Canadians simply love the Ford F-150. Everyone has heard of it, everyone has seen it, and chances are good that you have one yourself. After all, it’s been the best-selling vehicle in the country for over half a century!
Each year, between 100,000 and 150,000 models are distributed across Canada. It was the natural choice to start our series of historical articles celebrating the past of the most popular cars on the market. And for the F-150, that past, as you’ll discover, is quite long!
From Model TT…
In fact, the first version of what could be called an F-Series is probably the Model TT, which was born in the late 1910s. It was simply a Model T, more robust and with a body that strongly resembles that of a pick-up truck! Thirty years later, in 1948, the first true F-series models were introduced, from the F-1 to the F-8.
Unfortunately, the F-150 was not the 150th vehicle in the series. Rather, during the 1950s, Ford decided to rename its vehicles F-100, F-250 and F-350. In 1975, the company decided to add a mid-size truck, the F-150. It was not until 1985, after the F-100 was withdrawn from the market, that the F-150 became the smallest truck in the lineup.
…to sales champion!
What propelled it to the top of the sales charts was certainly the turn the company gave to the model in the late 1990s. Ford decided that while the F-250 and F-350 models would remain work vehicles, the F-150 would become a personal truck suitable for everyday life.
The rest, as they say, is history! Despite a series of mechanical, cosmetic and technological updates over the past 25 years, it has remained true to its roots. It is probably this reliability and the confidence associated with the name that continues to increase its popularity. Soon, we may even see a 100% electric version, the F-150 Lightning, which promises to reduce the emissions caused by these trucks on our roads.
Tires to enjoy your ride
Of course, the F-150’s handling and road manners are partly due to its unique mechanics and design, but don’t forget the tires! Tire selection is almost as important as model selection when it comes to keeping you safe on the road. For your F-150, Blackcircles.ca has a wide selection of winter and all-season tires to choose from, such as Tiger Paw Touring or BF Goodrich Advantage. Better yet, use the model search tool on our website to find the perfect tires for your version and your budget!
