An Expanded and Larger Econoline Series
But what it ended up being was the first of what would eventually become America’s most popular vehicle. A bigger, brawnier Ford Econoline family was launched for 1975. Mounted on a separate frame for the first time ever, new E-Series vehicles were available on longer wheelbases of 124 and 138 inches. The Ford E-100 was joined by the E-250, E-350, and an all-new E-150 version. If you have any concerns with regards to wherever and how to use My (30F) fiance (31M) wants me to sell my condo to put towards our first home. We talked about a pre-nup early on in our relationship which he was open to, now he’s unsure?, you can speak to us at our website. Gross vehicle weights rose across the board, too, which showed in new nomenclature.
The 1978 Ford CLT-9000 became Ford’s top linehauler. See truck photos and learn more in the next section. The aerodynamic aluminum CL cab could be ordered with air springs to smooth out road shocks. Ford ended the decade with a variety of trim and design options for its 1979 pickup trucks. Ford’s 1979 model year brought a new promotional campaign for trucks: the famous “Built Ford Tough” slogan. It would also mark the end of the Ranchero, whose sales had dropped off in recent years.
The F-Series pickup line changed little for 1975, with one exception: added was an F-150 model, which was intended to split the difference in payload capacity between the F-100 and F-250. Although hardly a major event at the time, the Ford F-150 would eventually take over from the F-100 as Ford’s base full-size pickup, and it would go on to become the best-selling vehicle in the United States. Bronco likewise received few changes for 1975, though front disc brakes were made available late in the model year. Ford caught on to the latest craze by introducing Cruising Vans for 1976. Learn more in the next section.
These heavy-duty Ford trucks replaced the short conventional N-Series, along with the bigger F-Series and related tandem-axle T-Series. The Louisville Line thus encompassed a wide range of models serving the medium-, heavy-, and extra-heavy-duty truck ranks, and would go on to become one of the most popular series of trucks Ford ever produced. Ranchero GT got Laser Stripe side decoration, while a new Squire model replaced that with a woodgrain appliqué. About the only other news for Ford in 1970 was a redesigned Ranchero, which adopted the look of Ford’s new midsize car line, which added a Torino derivative.
But a far more historically significant occurrence of 1979 was our nation’s second oil crisis, again triggered by events in the Middle East. In many ways it was worse than the first, with sharply higher gas prices being exacerbated by rationing in some areas. A 2.0-liter overhead-camshaft four was installed as the new base engine in the 1979 Ford Courier. So far-reaching were the effects of the oil crisis that it triggered a serious economic recession, and would profoundly influence the design of vehicles — including Ford’s — for many years to come. The 1979 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT with Free Wheeling decor. Rectangular headlights were extended to Ford F-Series Customs for 1979. This Ford F-100 Flareside shows the Free Wheeling stripe pattern. A two-wheel-drive 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT Super Cab shows its length. A 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger Lariat could get optional Combination Tu-Tone paint and bright box rails.
Although touched on only lightly in the 1977 F-Series pickup truck catalog, four-wheel-drive models (including the Bronco) were attracting enough interest to warrant a brochure of their own, which included this image. Learn more about 1978 Ford trucks on the next page. A Ford F-100 “Shorty Flareside” with four-wheel drive shows off the flashy graphics and abundant accessory choices that were aimed at younger buyers who wanted to personalize their trucks. The 117-inch-wheelbase Flareside featured a 61/2-foot cargo bed. Ford’s Bronco received a 1978 redesign and the W-Series was replaced with the CL-9000s. The Ford F-600, which was available with a crew cab, took over at the bottom of the revised medium-duty F-Series when the F-500 was dropped.
