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First generation
1949 Ford F-3
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Also called	Ford Bonus-Built
Production	November 27, 1947–1952
Model years	1948–1952
Assembly	Chester, Pennsylvania, USA Dearborn, Michigan, USA Edison, New Jersey, USA Long Beach, California, USA Norfolk , Virginia St. Paul, Minnesota St. Louis, Missouri, USA Hapeville, Georgia, USA Highland Park, Michigan, USA
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size pickup truck
Body style	2-door pickup 4-door panel truck
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related	1946 Mercury M-Series
Powertrain
Engine	226 cu in (3.7 L) I6 239 cu in (3.9 L) Flathead V8 254 cu in (4.2 L) I6 337 cu in (5.5 L) Flathead V8 215 cu in (3.5 L) I6 279 cu in (4.6 L) Y-block V8 317 cu in (5.2 L) Y-block V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 5-speed manual
Chronology
Predecessor	1942-1947 Ford pickup
Successor	Ford F-Series second generation (1953–1956)

The first-generation of the Ford F-Series is a series of trucks that was produced by Ford in North America from 1947 to 1952. While trailing the Chevrolet Advance Design trucks by a year, the introduction of the F-Series marked the divergence of Ford car and truck design, developing a chassis intended specifically for truck use.

Across North America, Ford assembled F-Series trucks at sixteen different facilities during its production. In Canada, Lincoln-Mercury sold the F-Series under the Mercury M-Series nameplate to expand coverage in rural areas. The first generation of the F-Series is the sole generation produced entirely with "Flathead" engines (inline-6 and V8) and without an automatic transmission option.

Design

The first-generation F-Series truck (known as the Ford Bonus-Built) was introduced in late 1947 (going on sale January 16, 1948), replacing Ford trucks introduced in 1941. It had a flat, one-piece windshield and integrated headlamps. It had a wider cab. Options included the "See-Clear" windshield washer (operated by foot plunger), passenger-side windshield wiper & sun visor, and Passenger-side taillight. The F-1 truck was also available with additional stainless steel trim and two horns as an option. All F-series were available with optional "Marmon-Herrington All Wheel Drive" until 1959.

Design of the F-Series truck changed tremendously from 1950 to 1954. From 1948 to 1950, the grill was a series of horizontal bars and the headlights were set into the fenders. For 1951 and 1952, the headlights were connected by a wide aerodynamic cross piece with three similarly aerodynamic supports. The rear window was wider in these later trucks and the dashboard was redesigned. This new cab was called the "Five-Star Cab".

Models

The first-generation F-Series was marketed in eight different chassis (based on their GVWR), giving them their model names; the F-1 was the lightest-capacity version with the F-8 as the highest. F-1 through F-3 pickup trucks were offered (forming the basis for panel trucks) and the bare F-3 chassis served as the basis for a parcel delivery truck. The heavier-duty F-4 chassis was produced as a light-duty commercial truck. The F-5 and F-6 were produced as medium-duty trucks in three configurations, a conventional, a COE/cab-over (as the C-Series), and a school bus chassis (as the B-Series, no bodywork rear of the firewall). The F-7 and F-8 were heavy-duty commercial trucks, marketed under the "Big Job" brand name from 1951.

With the exception of bus chassis and parcel-delivery vehicles (which used bodywork produced by second-party manufacturers), Ford shared the same cab design on all F-Series trucks; C-Series trucks moved the cab upward and forward, requiring a higher hood.

The most common first-generation model was the F-1 with a 6 ½-foot bed, followed by the F-2 and F-3 Express models with an 8-foot (2.4 m) bed.

• F-1 pickup
• F-1 panel van
• F-2 (converted to flatbed)
• F-4 truck
• C-6 COE flatbed
• B-6 (bus chassis)
• F-6 stake truck
• F-7 Big Job fire truck

Variation by Year:

• 1948: Feature a wider, longer, and taller cabs. Model designations for trucks were badged as F-1s. Heater only, No Defroster. Running boards curved over the frame and under the cab.
• 1949: The most noticeable change on the 1949 trucks was the deletion of the red pinstripes on the silver painted grille bars. Wheels were painted to match body color, rather than the previous black wheels. Defroster added as an option. Running boards trimmed at the frame for ease of replacement. Passenger Taillight became standard as well as Reflectors on both sides.

• 1950: The standard three-speed shift was relocated from the floor to the steering column mid-year.
• 1951: For 1951, the grille was restyled with a large horizontal bar, moving the headlights further apart, painted either ivory or argent, with either painted or chrome headlight trim; the hood trim was also redesigned. If specified, a V-8 emblem appeared on the front fascia above the grille opening. The truck underwent several revisions, with the cab receiving a larger rear window and updated door panels; for pickup trucks, the tailgate was redesigned, along with the introduction of a hardwood floor.
• 1952: The builder's plate was attached to the rear of the driver-side door. While predating a VIN, the information identified the series, model year, assembly plant and production sequence.

Powertrain

Engines

Transmissions

All are manual.

• 3-speed light-duty, F-1 only
• 3-speed heavy-duty, F-1 through F-5
• 4-speed (spur gear), F-1 through F-6
• 4-speed Synchro-Silent, F-4 through F-6
• 5-speed overdrive, F-7 and F-8
• 5-speed direct drive, F-7 and F-8

References

Citations

1. Bunn 1998, p. 13.
2. ^ Gunnell, John A. (1993). Standard Catalog of American Light-Duty Trucks. krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-238-9.
3. http://oldcarbrochures.org/September%202019/1951%20Ford%20Trucks/slides/1951%20Ford%20Trucks-22.html

Sources

• Bunn, Don (1998). Classic Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks, 1948-1956 (Truck Color History). Truck Color History (1st ed.). Minneapolis: Motorbooks. p. 13. ISBN 978-0760304839.

v t e Ford F-Series production models and variants
Ford Motor Company
Ford F-Series generations	Pickup Trucks (1⁄4–1 ton) First generation (1948–1952) Second generation (1953–1956) Third generation (1957–1960) Fourth generation (1961–1966) Fifth generation (1967–1972) Sixth generation (1973–1979) Seventh generation (1980–1986) Eighth generation (1987–1991) Ninth generation (1992–1996) Tenth generation (1997–2003) Eleventh generation (2004–2008) Twelfth generation (2009–2014) Thirteenth generation (2015–2020) Fourteenth generation (2021–) Super Duty (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 tons) First generation (1999–2007) Second generation (2008–2010) Third generation (2011–2016) Fourth generation (2017–2022) Fifth generation (2023–) Medium-Duty Trucks (Class 5–7 Trucks) F-Series "Big Job" (1951–1953, 1954–1957) F-Series "Super Duty/Extra Heavy Duty" (1958–1962) F-Series Medium Duty (1967–1979) F-Series Medium Duty (1980–1998) F-Series Super Duty (F-450/F-550/F-4000; 1999–) F-Series Medium Duty (F-650/750; 2000–2015) F-Series Medium Duty (F-600/650/750; 2016-present)
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Category

• Ford F-Series
• Cars introduced in 1947
• 1950s cars