​​100-Plus Years of Ford Truck History​

Ford and trucks go together like a cheeseburger and French fries, or steak and potatoes. Whenever you think of Ford Motor Company, there is no doubt that you are either thinking of F-Series trucks or the Mustang, two of the most iconic vehicles ever created. And while “Built Ford Tough” is the modern slogan for Ford trucks, it has defined the vehicles for more than 100 years of helping the working man.  

The Debut of Something Good 

When Henry Ford debuted the Ford Model T in 1908, the world changed forever. And in 1917, after paying attention to the needs of people doing hard manual labor, Edsel and Henry Ford designed a larger vehicle that shared its engine and cab with the Model T, but had a longer wheelbase, a heavier-duty frame, a beefier rear axle, and up to 2,000 pounds of payload capacity. This vehicle was dubbed the Model TT and would see heavy action in World War I by American and British militaries as ambulances, cargo trucks, and the like.  

A Huge Seller in a Short Period of Time 

Between 1917 and 1927, Ford would sell nearly 1.5 million TT trucks, not including the 12,000 it donated to the war effort. In the early days the trucks ran $600, which is equivalent to $16,179 in today’s money. By 1926 the price had dropped to just $325, or $5,728 today.  

More Than a Tool 

While selling trucks was becoming big business, Ford saw the truck as more than just the working man’s vehicle. It was extremely rare that anyone had the kind of money to own two cars, which meant that your TT needed to be your every-duty vehicle, whether that be taking the kids to school or hauling supplies to a job. So in 1928, Ford brought out the Model AA truck that now had a whopping 3,300-pound payload capacity. “Customers could use them on the farm, yet take them to church on Sunday,” said Ford historian Bob Kreipke.  

Out With the Old 

The AA was followed by the BB in 1933, which was of course more capable than the truck it replaced. However, it was in 1935 that we started to see the truck that we know and love so much today. The 1935 Model 50 pickup was the first Ford truck to feature the legendary Ford flathead V8, an engine that was synonymous with Ford cars and now trucks. What made the Model 50 so unique was that the cab of the truck was no longer made of wood but instead out of steel. By the time America joined World War II in 1941, Ford had sold over four million trucks. Due to the war, production of new vehicles ceased. 

The Truck We Know Today 

After the war ended and Ford got back into producing trucks, it needed a whole new model that could keep the same pace as the Model 50 and convince Americans needed now that it was time for things to get back to normal. Enter the first-ever Ford F-Series truck in 1948. Over the period of decades, the buying public went from seeing the Ford F1, F2, F3, and F4 trucks to seeing more of what we know now with the F-100, F-250, and F-350. The much-loved flathead V8 was replaced by the overhead valve (OHV) V8 in 1954. The trucks continued to become more than just work vehicles, but automobiles that were comfortable and easy to drive.  

No Company Has a Truck Like Ford 

Fast forward to 2025 where the F-150, heavy-duty F-250 and F-350, and all the way up to the F-750 commercial trucks, don’t have anything standing in their way. Whether you need a gas-powered V6, V8, diesel, hybrid, or all-electric truck, nothing offers customers the levels of comfort, usability, and everyday drivability.  

A Single Vehicle Changed the World Forever 

There are no trucks out there that are quite like Ford F-Series pickups. They were some of the first to tackle the needs of the public that had to haul milk, eggs, fruit, ice, meat, and the like from farms to Americans’ grocery stores and front doorsteps. They were used to transport injured people to hospitals, and so much more. Ford trucks have been a mainstay of American life and culture since 1917, or the last 108 years. And amazingly, these days Ford sells around three-quarters of a million F-Series trucks each year. Here’s to another 100-plus years of innovation and giving Americans everything they need in a vehicle.  

Why Choose Dick Smith Ford of Columbia 

At Dick Smith Ford of Columbia, we value our customers and offer some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.