Ford F-100

Prototype Information

Ford launched the F-100 in 1953 for the company’s 50th anniversary. It replaced the F-1 as the primary half-ton pickup. The new design featured a wider cab and a longer wheelbase. Ford called the interior the “Million Dollar Cab” because of its improved comfort. In 1954, the company replaced the old Flathead V8 with the modern Y-block engine. Ford added the famous Twin I-Beam front suspension in 1965 to make the truck ride smoother. By the late 1960s, the Ranger trim turned the F-100 into a family vehicle.

The F-100 lost its lead after the F-150 debuted in 1975. Ford built the F-150 to avoid strict emissions rules for lighter trucks. Buyers chose the F-150 because it hauled more weight for a similar price. The F-100 became a 2-wheel-drive only model in 1979 as sales slumped. Ford stopped making the F-100 in the United States in 1983. Today, truck fans love early models like the 1956 “Big Window” for their classic look.