Thirty-nine years ago, the F-150 revolutionized the car industry. It could hold a maximum payload of 2,275 pounds, fit neatly into Ford's already existing F-series line-up, and was heavier than the F-100, but lighter than the F-250.
It was exactly what everyone was looking for, and almost out-sold the F-100 and F-250 in its first year. The truck went on to take the title of best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for 17 years, until it was kicked off its pedestal in 2008 by a combination of practical, fuel-efficient subcompacts--the Honda Civic, for one.
Now, meet the 2015 Ford F-150. It's 700 pounds lighter than its predecessor--made of high-strength, military-grade, aircraft-worthy aluminum alloy. The truck's new, lighter weight represents Ford's effort to comply with changing emissions standards--something the original model had to comply with as well.
Since its debut, the vehicle has gone through a lot of changes--including a major aesthetic redesign fro m boxy and chiseled to smooth and sculpted in 1997. After losing its title in 2008, the company put a V6 EcoBoost engine under the hood in ‘10, and now they're mixing it up even more with an all-aluminum model.
Whether the new model stays "Ford Tough" remains to be seen, but if the 2015 model is a bust, we've got almost 40 years of F-150s to admire--especially one of our favorites: the original.
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