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The pickup truck was first created over a century ago. When the pickup truck was first introduced to the world, it was an instant hit. The unique concept of having an automobile that could also be versatile and allow you to work more efficiently was an appealing idea. Since its conception, the pickup truck has gone through many changes to help better fit the driver’s needs. While there are several different pickup trucks on the market today to choose from, the Ford F-150 continues to be one of the most popular trucks on the market.

No matter what features other truck manufacturers decide to put onto trucks, nobody can seem to make a truck more popular than the F-150. So, what is it about the Ford F-150 that truck enthusiasts all over the country love so much?

Two people showing off a Ford F-150 at an auto show.
A Ford F-150 on display at an auto show | Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images

When did the F-Series first come out?

One of the first pickup trucks to ever hit the market in America was made by Chevrolet in 1918. However, it was less of a truck and more of a DIY project. Back then, Chevy had a truck frame but only included the body of the cab. If drivers wanted to haul anything in the back of their “truck,” they had to make their own bed and bolt it to the body of the vehicle.

Then, in 1925, Ford converted its wildly popular Model-T into a pickup truck and named it the Model T Runabout. When the Model T Runabout first hit the market, it was an instant hit.

A few years later, Ford came out with the iconic Model-A truck and a few other automobile manufacturers also started to come out with own pickup trucks in order to compete with Ford.

For over a decade, Ford continued to come up with innovative ways to help ensure that its trucks stayed ahead of the competition. Then, in 1948, Ford released the first F-series line. These trucks became an overnight sensation due to the fact that they were exceptionally durable and could haul heavy loads.

In 1953, the second generation of F-series pickup trucks was released. The second-generation features a new look and a new name. Before, the trucks were named the F-1, F-2, F-3 and so on.

With the second generation, Ford decided to rename the F-1 to the F-150. The F-2 became the F-250, and the F-4 would now be called the F-350. As you may know, these are the names that Ford still uses to describe its different models in the F-series lineup.

Is the Ford F-150 the best-selling truck in America?

Because of its versatility and innovative design, the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck for over 40 years. Not only has the F-150 been America’s favorite truck for almost half a century, but it has also been America’s favorite vehicle. For the last 37 years, the F-150 has outsold every other vehicle on the market.

It doesn’t look like the F-150 is going to lose its popularity any time soon. According to Torque News, last year, there was a Ford F-series sold around the world every 29.3 seconds and 1.075 million of those sales were for the F-150.

Why is the Ford F-150 so popular?

There are several reasons why the Ford F-150 is favored above any other truck. Not only does it utilize all of the latest technology to give its drivers the best safety and convenience features, but is also uses innovative construction to ensure that its trucks are the most efficient truck on the market. The F-150 features a high-steel aluminum frame that is not only durable but is lightweight enough to make the truck more fuel-efficient.

The Chevy Silverado is in a fight to become more popular than the Ford F-150. So far, the Silverado is in second place for the best-selling truck in America. While the Silverado did sell 585,581 trucks last year in the United States alone, it wasn’t quite enough to beat out the F-150’s unbelievable 909,330 units that were sold in America. Not to mention, Chevy was recently passed by Ram for the second spot.