Although it ’s also all the rage these days , calculate back , fuel saving was the primary focal point for Ford trucks during the eighties – a fact confirm by styling changes , revised powertrains , and the developing of smaller truck offer .
Greeting the new X was a restyled Ford F - Series pickup with a more aerodynamic front end . cabriolet were a bit bigger , too , and four - wheel - drive versions induce autonomous front hiatus in the form of Ford ’s Twin Traction Beam apparatus .
desire to see how these design touch the feeling of the hand truck ? Continue to the next varlet to have a look at some of Ford ’s trucks from 1980 .
Looking for additional information on Ford trucks? Try one of these:
1980 Ford Trucks
Major Ford hand truck change for 1980 include revised styling on F - Series truck and Broncos , and the fact that 434 versions of Ford truck got independent front abatement . Late in the model year , medium- and heavy - tariff Ford trucks were offered with engines that ran on Liquid Propane ( LP ) gas .
Coors Beer commissioned a custom messenger that featured period - pop hood easy lay , spoilers , sunroof , and big - rig - mode chrome fumes stacks . The Flareside bed was especially made , as it was n’t offered on the messenger that year .
Broncos and F - Series pickup got a novel face for 1980 , and cartridge trucks continue to offer both Styleside and Flareside beds .
Bronco and F - Series four - wheel - driveway truck model adopted Twin - Traction Beam independent front temporary removal for 1980 . Rival GM 434s would n’t get independent front suspension until 1988 .
Ford redesigned its medium - responsibility motortruck for 1980 , give them a sleek , modernistic look that bore a kinship to their operose - duty siblings . Both gas and diesel engine were offered .
1981 ’s Ford motortruck choice included a number of custom-made - decor packages for light - duty pickups . Continue to the next varlet to check them out .
1981 Ford Trucks
In 1981 , all Ford truck lines carried over most unaltered , although Ford added the F-100 alternative with a " downsize " 255 - three-dimensional - in V-8 locomotive engine . small than even the stock 300 - cubic - inch six , this engine may have been more selling plug than fuel - economic system aid , but it showed Ford ’s commitment to increasing accelerator fuel consumption rate .
F - Series Ford trucks had long receive an one-year styling update – even if it only come to a slight change in the radiator grille – but that practice ceased with the 1981 mannequin , which were virtually superposable to 1980 ’s . By this metre , the Ford F - Series was on a roll as the better - sell motortruck in the nation , so there was footling inducement to mess with success . Besides , the 1980 - 81 was a good - search design , as evidenced by this two - tint F-150 Flareside .
Several custom decor packages were useable for sluttish - duty pickups in the early Eighties , one of which include the two - tone paint and white - painted wheels shown here .
Flareside beds , once view more useful than the tranquil - sided Styleside versions , were now weigh more fashionable . This Ford hand truck illustrates another example of the custom-made - decor packages available in 1981 .
This customized 1981 Ford truck features a blackout grille and aluminum wheels .
introduce for 1976 , the LTL-9000 remain Ford ’s top - line ponderous - duty truck in the early Eighties . It came standard with many custom touch – both inside and out – and was marked by squared - off grille and fenders that crest an extended - length front end .
The classic Ford inscription across Ford trucks ' hoods disappeared in 1982 . flick to the next page to see what replaced it .
1982 Ford Trucks
1982 was the final year in which Ford produced the Courier pickup . This class Ford introduced a gently restyled front end for F - Series getaway trucks and the Bronco .
An ´ 82 F - series differed in appearance from an ´ 81 courtesy of a Ford blue ellipse that was placed in the center of a grille with few perpendicular BAR . This remind the deletion of the Ford lettering that previously graced the leading edge of the strong-armer . In a further bow to fuel economy , the F-100 came stock with a unexampled 232 - cubic - inch V-6 for 1982 .
SuperCab Ford trucks had a longer cab that allow for a three - passenger back judiciary posterior or a brace of jump seats . The divided rear side windowpane first appeared in Ford trucks for 1980 .
Spoked wheels and tape banding continued to dress up F - Series trucks , with some raw design being extend for 1982 . During this meter , pickup arm were becoming more popular for veritable passenger use , largely supplant gamey - performance railroad car – long since regulated out of existence – as voguish transportation .
extend in the 1982 LN - Series was a Caterpillar 3208 V-8 Rudolf Diesel with 165 to 200 HP . The Cat provided a panoptic torque range that minimized shifting in city traffic .
Covering a alike 24,000- to 27,500 - lb GVW range were the heavy - rig - styled LN - Series medium - obligation Ford hand truck . From the front bumper to the back of the cab , they were about seven in shorter than their F - Series counterparts .
1983 signaled the last of the Mazda - work up Courier motortruck and the rise of the Ford - build Ranger compendious pick-me-up motortruck . keep to the next varlet to learn more .
1983 Ford Trucks
Ford evidence even more of a commitment to improved gasoline mileage in 1983 when the easy - selling Mazda - built Courier truck was replaced by the Ford - work up Ranger , which quickly became the most popular compact pick-me-up in the land . Higher GVW Ford F - Series medium - duty motortruck also were introduced in 1983 .
In an effort to reduce puff , a Ford pickup hand truck undergoes wind tunnel testing . Because many customer show increased stake in fuel saving , even trucks were pick off for maximum efficiency .
exchange the Mazda - work up Courier for 1983 was the Ford - built Ranger motortruck . introduce early in the 1982 calendar year , the Ranger was nearly the same size as the Courier and also offered six- and seven - foot bed . Unlike the Courier , however , it was usable not only with a regular four - piston chamber engine , but also with a V-6 or four - piston chamber diesel engine , and – later in the simulation year – with four - wheel drive .
Among F - Series pickups , only the F-350 was usable in a four - threshold , six - passenger gang - cab trunk style for 1983 . All 350s also follow with an eight - foot bed , meaning the hand truck project above stretch more than 237 column inch – just shy of 20 feet – bumper - to - bumper .
unexampled for the 1983 F - Series average - duty line was a trio of truck with GVW rating that adjoin them into the heavy - duty mountain chain . The FT-800 and FT-900 were tandem - axle vehicle with petrol engines ; the FT-8000 ( fancy above ) was a bicycle-built-for-two with a diesel engine locomotive .
The Bronco II was abide in 1984 , but a pop Ford truck example was discontinued . Learn more when you snap to the next Thomas Nelson Page .
1984 Ford Trucks
Further will to Ford ’s desire for improved fuel efficiency appear in 1984 when the Ranger - based Bronco II variation - utility vehicle was tot up to the lineup . Both the Ranger and Bronco II carried styling cue that linked them to their F - Series and Bronco big brothers , which was likely both helpful and intentional .
Another bit of noteworthy intelligence for 1984 came not in the conformation of a modification or gain , but of a loss . The Ford F-100 , a theoretical account name that had been around since 1953 , was give up ( as was the E-100 van ) , plausibly because its gross fomite exercising weight ( GVW ) fell below the threshold that would have allowed it to get by on the less - tight expelling standards that give to heavier - duty hand truck .
But this was more of a historical loss than a sales one , as the slightly burly F-150 , which had been preface in 1975 , absorbed those purchaser – as evidenced by the fact it would soon become the nation ’s well - sell full - size pickup , and presently after the best - selling fomite of any type .
Ford entered the compact - SUV stadium with the 1984 Bronco II . introduce early in the 1983 calendar year , it closely followed the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and GMC Jimmy to market in what was fundamentally a new section – and was tight followed by the Jeep Cherokee . All were designed in answer to the 1979 gas crisis , which is why these direct competitor die on sale at about the same clip .
Bronco II was based on the compact Ranger pickup , introduced the previous year . All simulation come up with four - bicycle thrust and a 2.8 - liter ( 171 - three-dimensional inch ) V-6 . Compared to its swelled Bronco pal , the Bronco II was shorter by 10 inches in wheelbase and 19 inches in overall length , and – most significantly – lite by more than 800 lb . A sporty XL parcel summate tri - color tape recording stripes and wheelwell " spats . "
After siring its SUV stable companion , Ranger was yield a relaxation for 1984 , and saw no important changes . remark the similarities between the Ranger and Bronco II , particularly from the hack forward .
This alternative looking at a 1984 XLS Ford Ranger reveals its law of similarity to the old model year .
The full - size of it Bronco rest in a estrus , as it once again did n’t see any meaning changes – and had n’t since 1980 . It continue its obliterable rearward roof surgical incision , which allowed the back bum and cargo surface area to be uncovered .
Because the Ford F-100 ’s GVW rating put it below the threshold that allow for lowering cartridge to get by with meeting " loose " hand truck emanation standards , the model was unceremoniously drop for 1984 – after 30 years on the market . With that , the F-150 became Ford ’s base full - sizing pickup motortruck . Options included Explorer particular - value packages that bring home the bacon legion uplevel features at a discount price .
Ford debut the fuel - inject motortruck engine in 1985 . discover out how on the next page .
1985 Ford Trucks
Fuel shot get for 1985 Ford truck , but only on selected engines : the 5.0 - liter ( 302 - three-dimensional - in ) V-8 in F - Series and Bronco , and the 2.3 - liter four in the Ford Ranger . More Ford hand truck engines adopted it over the next few eld , and all were fuel - inject by the remnant of the X .
fresh stock for the 1985 Ranger was a fuel - injected 2.3 - litre four - cylinder engine that was more powerful than the carburet version it replaced . A carburet 2.8 - liter V-6 remained optional , and fresh uncommitted was a four - swiftness reflex transmission .
Ford F - Series pickups put up an optional fuel - injected 5.0 - liter engine for 1985 , and F-350 crew taxi trucks got a dual - rearward - steering wheel option , but otherwise the line saw few change . Other gas engines in Ford hand truck remain carbureted .
away from a five - speed manual transmission exchange a four - speed as standard , and the newly useable four - speed automatic as an option , Bronco II saw few changes for 1985 . It could look quite ritzy when dressed up with optional decor package .
boastful - brother Bronco got some new attire - up packages for 1985 , along with the optional fuel - inject 5.0 - liter V-8 offered in the Ford F - Series pickups .
Now looking like something out of a trucking sentence warp , the attempt - and - lawful C - Series Tilt Cab , which date from 1957 , continued in Ford ’s lineup – mostly because it extend to be popular .
The Aerostar minivan and a raw medium - duty truck bring together Ford ’s roll in 1986 . Continue to the next page for more details .
1986 Ford Trucks
In reply to the surprisingly popular Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager minivan introduced by Chrysler Corporation in 1984 , Ford lend out the Aerostar for 1986 . Being built on a rear - wheel - drive Ford truck frame , the Aerostar was closelipped to a traditional van than the front - drive / unibody Chryslers , and that – along with its uncommitted V-6 – gave it a high towing capacity .
1986 also brought a new name to Ford ’s intermediate - duty truck card : the Cargo . strange in that it carried a name rather than a series assignment , it was advert to as a " scurvy lean cab , " although the cab was in fact rather marvelous .
Designed around European styling theme , the Cargo was intended to replace the boxy ´ L - vintage C - Series Tilt Cab – still in production – but the two were sold side - by - side through the end of the decade . Also Modern that class was a SuperCab version of the Ford Ranger pickup truck .
With the F-150 firmly ensconced as the well - selling vehicle in the U.S. , there was little rationality to alter it for 1986 – and Ford did n’t .
Newly bid on Ford ’s heavy - responsibility Cab - Over - Engine hand truck models for 1986 were aftercooler system that coaxed more world power and good fuel economic system out of their diesel engines . Available alternative now included a chrome front bumper and exterior - mounted sun visor ( both fitted to the CLT-9000 shown above ) , along with a Jacobs Engine Brake . A " Jake Brake , " as it was often call , used the engine ’s compression to help slow down the vehicle when coming to a stop .
Ranger offer a SuperCab consistency style for 1986 that added 17 inches to the back of the truck ’s cab . A couple of rear jump seats was optional . SuperCab trucks come only with a six - infantry bed , while even cabs also propose a seven - walker .
Newly usable on the base Ranger S was a 2.0 - l four , while other fashion model came with a 2.3 - liter four or new fuel - injected 2.9 - liter V-6 railway locomotive . Also offered that year – but rarely ordered – was a 2.3 - cubic decimeter turbodiesel . Four - rack - driveway ranger get a fresh " shift - on - the - fly " organisation in 1986 . The V-6 and diesel motor engine , along with the 4x4 system , were shared with the Ranger ’s Bronco II stable companion .
The long - awaited redesigns for Bronco and Ford ’s light - responsibility F - Series trucks make it in 1987 . Click to the next varlet to check them out .
1987 Ford Trucks
In 1987 , Ford ’s light - duty F - Series trucks and their full - size Bronco companions were treated to a long - awaited restyle , again getting more - aerodynamic front ends . They also got rear - roulette wheel anti - lock brake , as did the Bronco II . Also in 1987 , Henry Ford II , who had taken over and fundamentally " saved " Ford Motor Company in the 1940s and had bunk it until 1980 , died of pneumonia at the age of 70 .
In their first major update since 1980 , Ford ’s F - Series trucks got an flowing restyle for 1987 that feature rounded - off front corners and flush - mounted headlights . The trucks ' Interior Department were also redesigned . The radix 4.9 - liter six engine gain fuel injection – and a 25 percent increase in horsepower – and rearward - wheel anti - lock brakes were bring as standard equipment .
The 1987 Bronco got the same front - terminal and interior restyle as the Ford F - Series pickups , along with standard rearward - bicycle anti - lock brakes and a fuel - injected six - cylinder engine .
The Ford Ranger provide an off - road - season High Rider package in 1987 that included a seam - mounted sluttish legal profession and vasiform grille precaution .
exemplify Ford ’s 1987 medium - responsibility truck lineup are ( leave to right ) an L-8000 with set - back front axle , a Cargo , and a Ford F - Series .
Ford ’s Class-8 conventional truck was the LTL-9000 . For 1987 , it offered a revised cabin and dashboard , while a elan with added instrumentation was optional . Also new that year were improve Cummins and Caterpillar diesel engines with up to 400 horsepower .
gravid news for Ford in 1988 was the AeroMax hand truck . Find out more on the next page .
1988 Ford Trucks
A fresh line of Super Duty Ford F-350 truck was introduced for the 1988 model year . These hand truck fill a gap between the regular F-350s and the average - duty F-600s . Standard was a 7.5 - cubic decimeter V-8 locomotive , while a 7.3 - cubic decimeter diesel was optional . F - Series also pretermit its uncommitted Flareside seam , although it would return a few years later .
Bigger news for 1988 – literally – was the introduction of a sleek young Class-8 motortruck cry the AeroMax . Although the cabriolet was like to that used for Ford ’s L - Series Louisville motortruck , the front final stage was given an streamlined look and the Interior Department was spruced up .
Ford spend its stylish Flareside truck bed for 1988 , think of all pickup carried the Styleside bed shown on the F-150 pictured above . All engines now boasted fuel injectant , but otherwise , the F - Series was little - changed after its 1987 facelift .
F-350s were offer with GVW military rating of up to 14,500 lbs . for 1988 , made possible with the plus of available four - wheel disk brakes , heavy - responsibility axles , and 16 - in wheels . The optional Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel V-8 grew from 6.9 cubic decimetre to 7.3 .
The Ford Ranger was a virtual carryover for 1988 , although freshly useable for two - wheel - drive even cab was a GT package with sport suspension , front despoiler , and side skirts .
The L-7000 was a lighter - responsibility reading of the heavy - responsibility L - Series line of business that effectively fall into the medium - obligation section . Confusing , perhaps , but it made sense to a lot of buyer .
slip into the glare for 1988 was the AeroMax , which upped the ante in Class-8 aeromechanics . Featuring swept - back front fenders and a form - correspond front bumper – both made possible by the setback front axle – it made for a sleek update to what was essentially an L - Series truck . Wraparound headlights add together a modern look , while tank car skirts and an uncommitted " Aero bullet train " sleeper building block made the AeroMax more slippery to the confidential information .
Ford Rangers and Bronco II finally had their turning for a redesign in 1989 . Continue to the next varlet to chance out how Ford finished the decennium strong .
1989 Ford Trucks
For 1989 , Ford ’s Bronco II and Ranger were restyled for the first meter since their origination , set about – you guessed it – aerodynamically sleeker front ends . The Ford Ranger also added the received rearward - wheel anti - lock brakes the Bronco II had receive two years earlier . New for the Aerostar minivan was a " midi " version with a longer body .
After many stand - rap age on the styling front , Ranger in conclusion draw a silklike new front terminal for 1989 that mime the face of its Ford F - Series large brother . Department of the Interior were also new , as were the standard anti - lock rearward brake . A twin - plug head on the 2.3 - l four boosted horsepower by 10 to an even 100 . A 140 - hp 2.9 - cubic decimeter V-6 was also useable .
The 1989 Bronco II shared the Ford Ranger ’s restyled front end and inner , but little else was new .
Two - wheel - driveway versions of the 1989 F-150 wore " EFI " ( Electronic Fuel Injection ) badges below the left - side headlamp as show above . Expanded availableness of the four - stop number automatonlike transmission to heavy - duty two - wheel - crusade models was the only change of note to Ford F - Series getaway for 1989 .
Four - wheel drive version of the 1989 F-150 had a " 4x4 " badge below the left headlight , as shown above .
Ford ’s Bronco carried over virtually unchanged for 1989 . It offer a act of powertrain choice , including a 4.9 - l six , 5.0 V-8 , and 5.8 V-8 ( all fuel interpose ) , along with four- and five - speed manual transmissions , and three- or four - f number automatics .
As the decade wound to a close , Ford found itself in a rather enviable position . The F - Series was established as the Carry Amelia Moore Nation ’s best - trade fomite , the Ranger was the good - selling thick pickup , and the rest of the trucks – all the way up to the hard - duty Class 8 entrance – were potent competitors in their respective segment . All in all , Ford was in fine fettle to enter the Nineties .
