F-Series Celebrates 25th Anniversary as America's Best-Selling Truck

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 26 -- When it comes to silver anniversaries, people often think about weddings. But for Ford, a silver anniversary inspires thoughts of something else: trucks.

Ford F-Series is celebrating its 25th anniversary as America's best-selling truck, and its 20th anniversary as America's best-selling vehicle -- car or truck.

Although the final 2001 sales results will not be released until Jan. 3, the gap between Ford F-Series and the next best-selling vehicle is equivalent to three months of sales.

``This is an unprecedented milestone,'' said Jim O'Connor, Ford Division president. ``F-Series is the foundation of the Ford franchise. Celebrating its silver anniversary of sales leadership is a testament to our Built Ford Tough truck heritage.''

Through November, Ford dealers delivered 827,319 F-Series trucks to U.S. customers, an increase of 1.6 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Last year, Ford F-Series set an all-time calendar-year truck sales record of 876,716.

During the past 25 years, F-Series has received numerous product enhancements. In 1987, F-Series became the first truck with rear-wheel antilock brakes, and in 1994, driver's-side air bags were added. In 1996, Ford introduced a completely redesigned F-150 and F-250, and added a Super Cab option featuring a third door -- a first in full-size pickup history. Four years later, in 2000, the F-150 SuperCrew was added to the F-Series lineup -- another industry first -- featuring four full-size doors and a full rear passenger compartment, further addressing customer needs.

``No one could have predicted the success F-Series has achieved,'' said O'Connor. ``I don't think anyone had any idea what kind of impact this vehicle would have.''

Ford's best-selling F-Series lineup includes F-150, Harley-Davidson F-150, King Ranch F-150, F-150 SuperCrew, F-150 SVT Lightning, and F-Series Super Duty -- trucks that offer a broad array of configurations to meet customer needs. From the personal-use customer using F-Series for family transportation, to the commercial customer using an F-Series Super Duty on the construction site, F-Series has what it takes to get the job done.

Ford Division has been America's best-selling automotive brand for 15 years running, and is the best-selling individual brand of cars, pickups, sport utility vehicles, and vans.

In addition, Ford is home to the following best-selling nameplates:

* Mustang: America's best-selling small specialty car for 16 years

* Ranger: America's best-selling compact pickup 15 years

* F-Series: America's best-selling pickup for 25 years, best-selling vehicle for 20 years

* E-Series: America's best-selling full-size van for 23 years

* Explorer: America's best-selling SUV for 11 years

* Escape: America's best-selling small SUV in its first full year of sales

``These sales milestones speak for themselves. Ford is clearly the proven leader in developing and delivering the cars, trucks and SUVs customers are looking for,'' said O'Connor.