Remember 50 years of the F-150, the most popular pickup truck in the USA

In the 1970s, the automotive market was experiencing the impact of the economic recession, the fuel crisis and growing concern about the environment. To reduce emissions, the Ford began equipping its vehicles with catalytic converters and launched the F-150 as a half-ton pickup option, situated between the F-100 and F-250.

Compared to F-100, a F-150 It had more robust performance and a higher gross weight (2,744 kg x 2,495 kg), with a maximum load capacity just 4.5 kg less than that of the F-250. In other words, for an “intermediate”, it exceeded expectations, both in terms of load capacity and fuel options and emissions standards.

At the Detroit Auto Show, in January 1975, the F-150 appeared as a supporting role, mentioning only its ability to “combine the driving comfort of an F-100 with the load capacity of an F-250”.

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In the minutes of Ford’s product planning meetings, there is little information about the F-150 concept. A note records that “the F-150 and E-150 Series were approved by Mr. Henry Ford II on November 21, 1973.” The sales manuals, confidential to Ford salespeople, highlighted the expanded PBT range, the availability of the F-150 with a SuperCab extended body, and the fact that it accepts leaded or unleaded fuel.

But it didn’t take long for Ford to realize the success it had on its hands. Starting in 1977, the F Series became the best-selling pickup truck line in North America, a position it still holds today.

Among other differences, in addition to unparalleled robustness and performance, with a 5.0 V8 engine, the F-150 is the only one in the segment with a military-grade aluminum body and offers the most advanced driver assistance technologies. In addition to the Lariat, Lariat Black and Tremor versions in Brazil, the line in the USA includes, among other variants, the off-road Raptor and the electric Lightning, as well as V6 and hybrid engines.

No Brazil from 2023

Two years after Ram pioneered the luxury pickup truck market in Brazil with the 1500 Rebel, Ford decided to import the F-150 in 2023. Among the standard equipment, electric opening and closing of the bed, electric height and depth adjustment of the steering wheel, 12-inch digital panel, evasive maneuver assistant and towing assistant and eight driving modes stand out.

The 5.0 V8 engine with 405 hp and 56.7 kgfm of torque is borrowed from the Mustang, as is the 10-speed automatic transmission.

As for dimensions, the model is 5.88 meters long, 2.08 m wide and 3.69 m wheelbase, weighing 2,470 kg.

In the middle of the year, the pickup gained the Tremor version, an off-road configuration that features special suspension, All-Terrain tires, lower metal protectors, electronic rear differential lock and Torsen front differential with limited slip – in addition to Pro Power Onboard.

It is a generator with two 120 V and 20 A sockets to connect electrical devices, such as an air compressor, heater, TV, battery charger and tools, for example. Its simultaneous use capacity is up to 2,000 W.

The F-150 costs R$560,000 in the Lariat version and reaches R$580,000 in the Tremor.