The second generation of the
Ford F-Series is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford from the 1953 to 1956 model years. In line with the previous generation, the F-Series encompassed a wide range of vehicles, ranging from light-duty pickup trucks to heavy-duty commercial vehicles. In place of the previous "Bonus-Built" series, Ford now marketed its truck range as the "Triple Economy" series.
To further emphasize the model update, Ford changed the F-Series model nomenclature from a single number to three numbers; subsequently, this system has remained in use on all Ford F-Series trucks to the present day.
Alongside the naming change, this generation marked several firsts for the F-Series, including an adjustable seat (wide enough for 3 people), power brakes,
and the introduction of the
Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission as an option. In line with Ford cars, seat belts were introduced as an option for 1956.
The second-generation F-Series was produced by Ford at eleven facilities across the United States;
Ford Canada marketed the model line under both the F-Series and the
Mercury M-Series nameplates.
Ford of Brazil
Ford Brasil is the Brazilian subsidiary of American automaker Ford Motor Company, founded on April 24, 1919. The operation started out importing the Ford Model T cars and the Ford Model TT trucks in kit form from the United States for assembly ...
inaugurated local production with the model line, producing it from 1957 to 1962.
Model overview
1956 update
The 1956 F-100 is a one-year only body style. The 1956 F-100 is easily identified as it has vertical windshield pillars and a wrap around windshield as opposed to the sloped pillars and angled windshield of the 1953-55. The 1956 model also offered a larger wraparound back window as an option.
Powertrain details
The 1954 F-100 was the last year for the
flathead engine in the US. Models in
Canada, however, (
Mercury M-Series), retained the flathead. 1954-55 saw the introduction of the new 239 CID
overhead valve Y-block
The Y-Block was a building in Oslo, Norway, extant from 1970 to 2020. The building, designed in a Brutalist style by Erling Viksjø, was part of the (Government Quarter) in the centre of the city. It featured two murals by Pablo Picasso. It w ...
V8, dubbed "Power King." The
six-cylinder engine's displacement was also increased from 215 to 223 CID and power steering was introduced as an option. In the succeeding years the 239 Y-block was replaced with the 256, 272 and 312.
Models
As part of the model change from the first generation, the model nomenclature for the F-Series was changed from a single number denoting each model series to a three-digit model number. As of current production, this nomenclature remains in use today, under minor revisions (the F-150 replaced the F-100 entirely; many medium-duty trucks use the F-x50 designation).
Among the pickup truck lines, the -ton F-1 became the F-100, the F-2 and F-3 were consolidated into the -ton F-250, with the F-4 becoming the 1-ton F-350. For 1956, lower GVWR versions of the F-100 and the F-250 were introduced (under the F-110 and F-260 model codes).
The medium-duty F-5 (-ton) and F-6 (2-ton) became the F-500 and F-600, respectively. The heavy-duty F-7, F-8, and F-9 "Big Job" trucks became the F-700, F-750, F-800, and F-900 series.
Gallery
References
{{Ford vehicles
2nd generation
Pickup trucks
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States
Cars introduced in 1952
1960s cars
Vans
Panel trucks