Ford F-150 History

Full-size pickup truck · 1975–present

America's best-selling vehicle for decades, the backbone of the F-Series line.

Photo: “1979 Ford F-150 Ranger in Dark Jade, Front Left, 06-17-2022.jpg” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

History

Introduced in 1975, the F-150 became the cornerstone of Ford's F-Series, the best-selling vehicle line in the United States for over four decades.

Innovations such as the aluminum body and the all-electric F-150 Lightning have kept the truck at the forefront of the segment.

Generations

Sixth-generation F-Series · 1973–1979 (F-150 from 1975)
1975–1979
The F-150 nameplate debuted for 1975 as a heavier-payload model slotted between the F-100 and F-250, within the 1973–1979 sixth-generation F-Series.
Seventh-generation F-Series · 1980–1986
1980–1986
An all-new, more aerodynamic body on a fresh platform; the F-150 became the volume F-Series model as the F-100 was phased out after 1983.
Eighth-generation F-Series · 1987–1991
1987–1991
A major refresh that brought rounded styling, flush headlamps, and standard fuel injection to the F-150.
Ninth-generation F-Series · 1992–1996
1992–1996
A restyled aerodynamic update of the eighth generation; the era that introduced the first SVT Lightning sport truck (1993).
Tenth-generation F-Series · 1997–2003
1997–2003
A clean-sheet redesign that split the light-duty F-150 onto its own platform with a rounded 'aero' body, while heavy-duty trucks later became the separate Super Duty.
Eleventh-generation F-Series · 2004–2008
2004–2008
A stronger fully-boxed frame and a more upscale cabin; the generation that introduced the Western-themed King Ranch as a marquee luxury trim across the lineup.
Twelfth-generation F-Series · 2009–2014
2009–2014
Introduced the high-speed desert-running SVT Raptor (2010) and, in 2011, the turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 as a mainstream towing engine.
Thirteenth-generation F-Series · 2015–2020
2015–2020
The landmark switch to a high-strength aluminum-alloy body, cutting up to about 700 lb; the Raptor returned for 2017 with a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6.
Fourteenth-generation F-Series · 2021–present
2021–present
Added the available PowerBoost full-hybrid powertrain and the all-electric F-150 Lightning (2022), plus the 700-hp supercharged Raptor R (2023).

Famous F-150 variants

The nameplates that define the F-150 — each with its own cross-year history, engines, production, and collectibility.

Browse by generation

Browse by body style

Related models

Collect the nameplate

Find a scale model of the Ford F-150

Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.

← All Ford models

Sixth-generation F-Series · 1973–1979 (F-150 from 1975)

Seventh-generation F-Series · 1980–1986

Eighth-generation F-Series · 1987–1991

Ninth-generation F-Series · 1992–1996

Tenth-generation F-Series · 1997–2003

Eleventh-generation F-Series · 2004–2008

Twelfth-generation F-Series · 2009–2014

Thirteenth-generation F-Series · 2015–2020

Fourteenth-generation F-Series · 2021–present