1940-1949 Ford Trucks

by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide
1948 Ford Trucks

In January 1948, a new era began at the Ford Motor Company with the release of an all-new line of trucks that Ford dubbed the "F-Series."

This new series, which Ford promoted as its "Bonus Built Line," covered a wide range of models with different cab and chassis combinations. The line started out with light-duty 1/2-ton-rated pickup trucks and ran all the way up to the Extra Heavy-Duty, three-ton-rated F-8. These trucks used a completely redesigned cab with all-new front-end sheetmetal. And in a departure from previous practice, the same cab served both conventional and Cab-Over-Engine models.

Along with the fresh styling given 1948 Ford trucks came new model designations; this 1/2-ton was labeled the F-1. Squared-off front fenders wrapped smoothly into the front fascia, which contained a prominent horizontal-bar grille. Rear fenders were styled to match the profile of the fronts. Also new was a one-piece windshield.

To clearly identify its expanding line of trucks, Ford put the series identification on the cowl, just ahead of the door; this F-1's ID can be seen just above the trailing edge of the front fender. Less well-publicized was the engine beneath the hood, which in lighter-duty models could be either the 226-cubic-inch six-cylinder with 95 horsepower, or a 239-cid flathead V-8 with 100 hp.

1948 Ford F-5 chassis

A 11/2-ton-rated F-5 chassis was fitted with a special body for this Coca-Cola distributor.

1940s Ford truck interior

Compared with today's trucks, those of the 1940s had a decidedly different seat/steering-wheel relationship, with the wheel being mounted closer to the driver in a more horizontal position. Note that dashboards on the new trucks were still rather plain.

Ford Stake Bed truck with conventional design

Stake Bed trucks were available in both conventional (top) and COE designs. The conventionals are 11/2-ton F-5s, the COEs two-ton F-6s. Both could be powered by a 95-horsepower 226-cubic-inch six or a 100-hp 239-cid V-8.

New for 1949 were stand-up Ford Parcel Delivery trucks. Read about Ford trucks in 1949 in the final section.

Want more information about Ford trucks? Try these: