Happy 100th Anniversary, Ford Trucks
America’s appetite for trucks goes back many years, and Ford has been an integral part of that history. From the creation of the Ford Model TT in 1917 (just nine years after the release of the famous Model T, which revolutionized transportation in America) to the creation of the "Built Ford Tough" motto to the most recent technologically advanced models, Ford trucks have a long and layered history that contains a few unexpected surprises.
Read on and take a trip through time with Lynch Ford Chevrolet.
How it all started
Soon after the Model T hit American streets, consumers were asking for a vehicle that could haul heavier loads and could be used for more rough-and-tumble utility work. Ford responded by creating the Model TT, which, while retaining the Model T's cab and engine, had a heavier-duty frame that allowed it to carry one ton of payload. The model cost a healthy $600 and sold 209 units in its first year.
Throughout the next few years, Ford continued updating its vehicles, leading to models like the Model AA, which had "a certain class to them," according to Ford historian Bob Kreipke. "Customers could use them on the farm, yet still take them to church on Sunday." By 1941, Ford had sold over 4 million trucks. The end of World War II sparked another overhaul of the Ford lineup as the automaker realized that a lot of rural Americans were moving to urban centers looking for work, taking their Ford trucks with them.
Introducing the F-Series Bonus Built Trucks
The F-Series line introduced a line of trucks that had increased engine power and capacity, as well as a new style of design that heightened the appeal of the formerly utilitarian vehicles. Two-tone paint, improved radio options, an updated heater, and automatic transmissions elevated the quality of the drive. The 1953 F-100 introduced a host of standard new features, including sun visors, armrests, and dome lights.
Ford gets even tougher
In 1977, a copywriter for a Ford magazine coined the phrase that would become the automaker's mantra for years to come: "Built Ford Tough." Referring to the durability of the F-Series line, the slogan truly encapsulates what it means to be a Ford vehicle. It's a promise from the automaker that all of its models are strong, capable, and dependable. Trucks were now becoming even more popular in the American public, with people thinking of them as family vehicles instead of merely made for work.
The future is now
Innovation on both the performance and design aspects continued on Ford models throughout the years. The automaker added high-end trim and technology packages to better serve customers, and the addition of certain vehicles (such as the King Ranch, Limited, and Platinum trucks) added a level of luxury and comfort that was previously uncommon in the segment. The innovative EcoBoost® V6 engine technology was introduced in 2011, further proving that Ford was capable of not only power but efficiency as well.
The legacy of the Model TT lives on in the Ford models of today. Contact us today for more information on the latest in the automaker’s decades-long tradition of truck excellence.
Image Credit: Ford