1948-56 Ford Truck Vehicle History

1948

The 1948 trucks were redesigned, featuring wider, longer, and taller cabs. Model designations were changed as well; the 1/2 ton trucks were known as F-1s. Although the F3 is classiied as a 3/4 ton truck, actual payload is over one ton.

1949

The most noticeable change on the 1949 trucks was the deletion of the red pinstripes on the silver painted grille bars. Also, wheels were painted to match body color, rather than the previous black.

1950

A running change on the F-1s was the relocation of the standard three-speed shift lever to the steering column from the loor. No other changes were made.

1951

The 1951 trucks were restyled with a single bar type grille and a headlight at each end of the grille bar. The grille was painted argent (silver) to complement the chrome headlight bezels. During the model year, the grille was painted ivory and the headlight rings argent (silver). The hood got new side spears and a three slot embellishment at the front. The front bumper was redesigned. A V-8 emblem was used on the upper grille support on trucks that were so equipped. The pickup bed and tailgate were redesigned. The bed used a hardwood loor instead of the previous all metal loor. The rear window was larger. Door panels were added.

1952

Most of the exterior changes on the 1952 trucks were cosmetic. In the front, the Ford name was once again affixed to the upper grille support panel. The V-8 emblem was located in the center of the hood vent on models so equipped. On the sides of the hood, a round emblem indicating the model designation was added to the side spears. The front grille was painted white, as was the front trim work on the hood. In addition, the front fender braces were deleted.

1953

Because 1953 was Ford Motor Company's fiftieth anniversary, all trucks were equipped with a Fiftieth Anniversary horn button. Also new was the Ford truck crest, which was located on the front of the hood.

1954

Styling changes on the 1954s were mostly visible in the new "strut-mounted" grille design. In the engine compartment, the standard Cost Slipper six-cylinder engine was bored to 223ci. The big change, though, was the introduction of a new Power King V-8 engine, known as the Y-block.

1955

Visually, the 1955 models got a new V-type grille that was painted white; inside the V was a star emblem denoting a six-cylinder engine or a V-8. Wheels on the F-100s were painted Snowshoe White, and parking lamps and hoodside medallions were new. Two-tone paint was optional.

1956

Styling changes for 1956 amounted to a new, wraparound windshield and a different grille, and recessed headlights were new. The electrical system was upgraded from 6 volt to 12 volt. The F100 was given the option of either the 110" wheelbase Shortbed or the 118" wheelbase Longbed. The Longbed remained standard for the F250. Automatic-equipped trucks came with Ford-O-Matic script under the hood crest.