In the mid 1960s, both Ford Motor Company and the Dodge Brothers were toying with a shift from a traditional pickup truck style to a cab-forward design.
Dodge introduced the A100 and Ford’s answer was the 1964 Econoline pickup. This week’s vintage video features the television commercial for the 1964 Econoline pickup and while this design obviously didn’t stick, it is interesting how Ford compares this cutting edge (at the time) pickup design to a traditional half ton truck.
In talking up the fancy new 1964 Econoline pickup, Ford points out key advantages over the half ton trucks including a lower purchase price, fuel economy capabilities of 30 mpg, a curb weight that is over a thousand pounds less than an F100, more cargo space and a smaller overall size than a traditional full size truck.
Unfortunately for Ford (and Dodge), these cab-forward trucks didn’t do well and they were killed off so that the automakers could focus more closely on traditionally designed trucks. Just think – had the Econoline design proven to be superior, the F100/F150 could have ended up with this Class A design, but it didn’t thrive and Ford killed the program.
That decision did work out for Ford – with the F Series eventually becoming the bestselling vehicle in America…a title that the Ford truck has held for more than three decades.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
Unfortunately for Ford (and Dodge), these cab-forward trucks didn’t do well and they were killed off so that the automakers could focus more closely on traditionally designed trucks. Just think – had the Econoline design proven to be superior, the F100/F150 could have ended up with this Class A design, but it didn’t thrive and Ford killed the program.