Model T Pick-Up, Crystal ball to the future

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Model T Pick-Up, Crystal ball to the future
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Killecut on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 07:37 pm:

From the Model T to the F-150: Ford is still doing it today!
I heard on Fox news this morning that Ford Motor Company sells an F-150 every forty-two seconds. The F series has been the best selling vehicle for thirty one years, and the best selling pick up for thirty six years. That is a long time, and a lot of trucks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 08:14 pm:

On the other hand, the Twin Cities assembly plant in St. Paul, where the Ford Ranger pickup was assembled, is being torn down even as we type.

Despite the pleas of preservationists to at least save the original 1925 showroom and incorporate it into the new "mixed use" development, it appears that won't be happening.

Last time I drove by, four weeks ago, the showroom was still standing....

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3193610.shtml

1


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 08:52 pm:

I'm on my third F-150. A '99, an '08, and a '13. My son has the '99. It has over 300K miles. Still going strong. BTW, the '99 replaced my '79 F-100 that I bought used in '86. It had nearly 200K on it when I traded it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 09:50 pm:

And here in Canada.



As I already mentioned, I just bought a new 2014 F150. I special ordered it and it was built at The Rouge in Dearborn. Definitely a Model T connection there. I didn't want one from the Kansas City Plant even though it would be the same. The truck shows high quality throughout and I'm totally happy with it. I think a lot of us tried those little jelly bean cars a few years ago to save money on gas and realized we were cheating ourselves. Trucks are gaining again because you can't buy a real car anymore. If you have never driven a new F150, you should give one a try. Even a base XL model is a really nice vehicle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Kuhnash Southeastern Ohio on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 08:29 am:

I have had 5 F series trucks. My '09 only has 30K miles on it dont drive it much.
The truck the '09 replaced had 260K miles on it, inline 6 cylinder and twin I beam front. Loved that truck, still see some young kid driving it around every once in awhile. My Super Duty is a '99 with 230K miles on it. Do regular maintenance and they will last.

greg


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Val Soupios on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 08:54 am:

My 1979 F150 Flareside was purchased by me new in September of '78 and just turned 22,500 miles. It has the 302 V8 and 4 speed overdrive transmission. I expect that it will be the one and only new truck that I ever own and plan on it being a part of my estate when I am gone. Great truck but these days I wish I had ordered it with power steering!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 09:36 am:

The problem is, Ford doesn't listen to their customers. I've never owned an automatic, but Ford made me buy one anyway. Imagine, a truck with an automatic. However, you can get one in a Mustang! I guess I'm old fashioned.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Iffrig on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 01:31 pm:

I have a F-250 with an automatic and have had others before. They run great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 04:43 pm:

Larry,

I had the same problem in '06 when I went shopping for a 1/2 ton - None of the "Big 3" offered a manual transmission unless it was on the wimpiest gas motor or the largest diesel. I wanted a mid sized V-8 and had to settle for an automatic. It works fine but just isn't right.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R.V. Anderson on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 09:10 pm:

I'm with both of you. Fortunately my '98 with manual tranny is still pickin' 'em up and layin' 'em down. Dunno what I'm going to do when it finally lays down and won't get up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Killecut on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 09:55 pm:

There may be some strange reasons why you're not able to order standard shift: In 2004, I ordered my F-250 new. What I wanted was a standard shift V-8. I was told by the dealer because of NYS law, which I think he told me at the time it had to do with pollution laws, that you could not order a standard shift V-8 from Ford Motor Company to be sold in NYS. The dealer gave me two options, he found one from a dealer in PA, and would be able to sell me that one or I could order the 250 with the V-10 and they could legally order that with the standard shift. I ended up ordering the 250 standard shift with the V-10, which has turned out to be an awesome truck. In hindsight I'm very glad I got the V-10 over the V-8. I also have had a line of Ford trucks that I have put high mileage on and done nothing but normal maintenance. Extremely satisfied with the brand. Must be a lot of other people are to, by the sales record.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. J. "Art" Bell on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - 10:05 pm:

Keep in mind that most of the Ford automatics had / have a feature that worked
well for those of us who used second gear on a manual transmission to start
up on slippery surfaces. Selecting second gear on most automatics still started you
out in low and shifted to second, where ‘second’ on the Ford was strictly second gear.
Many Ford owners never realized that !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Dysart - SoCal on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 01:33 am:

Of course, GM has been selling more light duty (1/2 and 3/4 ton) trucks each year for decades. But since their sales are split across two brands (Chevy and GMC) Ford gets to claim the "best selling" truck title. Ford also aggregates all models from 150s through 550s, including chassis cabs, as "F-series" for their promotional sales figures, unlike every other manufacturer that breaks out their HD models separately and don't include chassis cabs in their regular truck sales numbers.

Keep 'em cranking,
Eric
Proud owner of my 4th consecutive Suburban. The current one is a 3/4 ton 4wd 6.5L Turbo Diesel.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Killecut on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 06:51 am:

I've heard this excuse for years from the GM crowd. If there was any truth to this, you can bet that GM would have it front and center, so they could take the claim. As this has been a thorn in their side for years.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 07:16 am:

Gotta agree there Dan. They would simply say that "GM" trucks are the best sellers which they are clearly not. I studied all three makes before buying mine. I thought Fords were the best looking, most comfortable by far, nicest interior and showed more signs of toughness and quality. All the engine choices seemed top notch so you just pick the one you like. I have also found this truck to have the best shifting transmission, best steering and best braking of any of the nearly 60 vehicles I've owned in my time.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 10:51 am:

Let's see. 1968 F-100, 6 cyl, nice original 4 x 4 with low miles and new engine, restoration in progress, should be ready by spring. 1984 F-150 6 cyl, 4 x 4, my ranch truck, 95,000 miles, burns a little oil but other than that, good to go anywhere from -40 to +100. 1992 F-250, 460, 5 speed, 4 x 4 Super Duty, long box, indestructable. 2007 Dodge Big Horn 4 x 4, Quad cab, 111,000 miles. Hemi. What was I thinking???

I don't know what the stats are from all over and I don't know anything about the sales between GM and Ford, but the Ford F-150 is -- and has been for 40+ years -- the number one selling VEHICLE in Montana. Most now are 4 x 4 quad cabs.

Number one selling CAR in Montana is Subaru Outback, being overtaken this year by the new Subaru Forrester. Can't find one on a dealer lot to buy. Dealers are pretty well sold out of them this time of year. All wheel drive, 30+ real world MPG. $25,000 for a nice one.

I've been car shopping, drove a couple Ford Escapes, they want $35,000+++ for one with a V-6 and all wheel drive, the C Max is an embarrassment to Ford, making 25 miles to the gallon when the EPA is 47. I'd like to buy a Ford but I think there is going to be a new Forrester in the driveway before the end of the year.

Ford, like most other American manufacturers, lost their way pretty badly in the last 20 years and handed the business to their competitors on a silver platter. I'm 6'1, 275 and drive a little Pontiac Vibe because I could get in it and set up straight. I looked at a lot of Fords and Chevs before I bought this and it had more interior room than a full sized Ford. I think they must have little Chinese engineers design the interiors of the new cars in the US while the foreign designers look at how big a lot of Americans are and make cars to fit them. I can get in a Ford pickup with a Carhart coat or coveralls on and have room to drive and be comfortable. Try that with any car built in America and you will see why so many people buy pickups.

6 degrees here this morning, off to breakfast and in to my nice warm shop to work.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 07:47 pm:

Stan..keep your cold weather there, please!! We finally broke the 32 degree barrier in I don't know how long here in Ohio, so this time I gave "Ol Blue" a REAL bath! I rinse off the salt virtually every day I drive her on salt roads, which this year has been about every time I go out. Last year was great, only two times had salt to deal with! She's almost at 134K miles, barely uses a quart of oil between changes, a little less peppy (maybe I'm just too used to her) Oh yeh, she's a '97 F150 XLT 4x4. The dog loves to ride in it when she's not in the Model A. (She's not allowed in any of the T's)
These Ford trucks just don't die. (at least I hope)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 08:56 pm:

I forgot one. Old and senile when you forget you have another pickup. I also have a 76 IHC Scout, a 68 IHC one ton, a 75 IHC 4 x 4 and a couple others. Too much stuff.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 10:52 am:

Stan...that's quite a Ranger you have there. I bought one I think the first year they came out. Ordered it "custom"...loaded, 4x4, two tone red/white...super cool. Came in with everything BUT the 4x4 option! Boy was the manager pissed. I think the ordering salesman even got fired over it. He shouldn't have, unless indeed HE forgot to put down the 4x4 option. Waited 8 weeks for it! Well, two weeks later, here comes my "second" new Ranger, from Kentucky. Hard to believe so quick. Well, it turned out to be a huge huge lemon. Only kept it 2 years, the transfer case busting open one winter day was the final straw. Drove 20 miles to work in 4WD with no fluid whatsoever, as it apparently busted in my driveway, wife called to say there was some funny metal and a stream of red stuff going out into the street and beyond. Loved the truck, just too much trouble, so back to the 150's I went. And that's my story!


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