When did Ford change from F-100 to F-150?
Ford replaced the F-100 with the F-150 starting with the 1975 model year.
In the mid-1970s, Ford undertook a major refresh of its light-duty pickup lineup, introducing the F-150 to replace the F-100 as the standard half-ton model. This change reflected updated payload branding and kicked off a generation that remains central to Ford’s trucks today.
The moment of the change
The transition occurred with the 1975 model year. Ford unveiled a new generation of F-Series pickups for 1975, adopting the F-150 badge as the lead designation for the light-duty line in the United States as the F-100 faded from the lineup.
Model-year timing
The official rollout happened in the fall of 1974 for the 1975 model year, when dealerships began selling the new F-150-based trucks in place of the F-100 in the U.S. market.
Why the change
Ford aimed to modernize its light-duty lineup by aligning naming with payload capabilities, introducing a refreshed design, and signaling improved features and performance for today’s buyers.
What happened next in production and markets
With the 1975 model year, the F-150 became the standard designation for Ford's light-duty pickups in the United States. While other markets sometimes used different designations, the F-150 badge became synonymous with Ford’s half-ton truck in its core market and has endured for decades.
- Official switch to the F-150 for the 1975 model year in the U.S., with production previews in late 1974.
- The F-100 name gradually faded from Ford’s U.S. catalogs as the F-150 took over the light-duty lineup.
- The F-Series continued to evolve through subsequent generations, with the F-150 remaining the flagship half-ton model.
The change marked a watershed moment in Ford’s pickup history, setting a branding and design template that persists in the modern era.
Legacy and context
The F-150’s rise reflected broader trends in American pickups: higher payloads, more refined daily usability, and a branding strategy that aligned with contemporary vehicle segments. Since 1975, the F-150 has been Ford’s best-selling pickup and a benchmark in the segment.
Key takeaways
The essential fact is that Ford shifted from the F-100 to the F-150 with the 1975 model year as part of a new generation, and the F-150 badge has dominated the light-duty lineup ever since.
Summary
Ford changed from the F-100 to the F-150 with the 1975 model year, marking a major redesign of its light-duty pickups. The F-150 badge has endured as the cornerstone of Ford’s pickup lineup for decades.
