World's Best-Selling Vehicle Turns 50 Jan. 16 Marks Golden Anniversary of Ford F-Series Pickup
7 January 1998
World's Best-Selling Vehicle Turns 50 Jan. 16 Marks Golden Anniversary of Ford F-Series Pickup
DETROIT, Jan. 7 -- It is the No. 1-selling automotive
nameplate in the history of the world. In each of the past 16 years
(1981-1997), it has outsold every vehicle -_ car or truck -_ in North America,
and it has outsold every truck in the United States for 21 straight years
(1976-1997).
In 1997, it outsold 38 of the 43 automotive franchises doing business in
North America. It also outsold the two best-selling cars in America combined.
IT is the Ford F-Series line of trucks, which were introduced at
dealerships nationwide on January 16, 1948. To date, customers have bought or
leased more than 26 million F-Series trucks, and more than 8 million of them
are still on the road.
"One of every 10 vehicles built and sold by Ford since the company was
founded has been an F-Series truck," said Ross Roberts, Ford Motor Company
vice president and general manager, Ford Division.
To mark the anniversary, Ford plans to build a 50th anniversary Special
Edition F-Series -_ a limited edition 1998-model Lariat SuperCab with a gold
trim package -_ which goes on sale in April. Ford also will display a
1948-model F-1 pickup -_ along with the Special Edition model -_ at the 1998
North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The trucks will be
displayed until the show concludes January 19.
Each 1998 F-Series model features a colorful 50th anniversary logo
depicting a 1948 pickup along side a 1998 truck. The logo appears on the rear
window of the driver's side. The F-Series advertising campaign also
highlights the truck's heritage.
"We have millions of customers to thank for F-Series' success over the
past 50 years," Roberts said. "Last year alone, nearly 750,000 customers
drove home in a new F-Series truck. "Over the past 50 years, this truck has
made a major contribution to commerce, industry and recreation," Roberts
added. "Without a doubt, the explosive growth in the truck market over the
past few years has been one of the biggest stories in business. Even with the
popularity of minivans and SUVs with consumers, full-size pickups are
purchased by more customers than any other kind of truck."
While the market has evolved over the years from strictly work to work and
personal use, the promise F-Series makes to customers remains unchanged.
F-Series is still what it has always been -_ a tough, capable truck that
people trust and depend upon to get the job done."
Ford's F-Series assembly plants in Kansas City (Mo.); Louisville (Ky.);
Norfolk (Va.); Oakville (Ontario, Canada); Cuautitlan (Mexico); Monterrey
(Mexico); Sao Paolo (Brazil); and Valencia (Venezuela) are planning
celebrations to mark the truck's birthday.
F-Series also will be the honored marque at the 1998 Eyes of Classic
Design in June at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores,
Mich. Vintage F-Series trucks will be displayed and judged at the show.
Ford and its dealers also are marking the 50th year of support for the
Future Farmers of America (FFA) by donating more than $230,000 in college
scholarships to the National FFA Foundation. Participating Ford dealers will
award $1,000 scholarships to 226 high school students involved in FFA chapters
across the country. Ford Division, the world's best-selling automotive sales
division, also will award five $1,000 national scholarships.
Scale-model 1948 F-Series trucks and collectibles will go on sale through
catalogs and toy stores nationwide during the first half of 1998. Other 50th
anniversary merchandise, such as shirts, hats and jackets, also are available
for purchase at 1-800-288-0324.
An F-Series 50th anniversary website goes online January 16. Those
interested in learning more about the history of Ford trucks can access the
site at http://www.ford.com.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
