Ford have been the most popular manufacturers of pickup trucks for decades, with their models providing near unmatched levels of versatility in terms of hauling, interior comfort, and driveability.
Given the hundreds of models produced by the company over past years, it's a challenge to choose some of the best ever, but the variants in this list provide excellent everyday functionality, and some even provide massive levels of power and speed. Below are some of the coolest Ford pickup trucks ever.
10 Ford Ranchero
Perhaps not the most immediately recognizable pickup ever, the Ranchero's charm lies in its uniqueness.
Ford's experimental period in the 50s paved the way for a number of odd creations, with one of those being the Ranchero. Designed to be a two door cab pickup, inspiration came from the Australian Ute, and it's this mix and match aesthetic, as well as the everyday usability that makes the Ranchero such a hidden gem and an n all-time classic.
9 Ford SVT Lightning
Despite the unassuming exterior, the Ford SVT Lightning is one of the fastest Ford pickups to ever be produced.
Unlike modern special edition or more powerful Ford pickups, the SVT Lightning was made to provide excellent on road performance, rather than off-road. We haven't seen anything like this since from Ford, and the supercharged 5.4-liter V8 under the good allowed for the 2003 SVT Lightning to reach a top speed of 147 mph, a world record for a production truck at the time.
8 50s Ford F-100
Some of the first generation Ford F Series pickups can be credited as starting one of the most beloved range of pickup trucks ever.
The F-100 in particular looks just as iconic now as it did back then, and came with either V6 or V8 engine options. Part of the F-100's success came from its development as a more customer friendly and comfortable pickup truck design, compared to earlier Ford pickup models. The updated design meant easier driving and a roomier cabin principally, the overall design changes made it one of the most versatile pickups ever, part of the reason it's so loved to this day.
7 40s Ford Half Ton
For many, the Ford Half Ton pickups from the 40s are the genesis of the modern day pickup truck.
The initial design borrowed heavily from the cars of the time, and this made the Half Ton the first pickup to adopt car styling since 1932. Using modern design and styling made the Half Ton incredibly popular and is perhaps why they are so often modified still today. Power options came in the form of two V8 engines with either 60 or 85 hp outputs.
6 Geiger Ford F-650 Super Duty
For size, pulling power and presence, few can measure up to the F-650 Super Duty. Considered by many to be the ultimate super truck, the F-650 boasts a length of over 21 feet and an overall weight of 5.2 tonnes.
The F-650 is powered by a 6.7-liter 320 hp V8, and although this doesn't provide the F-650 with considerable speed, it does offer plenty in the way of hauling cargo, which is of course it's main function. The 737.6 lb-ft of available torque is almost in a league of its own, making the F-650 the ultimate choice in this regard.
5 Ford F-150 Hennessey Velociraptor
If off-roading is more your style, the Hennessey Velociraptor provides more than enough in this area with a few extras.
Available in both regular F-150 and 6X6 configuration, as shown here, the Velociraptor certainly lives up to it's name with upgraded Fox suspension and improved 20-inch wheels with off-road tires, giving it massive presence. Naturally as a Hennessy vehicle, there's a lot more power on display too, with an available 750 hp engine option and improved cooling and air flow to handle the extra power.
4 2017 Ford Shelby F-150 Super Snake
Comparatively, if on road performance is more suitable to you, the F-150 Super Snake provides plenty of bite whilst keeping some pickup truck convenience.
Also, with a power rating of 750 hp, the Super Snake makes the most of Ford's 5.0-liter V8. Using expertise from past Mustang creations, the team at Shelby have used Ford performance parts and tweaked everything from the suspension to the body panels, and even the interior. The Super Snake may be the ultimate street truck, and it's even available in both AWD and RWD configuration.
3 Ford Roush F-150 Tactical Edition
The use of seemingly discreet tactical styling may be seemingly wasted on a truck as large as the F-150 from a practical standpoint, but its looks are beyond cool regardless of function.
As a collaboration between Ford, Roush, and 5.11 Tactical, the F-150 may be one of the most unique trucks ever made, given that 5.11 Tactical is an apparel brand. Roush have provided a dual tip active exhaust, custom-designed digital-camo and 5.11 Tactical graphics around the exterior, a Fox 2.0 off-road suspension system, and an improvement in interior quality. If a blacked-out look suited any vehicle, it would have to be the F-150, and the unique collab makes it that little bit more desirable.
2 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
For something that's a little more standard but no less cool, the F-150 Raptor has been the go to as a performance off-roader for years.
The formula is ever improving, and the 2021 edition Raptor has upgrades in terms of suspension. A new five-link coil-spring setup replaces the old leaf spring system, 37-inch off-road tires are available for improved rough terrain performance, and it has a more responsive transmission system. The interior has also seen a few quality-of-life updates with a better assortment of interior materials and an overall size increase, making the Raptor better than ever.
1 2005 Ford F-250
One of the most loved for pickup models of all time is the 2005 F-250. As for versatility, power, and reliability, few come close to the F-250, with many buyers still using them to this day due to the near new performance of this now 16-year-old pickup.
Renowned for its pulling power and near bulletproof engine, few people see any reason to upgrade to another truck, which is why the 2005 model specifically is regarded as one of the best in the model's history.
Sources: Money Inc, Auto Truck Review, Ford of West Memphis, Motor 1, Hennessy, Motor Authority, Roush Performance, Car and Driver, Cars