Ford F-Series (third generation)

Third-generation Ford F-Series
Third-generation Ford F-Series
	1959 Ford F100
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Also called	Mercury M-Series
Production	1957–1960; 1962–1971 (Brazil)
Assembly	North America Chester, Pennsylvania (Chester Assembly); Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Assembly); Claycomo, Missouri (Kansas City Assembly); Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn Assembly Plant); Edison, New Jersey (Edison Assembly); Hapeville, Georgia (Atlanta Assembly); Hazelwood, Missouri (St. Louis Assembly); Highland Park, Michigan (Highland Park Plant; ended 1957); Long Beach, California (Long Beach Assembly; closed 1959); Lorain, Ohio (Lorain Assembly; started 1958); Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville Assembly Plant); heavy-duty models; Milpitas, California) (San Jose Assembly; Norfolk, Virginia (Norfolk Assembly); St. Paul, Minnesota (Twin Cities Assembly); Wayne, Michigan (Michigan Truck Plant); South America La Boca, Argentina (Ford Argentina); São Paulo, Brazil (Ford Brazil);
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size pickup truck
Body style	2-door pickup; 2-door panel van;
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	223 CID (3.7 L) Mileage Maker I6; 272 CID (4.5 L) Y-block V8; 292 CID (4.8 L) Y-block V8
Transmission	3-speed manual; 4-speed manual; 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	110 in (2,794 mm) (F-100 6.5' bed) ; 118 in (2,997 mm) (F-100/250 8' bed) ; 130 in (3,302 mm) (F-350 9' bed)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford F-Series (second generation) (1953–1956)
Successor	Ford F-Series (fourth generation) (1961–1966); Ford E-Series (panel van)

The third-generation of the Ford F-Series is a series of trucks that were produced by Ford 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;^[1] 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 in Highland Park, Michigan. 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. Third generation trucks were built in Brazil as the F-100, F-350, and F-600 from 1962 until 1971, featuring the 272 and 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, Ford was the first of the "big three" U.S. manufacturers to manufacture four-wheel drive trucks on its own.

Models: