The 25 Best Ford F-Series Trucks

Since Ford introduced the F-Series back in 1948, these pickups have been leading the way when it comes to towing everything and anything. With the F-150 leading the way as best selling vehicle in America for decades, these trucks have been a favorite not only for personal do-it-yourselfers, but with major contractors, construction firms, famers, and any other company that would require big, bruising pickups. Brute isn't the only aspect of Ford, either. As the years have gone by, the F-Series has offered more and more attractive and luxurious vehicles to go along with the ever-improving performance. We took a step back, looked at each these trucks individually and figured out exactly which ones have been the most important, the most impressive, and the most segment-influencing. Check out or picks for the 25 Best Ford F-Series Trucks.

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Year: 1978

The Free Wheelin' package was all about external styling. Check the stripes. Legendary. Ford was pushing a youthful, colorful vibe in 1978, and the F-series of that year included full-length body side tape stripes with a rainbow look. Hard to dispute. Hard to beat.

Year: 1974

Ford introduced a new extended cab on all F-series trucks for the 1974 model year. You could either get a full-width rear seat or two facing jumper seats. Beyond, there were 16 different colors to choose from as well as a two-tone scheme.

Year: 1969

Ford knows exactly who the F-150 is purchased by: Professionals and people who want professional-quality gear. In '69, to court these buyers, Ford released three special editions, the Contractor Special, the Heavy Duty Special, and the Farm & Ranch Special. These weren't just lame trim packages or accessory kits either; they all had mechanical tweaks to make life easier for professionals who needed just a little more performance out of their trucks. Sure, we're cheating just a bit by lumping all three in one ranking, but the significance of the editions demands all receive your attention.

Year: 2005

Have you ever seen a Ford F-650? It's one of the few vehicles in the Transformers films that we'd actually believe could stand up and pull out hundreds of assault weapons in real life. It's just that brutal and imposing.

Year: 2004

It's rare that a V6 F-series stands out from the pack, but the 4.2L V6 that debuted in 2004 is widely regarded as the most reliable engine ever put into an American truck. Seeing as the heart and soul of a pick-up is rugged dependability, we had to include it on our list.

Year: 1954

In 1954 Ford introduced a new V8 engine in the F-series. It was a fantastic engine and it was the result of a (figurative) ton of research and development. This engine's technology has formed the basis for all of Ford's V8s since, so every time you see a Shelby Mustang or a F-250, give a little silent thanks to the '54.

Year: 2009

The Lincoln Mark LT was a capable and luxurious truck, but nobody really wanted it because of the badge and the douche-factor of driving a Lincoln pick-up. Ford realized this and re-branded it as the F-150 Platinum, which has been selling well ever since. Since it bears the blue oval, it doesn't look terribly ostentatious, so there's little to no douche-factor involved in owning one.

Year: 1978

The front end of the F-150 got a pretty new look in '78. The split grille was replaced with a single piece, the headlights on the XLT and "Lariat" trims were now rectangular instead of circular, and the turn signals were moved from above to below the headlight. The Lariat model was considered "luxury" with upgrades like chrome trim.

Year: 1948

Known initially as the Ford Bonus-Built, the F-series was introduced in 1948. There had been a pickup range prior, however it was car-based, and the F-series expanded weight ratings and also offered a tootle of five styles—pickup, panel truck, cab-over engine, conventional truck, and school bus chassis.

Year: 2013

As horsepower and torque are important for sports cars, towing capacity and braking ability are important for trucks. The updated F-250 is setting standards for both, all while raising eyebrows about how attractive it looks inside and out. A 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel is rated at 14,000 lbs.

Year: 1948

As we mentioned, 1948 was the first year the F-Series was introduced to the world. With that lineup came the Ford F-2, the first 3/4-ton pickup. It was built with an eight-foot bed and had a 5,700 GVWR max.

Year: 1959

In 1959, Ford began in-house production of 4x4 trucks. This makes the 1959 F-100, which is part of the third generation of F-series trucks, significant. Previous, four-wheel drive had been achieved through conversion by outside manufacturers like Napco. Fun additional fact: 1959 was also the year Ford sold its 50 millionth car.

Year: 2011

It took some serious balls to try to push a turbocharged V6 as an upgrade from a V8 on the American truck-buying public, but it's working. The rare combination of power, torque, and efficiency offered by the EcoBoost V6 has been drawing in buyers. Apparently there is a replacement for displacement.

Year: 2010

The F-150 SVT Raptor is already an awesome truck, but it does have limitations. The chassis isn't capable of surviving really big jumps, because of the need for crumple zones, for example. The Hennessey Velociraptor upgrades the the whole of the truck to just makes it more capable of off-road awesomeness. Depending on how much you're willing to spend, you can even bump the horsepower as high as 810.

Year: 2001

The King Ranch edition is one of one of the luxury trim packages (like the Harley-Davison) applied by Ford to the F-150. Essentially, these bad boys — which have been produced since 2001 — appeal to guys with an inner Cowboy. Yup, the F-150 is for everyone. Bikers, street racers, and wranglers alike. And for each, the perfect edition is available.

Year: 2009

You know Shelby for turbo-charged Mustangs. In 2009, the F-150 Super Snake Concept was unveiled, essentially a pickup version of the GT500 Super Snake. They offered the package to F-150 buyers wanting muscle car looks and power with towing capacity.

Year: 2007

Roush, a performance aftermarket firm founded in 1995 by hot rod enthusiast Jack Roush, gives the F-150 the power it deserves with a custom Supercharger kit. The idea is to turn it into a tire-shredding performance vehicle. Not approved for sale in California. We consider that part of the awesomeness.

Year: 2010

Sure, this isn't a special edition. It is simply an amazing truck in its own right. Designed to body rugged terrain, the Raptor is wholly responsible for renewing our faith in sporting vehicles and encouraging us to grow a pair and hit the trail hard and fast.

Year: 1998

This edition hit just 3,000 models in 1998, as a celebration of distinctly American traditions. Both the F-Series and Nascar turned 50 that year, making it a match made in heaven. NASCAR-based graphics, a mesh grille insert, and a 4.6-liter Triton V8 with 220 horsepower made the model particularly special.

Year: 2000

Since 2000 Ford has released Harley editions of the F-150. In 2002 the supercharged motor of the SVT Lightning was added. Since then, the edition has mostly been about trying Harley-Davidson's authentic styling to the truck, offering (for example) authentic biker-jacket materials in the trim in 2008.

Year: 2008

In 2008, Ford collaborated with classic wheel company Crager on a limited edition F-150. The wheels employed gave the truck a throwback appeal, back to the halcyon days of the 1960s and 1970s — great times for low-to-the-ground street trucks. The edition featured a serialized dash plate and unique body panels.

Year: 2008

This is a boulevard cruiser, a hot rod truck based on the F-150 FX2 Sport. Essentially, the vehicle is a show piece but also plays on the F-150s status as the "most accessory friendly pick up." Foose, known for his reality series OVERHAULIN' on Velocity, grew up around automotive design but this truck was the first with his name attached to roll off a production line. The 2008 Ford F150 Foose Edition was the most powerful ever produced at the time, boasting 450 horsepower and 5.4-liter Triton V-8 engine.

Year: 2007

When the F-150 Lightning was phased out in 2004, fans of the super-pickup were left wanting a replacement. Saleen answered in 2007. The firm's Irvine, CA factory created the S331 Supercharged based on the Ford F-150 SuperCab FX3. It was Saleen's first truck since 2001 and hit for $55,549. The S331 was more affordable, at $45,549.

Year: 1999

In 1999 we had been without an SVT Lightning for four years, and people were whining for one. Not wanting to disappoint any loyal fans, SVT released a new, 360hp Lightning that is just as beloved as the original today.

Year: 1993

The SVT Lightning was first released in 1993 to compete with the Chevy Sport. It is one of the quickest, best performing pickups ever. It is a polarizing vehicle, considered awesome by some and idiotic by others. We skew to the former. It is the truck that made us believe in the truck street racer again.