It’s official, the Ford F-Series is now America’s best-selling truck for 40 consecutive years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 35 years. And believe it or not, they out sell mid-size champions like the venerable Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.
Since January 1977, Ford has now sold more than 26 million F-Series trucks – that many trucks could circle the globe more than three times, or, lined up bumper-to-bumper, would span 90,000-plus miles, which is roughly 145,000 kms.
Ford established popularity with the sixth-generation of F-Series for the 1977 model year. Thanks to the then all-new F-150 light-duty pickup featuring an improved 351-series V8 engine, standard front disc brakes, and an extended SuperCab offering. That seventh-generation F-Series not only set sales records for trucks, but also by 1982 it had become the overall best-selling vehicle in America. 1997 marked the beginning of a split for F-Series into two distinct platforms – the 10th-generation F-150 was geared toward light-duty truck customers, while new F-250 and F-350 Super Duty brand trucks debuted in 1999 targeting heavy-duty commercial vehicle buyers.
They also identified that customers were increasingly using their vehicle to do both, livestock and equipment and for their family and lifestyle needs. Beginning with the King Ranch in 2001, Ford was now offering luxury edition pickups that provided a combination of capability, style and comfort; and later added the Platinum and Limited series, featuring leather seating, rich wood trim, full power accessories and premium sound systems.
Ford also pioneered specialty truck segments with the special-edition Harley-Davidson F-150 and SVT F-150 Lightning in 1993. By 2002, Ford was marking 25 years as best-selling truck in America and 20 years as best-selling vehicle overall.
For the 2004 model year, the 11th-generation F-150 was redesigned from the ground up. 2009 saw Ford charging ahead with some of the strongest visual cues ever for the 12th-generation F-Series. For the 2011 model year, the company was poised to combat energy costs with introduction of the all-new fuel-efficient 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine for F-150.
Ford’s all-new high-strength, military-grade aluminum-alloy body for the light-duty F-150 in 2015 was that breakthrough product, which was then applied to the all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty which won the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award – the seventh time in 30 years Ford won the title.
F-Series innovations and milestones, 1977 to present
- 1977: Ford F-Series sells 818,580 trucks for the model year; becomes sales leader
- 1979: Ford introduces the Built Ford Tough brand promise
- 1980: All-new seventh-generation F-Series features efficient gas and diesel V8 engines, new angular design, improved interior features; twin-traction-beam four-wheel-drive front suspension introduced
- 1984: F-150 replaces F-100 as base F-Series truck, adding improved safety features and new center console; optional CD player comes a year later
- 1987: Eighth-generation Ford F-Series features a more aerodynamic design, available electronic fuel injection, redesigned interior including instrument panel, and rear antilock brakes
- 1998: Super Duty brand of medium-duty trucks debuts for commercial customers and aligns the popular F-150 line for light-duty customers
- 2001: Luxury King Ranch is an unprecedented success
- 2002: Ford, celebrating 25 years as best-selling truck in America and 20 years as best-selling vehicle overall, introduces Ford-engineered, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbo diesel engine
- 2008: Ford introduces all-new Class 3-leading F-450 pickup, once again raising the bar for maximum towing capacity
- 2011: Powerful, efficient EcoBoost engine technology introduced for F-150
- 2015: Ford shifts production away from steel to high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body for F-150; introduces all-new technology, including 360-degree camera
- 2016: New Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps make backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob; plus F-150 is only full-size pickup to earn a five-star rating from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- 2017: Ford F-Series becomes best-selling truck in America for 40 years and the best-selling vehicle overall for 35 years
