When did F-100 change to F-150?
Ford replaced the F-100 with the F-150 starting with the 1975 model year. The F-100 designation was phased out in the U.S. by 1983, and from 1984 onward the F-150 has served as the base model in Ford's light-duty F-Series lineup.
Timeline of the change
The key milestones in Ford's renaming of its light-duty trucks are summarized here.
- 1975 model year: The F-150 is introduced as the new base-model pickup, effectively replacing the F-100 in Ford's light-duty lineup.
- 1983 model year: The F-100 is officially discontinued in the United States; the F-150 becomes the sole base model for light-duty trucks.
- 1984 onward: The F-150 remains the standard entry in the F-Series, with other variants like the F-250 and F-350 supporting heavier duties.
In practice, this marked the end of the F-100 designation in most markets, with the F-150 carrying the entry-level status in the U.S. and Canada for decades.
Why Ford made the change
Ford sought to simplify its lineup and clarify the market positioning of its trucks. The move to the F-150 from the F-100 aligned the base model with a more modern naming convention and helped standardize the range across markets.
- Marketing clarity: A single, widely recognized "150" badge signaled a mid-range, half-ton pickup suitable for a broad audience.
- Lineup simplification: The switch reduced overlap and confusion between the base model and heavier-duty variants (F-250, F-350).
- Global consistency: Naming conventions were streamlined to match other models within the F-Series and, later, similar global naming practices.
- Product positioning: The F-150 was positioned to reflect payload and capability improvements that Ford highlighted in advertising and brochures.
The change had lasting impact: today, the F-150 remains Ford's longest-running nameplate in the United States, synonymous with the brand's light-duty pickup role.
Clarifications and common questions
Did Ford stop making F-100?
In the United States, Ford discontinued the F-100 after the 1983 model year as the F-150 became the base model. International markets sometimes saw the F-100 name linger longer, but the switch to the F-150 as the entry, light-duty model was the rule in North America by the early 1980s.
Summary
The F-150 replaced the F-100 as Ford's entry-level light-duty pickup with the 1975 model year introduction. The F-100 designation was officially retired by 1983 in the U.S., and from 1984 onward the F-150 has remained the base model of the F-Series, with the lineup continuing to evolve in subsequent generations.
When did Ford quit making the F-100?
In 1981, the upscale Ranger trim was discontinued to create the nameplate for the company's all- new compact pickup that replaced the Mazda-built Courier. Largely superseded by the F-150, the F-100 was discontinued after the 1983 model year, but the F-100 nameplate remained in Argentina.
What is the difference between a F-100 and a F-150?
The main difference is that the F-150 was introduced in 1975 as a higher-payload version of the F-100, primarily to meet new emissions regulations by avoiding the need for a catalytic converter. This meant the F-150 had heavier-duty suspension, a higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and could use regular unleaded gas, while the F-100 could only use unleaded fuel and was a lighter-duty truck. The F-150 eventually replaced the F-100 completely after the 1983 model year.
This video explains the evolution of the Ford F-100 and F-150 series: 49sGraphic Cars EvolutionYouTube · May 7, 2023
Key differences
| Feature | F-100 | F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Payload/GVWR | Lighter duty, lower Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | Heavier duty, higher GVWR |
| Emissions/Fuel | Required unleaded fuel and emissions control devices like catalytic converters | Could use regular unleaded gas and avoided some emissions restrictions in its early years |
| Suspension | Standard suspension | Heavier springs and other heavier-duty components |
| Axles | 28-spline rear axles | 31-spline rear axles |
| Other components | Smaller brakes, lighter frame, and optional power brakes/steering | Larger brakes, potentially thicker frame, and more consistent power brakes/steering |
| Availability | Discontinued after the 1983 model year | Became the standard half-ton model and continues today |
(this||self).Wufxzb=function(c,e,f,l,k){var d=document.getElementById(c);if(d&&(d.offsetWidth!==0||d.offsetHeight!==0)){c=d.querySelector("div");var g=c.scrollWidth-c.offsetWidth,h=Math.min(e?g:0,g);c.scrollLeft=e&&(l||f)?0:h;var a=d.getElementsByTagName("g-left-button")[0],b=d.getElementsByTagName("g-right-button")[0];a&&b&&(e=RegExp("\\btHT0l\\b"),f=RegExp("\\bpQXcHc\\b"),a.className=a.className.replace(e,""),b.className=b.className.replace(e,""),h===0?a.className="pQXcHc "+a.className:(a.className=
a.className.replace(f,""),k&&c.classList.add("pA30Ne")),h===g?b.className="pQXcHc "+b.className:(b.className=b.className.replace(f,""),k&&c.classList.add("FpCCub")),setTimeout(function(){a.className+=" tHT0l";b.className+=" tHT0l"},50))}};}).call(this);(function(){var id='_PNslacPyKNyH9u8P78i3yA8_176';var rtl=false;var gecko=false;var edge=false;var soh=false;
(this||self).Wufxzb(id,rtl,gecko,edge,soh);})();
What year did Ford go from F-100 to F-150?
Ford introduced the F-150 for the 1975 model year to sit alongside the F-100, and the F-100 was discontinued after the 1983 model year. The F-150 was created to offer a higher payload and help the company avoid certain emissions regulations that affected the F-100's load class.
- F-150 introduction: The F-150 was launched for the 1975 model year as a higher-payload version of the F-100 to navigate new emissions standards.
- Overlap period: Both the F-100 and F-150 were sold concurrently for nine years, from 1975 until 1983.
- F-100 discontinuation: Ford phased out the F-100 after the 1983 model year, making the F-150 the new entry-level half-ton truck in the F-Series lineup.
Why did Ford change from F-100 to F-150?
In the midst of this generation, in 1975, Ford introduced the F-150 as an option designed to offer greater payload and muscle than the F-100 without going all the way up to the capabilities of the F-250.
