CleanMPG Previews the All-New 1948 Ford F1 Truck Lineup

First Post-World War II consumer products from the Ford Motor Company.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Jan. 16, 1948

1948 Ford F-1 – MSRP to be announced and fuel economy is unknown.

In a release from the Ford Motor Company, the all-new lineup of Ford trucks brings about improved driver comfort and efficiency and will be shown to the public for the very first time later today at Ford dealerships across the country.

Interior Highlights

Cabs for the new trucks have been redesigned to assure “living room comfort”. They provide seven inches greater width as well as increased headroom. The door opening has been moved forward three inches, providing greater clearance for entering and exiting the cab.

The doors extend well below the floor and are weather-sealed for protection against moisture, dust and drafts. Interior and exterior hardware is more rugged.

Seats and cushions give passenger car comfort to driver and helper.

The adjustable coach-type seat has individually wrapped coil springs and a rubberized hair pad. <-- What the hell is a rubberized hair pad? A headliner maybe? The cabs also have a large ash tray dispatch box and sun visor. Provision for radio installation includes a grille opening in the instrument panel.

The new cabs also provide for a new three-way air control system to assure high-volume, fresh-air ventilation.

Exterior

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The streamlined 1948 models are completely new from the wheels up.

The new trucks are attractively styled without losing ruggedness necessary for good performance and long life. Radiator grille and headlights are recessed in a functional pattern in the modern front end which contributes to massive appearance and gives added protection.

A one-piece windshield which is two inches higher gives drivers clearer vision forward. The rear window has been enlarged to increase visibility.

While the driver side windshield wiper is standard, a passenger side windshield wiper is available for an extra undisclosed cost.

Chassis, Ride, Handling and Brakes

Greater front end strength has been achieved through improved sheet-metal suspension and heavier construction. Fenders are heavier, wider and of a new design which provides greater tire clearance. Another design advancement is a heavy channel-steel front bumper attached directly to the extended frame rails. The bumper is, in effect, an extra cross member providing greater rigidity and impact strength.

In detail, the greater rigidity has been achieved in the frames by extending the side rails to which are attached the heavy channel steel front bumper. Frames on the F-7 and F-8 series are nine inches in depth with sturdy alligator jaw cross members.

Many other new engineering features have been included in the new trucks. Engineers increased the steering ratios on the 1948 trucks to provide easier handling.

The new Ford light trucks have direct action shock absorbers.

Wider axles permit shorter turning and ample chain clearance.

Two-ton and heavier models are equipped with vacuum power brakes. Another new feature of the new line is wider base rims with tapered tire bead seats.

J. D. Ball, Director of the Ford Truck and Fleet Sales Department:

Two new series – F-7 and F-8 – are the largest ever manufactured by Ford. They have maximum gross vehicle weights of 19,000 and 21,500 pounds, respectively. Another new series is the six-cylinder cab over engine model.

The Drivetrain(s)

Three new power plants have been announced by Ford Motor Company for the 1948 trucks.

These engines include:

• The Rouge 226, a completely new 95 HP I-6 truck engine
  
• The Rouge 239, an improved 100 HP V-8 truck engine
  
• The Rouge 337, a new heavy-duty 148 HP V-8 designed for the largest trucks ever built by Ford

All engines have heavy-duty oil bath air cleaners, pressure-sealed cooling systems, and new weather-proofed ignition systems with automatic spark control which is regulated by engine load and speed.

The three new engines also have new distributors and wiring, conveniently located for easy servicing. Valve springs are shot-blasted (shot pended) and rust-proofed (???). The valve seat inserts are made of hard molybdenum chrome alloy. The precision type crankshafts are oversized, as are the connecting rod bearing inserts.

Higher capacity generators deliver maximum output at low engine speed and there is a new high-volume replaceable-element oil filter.

A feature of the new Ford I-6 engine is the aluminum alloy pistons which are longer and plated to resist wear. These pistons have four rings above the wrist pin for maximum oil economy and minimum friction losses.

The compression ratio, 6.8:1, produces more power and a new high-lift camshaft opens valves wider and faster, resulting in more efficient intake and exhaust.

The 100 HP V-8 engines now has accessories conveniently grouped on top for easy servicing as well as many other new features.

Features of the 145 HP V-8 engines include hydraulic valve lifters which automatically compensate for valve wear and insure quiet operation.

Silichrome exhaust valves are faced with one of the toughest metals known.

A governor has been built into the carburetor and operates from engine speed and vacuum. This engine, designed for new “big jobs,” develops 255 lb-ft. of torque.

Clutches on the larger trucks are 12 inches in diameter, capable of easily handling the peak torque output of the 145 HP engine. These trucks also have five-speed transmissions. The F-7, with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 19,000 pounds, has a single speed heavy duty hypoid axle, The F-8, with a gross vehicle weight of 21,500 pounds, has a two speed axle, making 10-speeds available for all types of roads and loads.

Straight through mufflers reduce back-pressure, improving engine performance.

1948 Ford F-1 Highlights



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1948 Ford Truck Trims

• The nominally rated half-ton series of 114-inch wheelbase with a deluxe delivery model and standard pickup, panel and stake bodies
  
  
• Three-quarter ton regular and heavy-duty series, 122-inch wheelbase with express and stake bodies
  
  
• One-ton, 134-inch wheelbase series with stake body and single or dual rear tires available
  
  
• One and one-half-ton heavy-duty series with a 134 and 158-inch wheelbase
  
  
• One and one-half-ton heavy-duty cab-over-engine series with 110, 134, and 158-inch wheelbase
  
  
• Two-ton heavy-duty series with a 134 and 158-inch wheelbase
  
  
• Two-ton heavy-duty cab-over-engine series of 110, 134, and 158-inch wheelbase
  
  
• 30 to 36-passenger school bus chassis with 158-inch wheelbase
  
  
• Forty-two to 48-passenger school bus chassis with 194-inch wheelbase
  
  
• Extra Heavy Duty two and one-half-ton series with 135, 159, 195-inch wheelbase
  
  
• Extra Heavy Duty three-ton series with 135, 159, 195-inch wheelbase

While we have yet to drive the all-new 1948 Ford series trucks, they are expected to be a vast improvement over the pre-war 1940 variants and we are very much looking forward to giving them a push and taking them for a spin

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This may have been how a preview for the 1948 model Ford truck lineup would have looked in a January edition of a news paper in “name your small home town here” from 1948. Or maybe not but the information above is probably very accurate as it came directly from an embargoed release issued by the Ford News Bureau of the Ford Motor Company more than 65 years ago.

Now there is 4 hours of my life I will not be getting back anytime soon

 

Re: CleanMPG Previews the All-New 1948 Ford Truck Lineup

Hi Herm:

Thanks!

Thunderstruck, I think the 5 (and 10 speed with the 2-speed rear end) was only the "Super Heavy Duty"? I looked over the press release (it was a series of jpgs) and it did not mention the transmission of the standard I-6 or 100 HP small V-8. Probably 3 on the tree as you deduced. I have never set foot inside one to know for sure? I was also hoping for some interior shots but missed the boat. If you see any online with a Google image search let me know and I will insert one.

Wayne

 

Re: CleanMPG Previews the All-New 1948 Ford Truck Lineup

Our 1968 F100 had a 3 on the tree.

 

Re: CleanMPG Previews the All-New 1948 Ford Truck Lineup

If you ever get a chance to get ride in a vehicle of this era you will be as nervous as a long tailed car in a room full of rocking chairs. Not the safest mode of transportation compared to what we have today. Simple and effective work truck, not big on comfort or luxury.

The one nice thing is at least the cars and trucks of the time had style to them.

 

Re: CleanMPG Previews the All-New 1948 Ford Truck Lineup

Herm, the F1 came in at 3256 to 3310 lbs.

 

Re: CleanMPG Previews the All-New 1948 Ford Truck Lineup

Hi Mike:

That new high end Canon DSLR you bought sure takes a mean pic indoors! The Furia Corolla concept shots and this F-1 look fantastic with the dim light that the Cobo center has always had.

I wonder if we could get this beauty across the country at 30 mpg? Coming down out of the mountains with the drum brakes would be a bit hair raising however

Wayne