2009 Ford F-150 goes back to its F-1 roots

Don't know if anyone else picked up on this F-150 pickup styling cue: Look at the grille. With those horizontal slab bars, I see 1948 Ford F-1 written all over it.

I like that. I've always been big on mining one's own heritage whenever possible, and that's just what Ford did here. Not only did they do that that, but they did a good job of it. The front is--as is the rest of the truck--very handsome indeed.

I also like some of the Super-Duty-inspired options; like the dash-integrated electronic trailer brake controller, and the tailgate step assist and the fold-up rear fender side step. I also like the absolutely flat rear cab floor on the Super Crew model. I like that stuff because they make sense, and make the truck easier to use as a "tool." For me, that far more important than the styling. The fact that it's easy on the eyes, is just frosting on the cake.

Now Ford needs to offer a Dodge Rambox-like rear fender storage compartment. I'd also like to see them offer, at least as on option (or as part of a premium trim package), a beefed up IRS adapted from its Expedition cousin. Then, in my eyes, it would be about perfect.

Anything I don't like about the new F-150? Yep--way too many trim levels being offered; seven, I believe. That's nuts! They need to cut that way back. In doing so, it'll save Ford a bunch of dollars, I'm sure.

Speaking of saving bucks--I think Ford should consider going back to using one cab body for all their full size trucks. That would mean having the Super-Duty trucks use the same cab/body as the F-150. It works for Dodge and GM (up to 3500 models); it can work for Ford too. Having two completely different full size pickups, that share very little in terms of body and interior components, has to be very VERY expensive.

Full story here.

Categories: Dodge,Ford,Trucks