Ford F-250 XLTSpanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of hard working trucks, it’s Fun Trucks Friday.
The more things change, the more they stay the same: An improved U.S. economy and an increase in home construction starts have helped boost Ford F-Series pickup to another sales crown as the nation’s best-selling truck for 37 straight years, the company said this week.
With 688,810 sales through November, F-Series will be the overall best-selling vehicle in America for the 32nd year.
“The great news is that we are not overly reliant on any one segment – we’re seeing double-digit sales growth in cars, trucks and utilities,” says John Felice, vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “The Ford brand has had more retail share growth than any other brand in the country, with our most significant gains coming from import-dominated coastal markets. With 16 launches next year, we’re looking to keep our sales momentum going.”
As reported previously, look for Ford to officially announce a weight-saving aluminum F-150 at the Detroit Auto Show, Jan. 13-26.
Equal time: If you’re not a Ford truck guy, there’s a good chance you’re a Chevy fan. So, let’s take a spin in the Wayback Machine to 1960. Here’s a clip showing the range of hard working trucks offered by Chevrolet some 50 years ago, back when men were men and women weren’t allowed near heavy machinery, apparently. (But they do get to stay home and receive flowers, delivered by “sturdy-built trucks.”)
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For your next safari: British automotive publication What Car? reports that Land Rover is planning to make a pick-up version based on the Defender line of utility vehicles.
Is a rumored pickup version the Land Rover Defender coming to America?The company’s design boss, Gerry McGovern, told the magazine that the new addition could go on sale as early as 2017, but it won’t be launched until after more conventional, all-new five- and seven-seat versions of the classic Land Rover go on sale in 2016.
McGovern also told What Car? that any Land Rover pick-up would be a ‘premium’ product to compete with the VW Amarok, rather than more stripped-out utilitarian rivals.
Going, going, gone: Automotive auction giant Mecum is hosting it’s big Kissimmee, Fla., event Jan. 17-26. Not to endorse the sale or provide free advertising, but some really cool hard working trucks are headed for the block.
A sampling of some of the classic offerings:
