Ford F-Series (first generation)

Last updated
First generation
1949 Ford F-3 3.9.jpg
1949 Ford F-3
Overview
Manufacturer Ford
Also calledFord Bonus-Built
ProductionNovember 27, 1947 – 1952 [1]
Model years 1948–1952
Assembly
Body and chassis
Class Full-size pickup truck
Body style 2-door pickup
4-door panel truck
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related1948–1952 Mercury M-Series
Powertrain
Engine 226 cu in (3.7 L) I6
239 cu in (3.9 L) Flathead V8
254 cu in (4.2 L) I6
337 cu in (5.5 L) Flathead V8
215 cu in (3.5 L) I6
279 cu in (4.6 L) Y-block V8
317 cu in (5.2 L) Y-block V8
Transmission 3-speed manual
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
Chronology
Predecessor1942–1947 Ford pickup
Successor Ford F-Series (second generation) (1953–1956)

The first generation of the Ford F-Series (also known as the Ford Bonus-Built trucks) is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1948 to the 1952 model years. The introduction of the F-Series marked the divergence of Ford car and truck design, developing a chassis intended specifically for truck use. Alongside pickup trucks, the model line included also panel vans, bare and cowled chassis, and marked the entry of Ford into the medium and heavy-duty truck segment.

Contents

From 1947 to 1952, Ford assembled F-Series trucks at sixteen different facilities across North America. In Canada, the model line was also marketed through Lincoln-Mercury as the Mercury M-Series to expand dealership coverage in rural areas. This generation of F-Series pickup trucks is the sole generation to entirely Flathead engines (inline-6 and V8s).

Development & Design

After World War II, Ford's war-time effort toward producing B-24 bombers, jeeps, tank engines, and other military hardware ended. When civilian passenger cars and trucks were put back into production, Ford produced the same truck and car design since 1941. After the 1947 model year was introduced, a completely new design was planned, which could appeal to various applications, extending further than just having a single purpose.

The development objective included making the driving easier, with comfortable and roomier cab, and a great customer appreciation. When introduced, Ford's new truck would be the only truck featuring an all-new post-war design. GM's Advance Design trucks featured an all-new body, but was based on a pre-war A platform which were at the time shared with other GM passenger cars.[ citation needed ] Dodge's B series, although fully redesigned, retained an outdated semicircular rear wheel well design. Ford departed from sharing a common platform with its passenger lineup and developed a purpose-built truck frame specifically for the F-Series. The new frame included a third cross-member which enabled extra strength enough to be shared with its medium-duty lineup. Also, Ford was the only company to offer V8 engines for both pickup trucks and medium-duty trucks until 1954. To better absorb rough uneven roads, and to reduce maintenance costs, Ford was also the first to introduce telescopic double-acting shock absorbers to the pickup truck market in place of the lever shocks and were advertised as the "Aircraft Type Shocks." [2]

Ford additionally invested $1 million into research and tooling for the new cab, dubbed as the "Million-Dollar Cab." Compared to the previous model of Ford trucks, the new cab was seven inches wider and provided extra headroom. It also included wider doors that were moved three inches forward and extending beneath the cab's floor for better accessibility and interior protection from dust, moisture, and drafts. A new flat one-piece windshield was two inches higher than the previous generation, combined with the larger rear window offering a better all-around visibility. The new cab also featured increased foot room, and bench seats with adjustable fore, aft, and rake. To improve comfort, the cab was isolated from the frame using bushings at the front and lever-action torsion links in the rear in order to insulate vibration and noise. Additionally, Ford added more cushioning to the bench seat, which were wrapped with springs for improved comfort. The front fenders were also wider and taller and featured a single-piece-like, wrap-around design that included integrated headlamps. The five-bar horizontal grille had integrated turn signal lights into the top grille bar. Rear fenders no longer had the teardrop shape; instead, they had more rounded and continuous side body lines. Two openings were added over bold FORD lettering at the nose, with the left opening also acting as a hood release handle. [3] [4] [5]

The three-way ventilation system consisted of two vent windows (driver- and passenger-side doors) and an additional vent located at the cowl. Steering effort was reduced with an increased steering ratio. A new channeled steel front bumper was attached directly to the extended frame rails, which provided increased rigidity and a smoother ride.

The new trucks were introduced in late 1947 (going on sale January 16, 1948). Standard features included ashtray, glove box, and driver-side sun visor which was unusual on trucks at the time. Options included the "See-Clear" windshield washer (operated by foot plunger), passenger-side windshield wiper and sun visor, and passenger-side taillight. The F-1 truck was also available with additional stainless steel trim and two horns as an option. All F-Series were available with optional "Marmon-Herrington All Wheel Drive" until 1959. [6] [7]

The design of the F-Series truck changed tremendously from 1950 to 1954. From 1948 to 1950, the grille was a series of horizontal bars and the headlights were set into the fenders. For 1951 and 1952, the headlights were connected by a wide aerodynamic cross piece with three similarly aerodynamic supports. The rear window was wider in these later trucks and the dashboard was redesigned. This new cab was called the "Five-Star Cab."

Models

The first-generation F-Series was marketed in eight different chassis (based on their GVWR), giving them their model names: the F-1 was the lightest-capacity version with the F-8 was the highest. F-1 through F-3 pickup trucks were offered (forming the basis for panel trucks) and the bare F-3 chassis served as the basis for a parcel delivery truck. The heavier-duty F-4 chassis was produced as a light-duty commercial truck. The F-5 and F-6 were produced as medium-duty trucks in three configurations: a conventional, a COE/cab-over (as the C-Series), and a school-bus chassis (as the B-Series, with no bodywork aft of the firewall). The F-7 and F-8 were heavy-duty commercial trucks, marketed under the "Big Job" brand name from 1951.

With the exception of bus chassis and parcel-delivery vehicles (which used bodywork produced by second-party manufacturers), Ford shared the same cab design on all F-Series trucks; C-Series trucks moved the cab upward and forward, requiring a higher hood and different fenders than conventional models. Also, F-2 and up used larger wheel well openings than the F-1 models.

The most common first-generation model was the F-1 with a 6.5-foot (2.0 m) bed with 45 cubic feet volume of cargo capacity and 114-inch (290 cm) wheelbase, followed by the F-2 and F-3 Express models with an 8-foot (2.4 m) bed with 122-inch (310 cm) and a single side member located each side over the wheel housing. All pickup truck beds used an all-steel floor construction with hardwood subfloor to keep it from being dented. Skid strips were now stamped into the steel, so they would not come loose, unlike the previous model. The tailgate was strengthened and reinforced using a rolled edge with a tapered truss. Anti-rattle chains had a smooth, quiet operation and lengthened to allow the tailgate to open flat to the bed floor, allowing easier loading and unloading of the cargo by sliding. [4]

1948-1952 Ford F-Series (Bonus-Built) model range
ModelDescriptionGVWRBody Style(s)
F-1½ ton4,700 lb (2,132 kg)Pickup truck

Panel truck

F-2¾ ton5,700 lb (2,585 kg)
F-3¾ ton (heavy duty)6,800 lb (3,084 kg)

7,000 lb (3,175 kg) (parcel delivery)

7,800 lb (3,538 kg) (optional rear springs)

Pickup truck

Panel truck

Parcel delivery truck

F-41 ton

1¼ ton (optional)

7,500 lb (3,402 kg)

10,000 lb (4,536 kg)

Conventional (light-duty)
F-51½ ton10,000–14,500 lb (4,536–6,577 kg)COE (C-Series)

Bus chassis (B-Series)

Parcel (P-series)

Conventional (medium-duty)

F-62 ton14,000–16,000 lb (6,350–7,257 kg)
F-7"Big Job"17,000–19,000 lb (7,711–8,618 kg)Conventional (heavy-duty)
F-820,000–22,000 lb (9,072–9,979 kg)

Yearly changes

1951 Ford F-1, showing the larger rear window 1951 Ford F1 or F2 in Greenwich.jpg
1951 Ford F-1, showing the larger rear window
1949 Ford F-3, showing the smaller rear window 1949 Ford F-3 3.9 Rear.jpg
1949 Ford F-3, showing the smaller rear window

Powertrain

Engines

EngineYearsPowerUsage
226 cu in (3,700 cm3) Flathead 6 1948–5195 hp (71 kW) at 3,300 rpm [8] F-1 through F-6
239 cu in (3,920 cm3) Flathead V8 1948–52100 hp (75 kW) at 3,800 rpmF-1 through F-6
254 cu in (4,160 cm3) Flathead 6 1948–51110 hp (82 kW) at 3,400 rpmF-6 only
337 cu in (5,520 cm3) Flathead V-8 1948–51145 hp (108 kW) at 3,600 rpmF-7 and F-8
215 cu in (3,520 cm3) OHV Straight-6 1952–53101 hp (75 kW)
279 cu in (4,570 cm3) Lincoln Y-block (EAL) 1952–55145 hp (108 kW) at 3,800 rpmF-7 only
317 cu in (5,190 cm3) Lincoln Y-block (EAM) 1952–55155 hp (116 kW) at 3,900 rpmF-8 only

Transmissions

All are manual.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford E-Series</span> Line of vans by American automaker

The Ford E-Series is a range of full-size vans manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced for 1961 as the replacement of the Ford F-Series panel van, four generations of the model line have been produced. Marketed for both cargo and passenger transport configurations, the E-Series has been designed with multiple design variations for both retail and commercial sale, including vans, and commercial-grade cutaway van chassis and stripped chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series</span> Series of pickup trucks manufactured by Ford

The Ford F-Series is a series of light-duty trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford since the 1948 model year. The F-Series is marketed as a range of full-sized pickup trucks positioned above the midsize Ranger but below the larger Super Duty in the Ford truck lineup. Alongside the F-150, the F-Series also includes the Super Duty series, which includes the heavier-duty F-250 through F-450 pickups, F-450/F-550 chassis cabs, and F-600/F-650/F-750 Class 6–8 commercial trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Ranger (Americas)</span> American series of pickup trucks

The Ford Ranger is a range of pickup trucks manufactured and marketed by Ford in North and South America under the Ranger nameplate. Introduced in early 1982 for the 1983 model year, the Ranger is currently in its fourth generation. Developed as a replacement for the Mazda-sourced Ford Courier, the model line has been sold across the Americas; Ford of Argentina began production of the Ranger for South America in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Explorer Sport Trac</span> American pickup truck produced 2000–2010

The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a pickup truck that was manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company for the North American market. The first mid-sized pickup truck produced by Ford, the Sport Trac was marketed from the 2001 to the 2010 model years. Sized between the Ranger and the F-150, the Sport Trac largely competed against crew-cab variants of the midsize Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda B series</span> Series of pickup trucks made by Mazda

The Mazda B series is a series of pickup trucks that was manufactured by Mazda. Produced across five generations from 1961 to 2006, the model line began life primarily as a commercial vehicle, slotted above a kei truck in size. Through its production, Mazda used engine displacement to determine model designations; a B1500 was fitted with a 1.5 L engine and a B2600, a 2.6 L engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Super Duty</span> Heavy-duty line of trucks manufactured by Ford

The Ford Super Duty is a series of heavy-duty pickup trucks produced by the Ford Motor Company since the 1999 model year. Slotted above the consumer-oriented Ford F-150, the Super Duty trucks are an expansion of the Ford F-Series range, from F-250 to the F-600. The F-250 through F-450 are offered as pickup trucks, while the F-350 through F-600 are offered as chassis cabs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (medium-duty truck)</span> Medium-duty line of trucks manufactured by Ford

The medium-duty version of the Ford F-Series is a range of commercial trucks manufactured by Ford since 1948. Derived from the smaller F-Series pickup trucks, the medium-duty range is currently in its eighth generation. Initially slotted between the F-Series pickup trucks and the "Big Job" conventionals, later generations were slotted below the L-Series "Louisville" trucks; the last two generations are the largest vehicles produced by Ford since its exit from the heavy-truck segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Task Force</span> American truck series

The Chevrolet Task Force is a light and medium-duty truck series by Chevrolet, their first major redesign since 1947. Its GMC counterpart was the Blue Chip series. It was billed as being more stylish compared to the earlier Advance Design Series while still maintaining its rugged durability. First available on March 25, 1955, these trucks were sold with various minor changes over the years until 1959, when the C/K Series trucks replaced the Task Force models for 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford L series</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford L-series is a range of commercial trucks that were assembled and marketed by Ford between 1970 and 1998. They are also known as Ford Louisville or, for the 1990s aerodynamic models, Ford Aeromax. The first dedicated Class 8 truck produced by the company, although Ford had been producing "Heavy Duty" trucks since 1948 and their "Super Duty" lineup since 1958. The L-Series was the successor of the F-900/F-1000 Super Duty and the Ford N-Series. The line encompassed a wide range of models in GVWR Classes 6 through 8, as either straight trucks or as semi-tractors, with vehicles developed for medium-duty, on-highway, severe-service, and vocational applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford B series</span> Motor vehicle platform

The Ford B series is a bus chassis that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. Produced across six generations from 1948 to 1998, the B series was a variant of the medium-duty Ford F series. As a cowled-chassis design, the B series was a bare chassis aft of the firewall, intended for bodywork from a second-stage manufacturer. While primarily used for school bus applications in the United States and Canada, the chassis was exported worldwide to manufacturers to construct bus bodies for various uses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet van</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Van or Chevy Van is a range of vans that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1964 to 1996 model years. Introduced as the successor for the rear-engine Corvair Corvan/Greenbrier, the model line also replaced the panel van configuration of the Chevrolet Suburban. The vehicle was sold both in passenger van and cargo van configurations as well as a cutaway van chassis that served as the basis for a variety of custom applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (third generation)</span> Third generation of the Ford F-Series pickup trucks

The third-generation of the Ford F-Series is a series of trucks that were produced by Ford from 1957 until 1960. Following its competitors at Dodge and General Motors, Ford widened the front bodywork to integrate the cab and front fenders together. Going a step further, the F-Series integrated the hood into the bodywork with a clamshell design; the feature would stay part of the F-Series for two decades. Although offered previously, the optional chrome grille was far more prominent than before. In the rear, two types of pickup boxes were offered, starting a new naming convention: the traditional separate-fender box was dubbed "Flareside", while "Styleside" boxes integrated the pickup bed, cab, and front fenders together. As before, Ford still offered a low-GVWR version of each model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (sixth generation)</span> Sixth generation of the Ford F-Series pickup trucks

The sixth generation of the Ford F-Series, also known as the "dentside Ford" to enthusiasts, is a line of pickup trucks and medium-duty commercial trucks that were produced by Ford Motor Company from the 1973 to 1979 model years. Produced by Ford in North America, Argentina, and Australia, this is the third and final generation of trucks derived from the 1965 Ford F-Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (seventh generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The seventh generation of the Ford F-Series is a range of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1980 to 1986 model years. The first complete redesign of the F-Series since the 1965 model year, the seventh generation received a completely new chassis and body, distinguished by flatter body panels and a squarer grille, earning the nickname "bullnose" from enthusiasts. This generation marked several firsts for the model line, including the introduction of the Ford Blue Oval grille emblem, the introduction of a diesel engine to the model line, and a dashboard with a full set of instruments (optional). Conversely, this generation marked the end of the long-running F-100, the Ranger trim, and sealed-beam headlamps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (eighth generation)</span> Eighth generation of the Ford F-Series trucks

The eighth generation of the Ford F-Series is a line of pickup trucks and light- to medium-duty commercial trucks produced by Ford from 1987 to 1991. While the 1980 cab and chassis was carried over to the new model, the 1987 model was more streamlined, and maintenance items were made simpler. The exterior was facelifted with new composite headlamps, a more aerodynamic front end, and circular fenders. Inside, the interior was given a complete redesign. Rear antilock brakes were now standard, the first pickup truck to boast this. For the first time, all models were produced with straight-sided Styleside beds; the Flareside bed was discontinued except for a small number of early 1987 models using leftover 1986 beds with new circular fenders. In October 1989, Ford premiered the ninth-generation taillights on the last year of the eighth generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (ninth generation)</span> Ninth generation of the Ford F-Series trucks

The ninth generation of the Ford F-Series is a lineup of trucks that were produced by Ford from the 1992 to 1998 model years. The final generation of the F-Series to include a complete range of trucks from a half-ton F-150 pickup truck to a medium-duty F-800 commercial truck, this is the third generation of the F-Series body and chassis introduced for 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford F-Series (thirteenth generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The thirteenth-generation Ford F-Series is a range of pickup trucks produced by Ford. Introduced for the 2015 model year, this generation of the F-Series is the first aluminum-intensive vehicle produced on a large scale by an American vehicle manufacturer. For the 2017 model year, the fourth-generation Super Duty line adopted the cab design of the F-150, consolidating the cab design for the first time on Ford light-duty trucks for the first time since the 1996 model year; the Super Duty trucks still retain separate bodywork and a heavier-duty frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet C/K (second generation)</span> American truck series

The second generation of the C/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors. Marketed by both the Chevrolet and GMC divisions from the 1967 to 1972 model years, this generation was given the "Action Line" moniker by General Motors. As with its predecessor, the second generation C/K included full-size pickup trucks, chassis cab trucks, and medium-duty commercial trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet C/K (third generation)</span> American truck series

The third generation of theC/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1973 to 1991 model years. Serving as the replacement for the "Action Line" C/K trucks, GM designated the generation under "Rounded Line" moniker. Again offered as a two-door pickup truck and chassis cab, the Rounded Line trucks marked the introduction of a four-door cab configuration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet C/K (fourth generation)</span> American truck series

The fourth generation of the C/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors. Marketed by the Chevrolet and GMC brands from the 1988 to the 2002 model years, this is the final generation of the C/K model line. In a branding change, GMC adopted the GMC Sierra nameplate for all its full-size pickup trucks, leaving the C/K nomenclature exclusive to Chevrolet.

References

Citations

  1. Bunn 1998, p. 13.
  2. "Ford F-1 bonus built: The first modern half-ton pickup truck". ClassicCars.com Journal. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  3. "1950 Ford F-1 Truck Review: Rolling the OG F-Series". MotorTrend. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  4. 1 2 "1948 F-1 Pickup". Quarto Knows Blog. 2015-07-10. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  5. Gunnell, John A. (1993). Standard Catalog of American Light-Duty Trucks. krause Publications. ISBN   0-87341-238-9.
  6. Mortensen, Jesse (2012-10-25). "1951 Ford F1 Marmon Herrington 4×4". Barn Finds. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  7. Shea, Terry (2020-09-15). "Before FX4, there was this Ford F-100 Marmon-Herrington". Hemmings. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  8. "The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection". Oldcarbrochures.org. Retrieved 2022-08-18.

Sources