DEARBORN (WKZO-AM/FM) — Ford celebrated the 100th anniversary of one of its biggest money-makers Thursday.
Ford historian Bob Kreipke says trucks have always been around, but trucks at the start of the 20th century were essentially lengthened and strengthened cars. Ford actually sold a car-to-tractor conversion kit for about $60, and several companies made good money lengthening and strengthening cars into trucks.
“In 1917, we decided we’d build a one-ton truck in the factory, then people could put their own box on it later,” Kreipke said.
And that spawned one of the company’s largest business segments.
“The F-Series keeps us floating, we make a lot of money off that,” Kreipke said. “It has been the best-selling vehicle for 35 straight years.”
Just over 35 million full-size pickups have been sold in the U.S. this century.
