Ford F-Series (third generation)

Third-generation Ford F-Series
Third-generation Ford F-Series
	1960 Ford F100
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Also called	Mercury M-Series
Production	1957–1960; 1962–1971 (Brazil)
Assembly	United States Claycomo, Missouri (Kansas City Assembly); Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn Truck); Edison, New Jersey (Edison/Metuchen 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; 203 CID (3.3L) Perkins 4.203 4-cylinder Diesel (an option exclusive for the Argentinian-assembled F-100)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	110 in (2,794 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford F-Series second generation (1953–1956)
Successor	Ford F-Series fourth generation (1961–1966)

The third-generation Ford F-Series were trucks produced by Ford Motor Company from 1957 to 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. Heavy-duty trucks (above F-350) were transferred to Kentucky Truck Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky. Third generation trucks were built in Brazil as the F-100, F-350 & F-600 from 1962 to 1971.

OHV Six and V8s were the same ones used in Ford cars of the era.

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 manufacturer to manufacture four-wheel drive trucks on its own.

Models: