford unveiled the fully electric F-150 Lightning on May 19, 2021, with production planned for spring 2022.
Why so many are still on the road
Part of the F-Series story is how long the trucks are kept. Trucks that tow and haul work harder than commuter cars, so oil changes, fluid services, brakes and tires need attention on time; many owner’s manuals list a separate, shorter schedule for severe use such as towing. Badger’s maintenance schedule tracks services by both mileage and time, so a truck that sits between jobs still gets its oil changed.
Own a recent F-Series? Some 2025 to 2026 Super Duty and 2026 F-150 trucks are in a new recall for faulty speedometers. See our story on the recall.
