Ford cars from the years 1920 to 1949 provided the base for the new culture of hot-rodding thanks to the heart of every build, a V8 engine. Whether it was the flatheads or overhead ‘cammers’, other manufacturers simply had to follow suit. American life just wasn’t the same without a V8.
In those days, Ford’s trucking division provided another beachhead on its way to global domination. Henry Ford got the credit for inventing the production line, but when he saw farmers cutting and fitting flat-decks to Model Ts, he also went back to the drawing board and invented his own half-and-half vehicle, coining the term ‘pickup’.
Stylish and built to work hard, Ford’s pickups were light trucks with car-like driveability. They not only hit the top-seller spots but, over the decades, some have also become memorable collectables.
‘BUILT FORD TOUGH’
Sharing styling and component cues from contemporary Ford sedan models in the 1930–’40s, their appeal spread beyond the farm sector to a whole new breed of fan who appreciated their ability as a multi-use or lifestyle vehicle for the active family.
Ford’s marketing slogan ‘Built Ford Tough’, first used in 1979, captured the appeal of the pickup in the marketplace. Their popularity has only grown over time – the Ford pickup has been the best-selling ‘car’ in the US for the past 35 years.
In those days, Ford’s trucking
