From the best-selling Ford Model T to the more utilitarian Models A and B, Ford trucks have come a long way from their humble beginnings. And nothing sells more in America than a Ford F-series truck. In 2018, to put things into a better light, Ford announced that they sold an F-Series truck every 29.3 seconds. So the figures for 2018 sales are in, and they are astounding. 1.075 million Ford F-Series trucks were sold in the US, and the Ford F-150 is a big chunk of that sale.

Of course, nothing this bestselling is born overnight, and the F-Series debuted way earlier, soon after WWII. The models were not in their hundreds at the time, rather, they were titled F1 to F8. Of course, this was the ‘40s and the horsepower ranged 90-100, coming from either a V6 or a V8 engine.

The V6 and V8 engines are still there today, only in far more refined forms that give more horsepower on less fuel. The Ford trucks are still ruling the roost, with the Ford F-150 continuing to be America's darling. So here's what America's favorite truck looked like, from then to now.

1948: The F-Series Is Official, Generation 1

1948: The F-Series Is Official, Generation 1
via WhichCar

The F-Series was born in 1948 and was also known as the Ford Bonus Built. Gorgeous trucks, with rather visible noses, they are still in demand in the classic truck bazaar. If you see one on the road – all eyes are always on them.

1953: The Birth Of The Hundreds, Generations 2-5

1953: The Birth Of The Hundreds, Generations 2-5
via ClassicCars

1953 saw the nomenclature changed, and the F-100, as well as the F-250, were born. These were gorgeous trucks, with an iconic, rounded grill and a lot of utility. An automatic transmission came into play with bigger and savvier engines. By 1956, the V8 engines were jetting some 170+ horses.

Further enhancements in design and technology continued, and by 1966, Ford trucks had a Ranger trim, the most badass of them all. By 1971, the V8s were up to 220 horses and the advent of the extra-seating super cab came through (courtesy of Dodge’s initiative). But it took a good six generations of the Ford F-series before they finally birthed America’s darling, the Ford F-150.

1975: A Star Is Born In The Sixth Gen

1975: A Star Is Born In The Sixth Gen
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It was in 1975 that Ford discovered the superstar in its midst. The F-150 came out of two needs. One because the gap between the not-so-capable F-100 and the mighty F-250 was too big. And the second need came from the strict emission controls of the '70s. The F-150 was a successful enough bridge, so much so that one-third of all Ford truck sales in 1975 came from the Ford F-150.

Success Continued With The Seventh Gen Of 1980

Success Continued With The Seventh Gen Of 1980
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The advent of the seventh generation in 1980 broke the proverbial camel’s back, raising Ford trucks to bestseller level, mostly because of the improved suspension. Custom paint packages were also made available to promote sales in the lifestyle division so marketing campaigns with picnicking families were all over the place. In the meantime, F-100 died a gentle death in 1983 with sales dwindling because of inhouse competition.

RELATED: 15 Classic American Cars And Trucks That Collectors Don't Want Anymore

The Snazzier-Looking Eighth Gen, 1987

F-150 Nite Edition
via FordTruckEnthusiasts

In 1987, the Ford F-Series entered the eighth generation, marking the twelfth year of the Ford F-150. Fuel injection became a major technological buzz and aesthetically speaking, wraparound lights began to make a visual difference. There were plenty of performance and styling packages introduced all through to continue making the F-150 stand out from the crowd. One notable mention has to be the “Nite” package, an all-black F-150 that oozed menace, much like the memorable Dodge Midnite Express of the ‘70s.

The Performance-Oriented Ninth Gen Of 1992

The Performance-Oriented Ninth Gen Of 1992
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The ninth generation of the Ford F-Series came into being in 1992, and by now the Ford F-150, as well as the other F-Series, had already been bestsellers for a good decade. This was the ‘90s and there seemed to be a paradigm shift in the consumers' minds towards trucks and SUVs. It's almost like the 4x4s were the muscle cars of the ‘90s, whilst sedans languished in a corner. So the Ford F-150 geared up as well, and SVT, Ford’s Special Vehicle’s Team, came into play. The result was a 1993 SVT F-150 Lightning that could outrun a Mustang GT during longer runs. Of course, this was also the time of trucks like the GMC Syclone, so how could Ford not join the power truck race?

The non-track trucks kept getting visual upgrades as well, each better looking and better performing than its predecessor.

The F-150’s Curvy 10th Gen of 1997

The F-150’s Curvy 10th Gen of 1997
via Wikipedia

Barely five years later, Ford’s tenth generation debuted in 1997. This was also the time to celebrate the fiftieth year of the F-Series nameplate and there was a retro-modern styling introduced in the F-150. The chrome was offed and instead, the F-150 got curvy without losing any of that brooding menace about it. Also, this was the time when Ford decided to split the F-Series into two lines. The F-150 was now marketed as a personal lifestyle vehicle, while the F-250 and others became certified workhorses. The appearance of the F-150 began to change and turned more into an AUV – an adventure utility vehicle. The SVT Lightning also came back in 1999.

The 2004 11th Gen

The 2004 11th Gen, And Recession
via EasyAutoSales

By 2004, that is the eleventh generation, the Ford F-150 now rode on a brand new platform. Suspension and shocks became more tuned for a smoother ride, and other technological advancements were added to make it a safer ride for families. Sport and off-road packages were also added in, but the recession made sales a little tougher than before. And yet, the F-150 still held on to its bestselling title.

RELATED: 15 Of The Sickest Pickups Found In Junkyards

The Aggressive 12th Gen of 2009

The Aggressive 12th Gen of 2009
via CarandDriver

Suddenly, the Ford F-150 became brawnier, with the twelfth generation arriving in 2009. Chrome was back on the grille in a big way, and the curvy shape has been squared off to make everything bigger, bolder and brawnier. The EcoBoost engine made for a better fuel economy and with it, the Ford F-150 was no longer a drain on the limited resources of the Earth as well as your wallet.

The 13th Gen Surprise Package of 2015

The 13th Gen Surprise Package of 2015
via GreenCarReports

When you have a bestselling truck for decades, should you bring about a major change? According to Ford, abso-duh-lutely! And so, the 2015 Ford F-150 debuted with a major body change – other than the steel firewall, every other inch of its body panels was replaced by aluminum. The result was a 750-pound loss in weight without a change in looks. With better engines and adaptive cruise control, the Ford F-150 made a seamless transition into a truck of the future.

What The Future Holds: 2021

What The Future Holds: 2021
via InsideEVs

A 2019 announcement of a Ford F-150 E-Pickup, an all-electric version of the F-150 has created a buzz, no pun intended. Tests of the prototypes are in progress, and we can only hope and see if the promised 2021 arrival holds up. Till then, we have to make do with Tesla ...or a non-electric F-150, based on what our priorities and budgets look like.

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