The third-generation of the

Ford F-Series The Ford F-Series is a series of light-duty trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford since the 1948 model year. Slotted above the Ford Ranger (Americas), Ford Ranger in the Ford truck model range, the F-Series is market ...

are trucks that were produced by

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

from 1957 until 1960. Following its competitors at Dodge and General Motors, Ford widened the front bodywork to integrate the cab and front fenders together. Going a step further, the F-Series integrated the hood into the bodywork with a clamshell design; the feature would stay part of the F-Series for two decades. Although offered previously, the optional chrome grille was far more prominent than before. In the rear, two types of pickup boxes were offered, starting a new naming convention: the traditional separate-fender box was dubbed "Flareside", while "Styleside" boxes integrated the pickup bed, cab, and front fenders together. As before, Ford still offered a low-GVWR version of each model. In May 1957, Ford discontinued building trucks at the

Highland Park Ford Plant The Highland Park Ford Plant is a former Ford Motor Company factory located at 91 Manchester Avenue (at Woodward Avenue) in Highland Park, Michigan. It was the second American production facility for the Model T automobile and the first facto ...

Highland Park, Michigan Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,977 at the 2020 census. Along with its neighbor of Hamtramck, Highland Park is an enclave city surrounded by the city of Detroit. History The area tha ...

. All light and medium trucks were transferred to 10 other plants in the USA. After 1969, heavy-duty trucks (above F-350) and some light duty trucks were transferred to Kentucky Truck Assembly in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

. Third generation trucks were built in

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

as the F-100, F-350, and F-600 from 1962 until 1971, featuring only the 292 cu.in. Y-Block V8. OHV sixes and V8s were the same ones as used in Ford cars of the era. This was the last generation of the panel van. Ford would not offer a full-size van again until the 1968 introduction of the second generation E-Series.

Yearly changes

1958

The grille was updated; the dual headlights are replaced by quad headlights (the only generation of the F-Series to use them).

1959

Ford introduced the option of the F-Series in four-wheel drive. Previously a conversion outsourced to

Marmon-Herrington The Marmon-Herrington Company, Inc. is an American manufacturer of axles and transfer cases for trucks and other vehicles. Earlier, the company built military vehicles and some tanks during World War II, and until the late 1950s or early 1960s wa ...

, Ford was the first of the "big three" U.S. manufacturers to manufacture four-wheel drive trucks on its own. Models: * F-100 (F10, F11, F14): 1/2

ton Ton is the name of any one of several units of measure. It has a long history and has acquired several meanings and uses. Mainly it describes units of weight. Confusion can arise because ''ton'' can mean * the long ton, which is 2,240 pounds ...

(4,000–5,000

GVWR Vehicle weight is a measurement of wheeled motor vehicles; either an actual measured weight of the vehicle under defined conditions or a gross weight rating for its weight carrying capacity. Curb or kerb weight Curb weight (U.S. English) or kerb ...

max) * F-100 (F18, F19)(4×4): 1/2 ton (4,000–5,600 GVWR max) * F-250 (F25, F26): 3/4 ton (4,900–7,400 GVWR max) * F-250 (F28, F29)(4×4): 3/4 ton (4,900–7,400 GVWR max) * F-350 (F35, F36): 1 ton (7,700–9,800 GVWR max) Engines:

Construction in Argentina

Third generation trucks were built in Argentina from 1959 to 1961 as the F-100 and F-600.

References

{{Early Ford trucks 3rd generation Pickup trucks Rear-wheel-drive vehicles All-wheel-drive vehicles Cars introduced in 1956 1960s cars 1970s cars Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States