If you listen to country music long enough, you’re sure to hear a lyric or two about a Ford. Whether the song mentions four-wheeling through the mud or sitting on the tailgate, there’s something undeniably American about Fords, especially Ford F-Series pickup trucks. And you don’t have to be a farmer or a fan of country music to love a Ford: with nearly a million F-Series trucks sold in 2017, it’s clear that they have universal appeal.
So, what’s all the fuss about Ford? Here are 7 facts about the F-Series that will help you learn a little more about the world’s favorite pick-up.
- They’re wildly popular. The Ford F-Series is the top-selling pickup series of all time. In fact, it’s hard to keep track of all the records the F-Series holds. It’s been the overall top-selling vehicle in America for an astounding 36 years, including 2017, when 896,764 Ford trucks were sold domestically. Environmentally conscious consumers don’t seem to mind this gas guzzler: sales of the F-Series were up more than nine percent in 2017 over the previous year.
- Their appeal is global. Ford trucks are undeniably American, but like much of American culture, their reach is now global. In fact, the F-Series is the top-selling pick-up globally, beating out the competition by about 30 percent in 2016. In fact, 35 million F-series trucks have been sold since their launch and they’re currently selling at a rate of about 1 every minute.
- They’ve got a long history. The F-Series was launched in 1948. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Ford and other American car manufacturers shut down civilian production so that they could become a “Arsenal of Democracy,” producing planes, tanks and other military vehicles. When civilian production fired back up in 1945, trucks were the first thing off Ford assembly lines.
- Those numbers mean something. If you’re at all familiar with the F-Series you probably know that the higher the number, the bigger the truck. Pickup trucks were initially given numbers to show the truck’s payload, or total carrying capacity. The three most common were half-ton (1,000 pounds), 3/4 ton (1,500 pounds) and 1-ton trucks (2,000 pounds). Initially Ford referred to the trucks as F-1, F-2, and F-3, and eventually that morphed into the numbers used today. Today, a higher number means a bigger truck, but it is not directly tied to a specific payload.
- They’re not afraid to get fancy. Initially the Ford F-series was meant to be a line of workhorses, but today pickup trucks are as much about luxury as they are about performance. Today, options like the Lariat finish include touches like leather seats and modern technology that you would expect to find in any luxury car.
- They’re ultra customizable. With so many Fords being sold, it’s not surprisingly to learn that the F-series has an option for everyone. Everything from the cab size to the bed length and drive-train can be specified, so you’re sure to get a truck that fits your needs and budget. In fact, if you want bare-bones you can even order your F-Series without electronic windows or a bed!
- They retain their value. Just because Ford is selling so many new F-Series trucks doesn’t mean that the used market is hurting. In fact, Ford F-Series trucks are known for retaining their value for resale. According to Kelley Blue Book, after 60 months you can expect to sell your F-Series for about half of what you paid, about 25 percent higher than your average vehicle.
