REVIEW: Ford Tough Celebrates America’s Favorite Ride
Auto historian Patrick Foster covers a century of Blue Oval’s best with fascinating facts and photos in great new tome.
If you’re like us, you simply can’t get enough when it comes to Ford trucks. And despite the fact that many folks like to think they know it all when it comes to the Blue Oval, 100 years covers an awful lot of ground. So, to celebrate the centennial of America’s most iconic vehicle, automotive writer and historian Patrick Foster has put together an amazing book covering the entire story: Ford Tough: 100 Years of Ford Trucks.
The story, of course, starts way back in 1917, when Ford introduced to the world its very first one-ton commercial truck chassis. Little did anyone know at the time that the simple shift from commercial cars and delivery vans to trucks would prove to be such a harbinger of history.
And even before Ford sold them, dealers were offering small, aftermarket truck beds for the Model T passenger car. America clearly wanted trucks, and only eight years after the debut of the Model TT, Ford answered that call with its first factory-built pickup. The rest, as they say, is history. And it’s all covered in Foster’s outstanding book.
The 208-page hardback tome from Motorbooks is chock-full of fascinating facts surrounding Ford’s truck journey. And of course, Ford Tough: 100 Years of Ford Trucks features over 300 stellar photos of everything from the Model T to everyone’s favorite Ford truck, the Raptor. No stone is left unturned, including the Model A roadster pickup and the 81C. Even the Ranchero, Econoline, and Courier are covered.
So, whether or not you claim to know everything about Ford trucks, there’s certainly something to be learned in the pages of Ford Tough.
In the meantime, check out some of Ford Tough‘s fun facts and photos, below, and brush up on your Ford truck knowledge!
Recession-busting Badass: In 2009, the U.S. economy was just beginning to bounce back from a low point. Trucks like this sharp-looking F-150 were one reason why shoppers were returning to showrooms.
Ford Ranger Rides Again: The Ranger returned in 1987 with only minor improvements and essentially no appearance changes. The full line of Ford trucks was advertised as “an investment in value” because they offered more standard features and greater durability than the competition.
War Hero: The day after the ruthless bombing of Pearl Harbor, America declared war. As the nation began building up its might, Ford was asked to produce heavy-duty cargo trucks for the military.
One Cool Ride: The 1931 Model A closed-cab pickup is an ultra-rare Type 66-A Deluxe Pickup. A new model that year, it featured a bed design that was seamlessly integrated with the cab. However, only a reported 293 were produced, with most of them going to General Electric as part of a refrigerator promotion.
America’s Then Top Model: In July 1930, Ford began offering a line of factory-supplied dump trucks, like this 1930 Model AA with dual rear wheels for extra carrying capacity and strength. The 1.5-cubic-yard model was the least expensive dump truck in the lineup.
Transformer: One of the more popular “trucks” of 1919 wasn’t really even a truck; it was a converted Model T roadster with a short pickup bed. With steel doors and a soft top, this setup actually offered better weather protection than many larger trucks. However, you couldn’t haul much of a load. Still, they were very inexpensive and popular among farmers and small business owners.
Great War’s Warrior on Wheels: During 1917 Ford continued to produce the Model T passenger car and also offered chassis that were converted to truck-type vehicles. One that was vitally needed, due to the ongoing WWI, was this ambulance model. More than 5,700 of these ambulances were produced for the war effort.
Radical Roadster: This 1915 Model T is yet another roadster fitted with a slip-on pickup body. Made of steel construction with sturdy flare boards and a double-panel tailgate, it had a high-quality body.
