In 1948, Ford launched its F-Series pickups, and over the decades that followed, the F-Series has cemented its place as the Model T of trucking, outselling both the Volkswagen Beetle and the Model T. In 2007, the F-Series marked three consecutive decades as the best-selling truck in America.

The first generation of the F-Series, built from 1948 through 1952, served as a replacement for the prior car-based pickup line introduced prior to the start of World War II, in 1942. The F-Series was a versatile vehicle available in eight different weight ratings, with pickup, conventional truck, cab-over engine, and panel truck designs. A school bus chassis body style was also offered.

In 1951, the F-Series received a new front grille, a redesigned interior, and a larger rear window. In 1952, the hood trim was revised.

The F2 drivetrain included a 96 horsepower flathead V8 engine backed by a four-speed manual transmission.

by Dan Vaughan