Eighth Generation Ford F-Series - The Refinement Of The Pickup Truck
The release of 8th Generation F-series had a lot of people at Ford nervous. The Ford F-series pickup became the bestselling vehicle in America in 1982 and it was a title that Ford wanted to hang onto.
Ford marketing noticed a change in America in the 80’s. More and more people began to look at a full size pickup trucks as their means of daily transportation. Trucks which were once looked at as work first vehicles and ordered with few options were now being ordered loaded full of optional creature comforts.
Ford's mission going into 1987 would be to introduce a new 8th generation F-series that would retain its best selling vehicle in America title and expand it by capturing those that saw the Pickup truck as their only mode of transportation. How did that work out? Well let’s take a look at the 8th generation F-series and we’ll answer that question at the end of the video.
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Transcript:
The release of the eighth-generation F-Series pickup had a lot of people at Ford nervous. The F-Series had become the number-one-selling vehicle in America in 1982, and Ford wanted to keep that title.
By the 1980s, Ford marketing began noticing a change in American buyers. Trucks, once seen primarily as work vehicles, were now being used as daily drivers. Customers were loading them up with more options and creature comforts. Ford’s goal for 1987 was to hold on to its best-selling title while appealing to those who saw their truck as their only mode of transportation.
To see how that worked out, let’s take a look at the eighth-generation Ford F-Series pickup.
Introduced in September 1986 as a 1987 model, the eighth-generation F-Series was more of a redesign of the seventh generation than an all-new truck. It retained body-on-frame construction, but the exterior received a major refresh. The grille was smaller and featured a centered blue oval logo. For the first time in an American truck, flush-mounted composite headlamps were used, flanked by wraparound turn-signal and side-marker lamps. The body sides were smoother, with the lower character line removed from the fenders and rear quarters. The truck now featured a single lower body line along the doors and lower panels. Model badges were updated with a more rounded font for the F-150, F-250, and F-350.
Inside, the truck received a completely new interior: a curved dash with a storage shelf, new steering wheel, door panels, kick panels, and seating.
The lineup included the half-ton F-150 with a maximum GVWR of 6,250 lbs, two three-quarter-ton models—the F-250 at 7,700 lbs and the F-250 HD at 8,600 lbs—and the one-ton F-350 at 11,000 lbs. GVWR, or gross vehicle weight rating, represents the maximum weight a vehicle can safely handle.
Body styles included a standard-bed two-door, short-bed Flareside (carried over from 1986), extended cab SuperCab, four-door crew cab, and dual-rear-wheel models offered only on the F-350.
The powertrain lineup was revised as well. The 4.9L inline-six now had electronic fuel injection and produced 145 horsepower. Optional engines included a 5.0L V8 with 185 hp, a 5.8L V8 with 210 hp, and a 7.5L (460 cubic inch) V8 with 230 hp—the latter two still using carburetors. A 6.9L diesel V8 from International produced 170 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque.
The standard transmission was a four-speed manual with overdrive, while the optional automatic was Ford’s AOD four-speed overdrive unit. Suspension setups consisted of Twin I-Beam independent front suspension on two-wheel-drive models and Twin Traction Beam suspension on four-wheel-drive versions. Manual locking front hubs were standard, with automatic hubs optional.
Trim levels included Custom, XL, and XLT Lariat. The base Custom featured vinyl upholstery, a black steering wheel, and basic trim. The XL added cloth and vinyl upholstery, upgraded mirrors, and color-keyed details. The XLT Lariat added cloth upholstery, carpeting, chrome grille, sport wheel covers, tinted glass, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Rear-wheel anti-lock brakes became standard across the lineup for 1987. Popular options included four-wheel drive, automatic transmission, chrome trim, two-tone paint, multiple radio choices, air conditioning, step bumpers, and upgraded mirrors. Equipment packages could add tilt steering, cruise control, power windows and locks, a sliding rear window, heavy-duty shocks, towing equipment, and even an auxiliary fuel tank for a total capacity of 38 gallons.
Ford retained its best-selling vehicle title for 1987.
In 1988, all F-Series engines became fuel injected. The 5.8L V8 gained 10 lb-ft of torque, and the 460 V8 added 28 lb-ft. The diesel engine was upgraded to a 7.3L International unit making 180 hp and 345 lb-ft. A five-speed overdrive manual became standard, with the C6 three-speed automatic and AOD four-speed automatic remaining available.
Ford also introduced the Super Duty, rated up to 14,500 lbs GVWR. It came standard with dual fuel tanks and a power takeoff (PTO) system to drive accessories like winches or dump beds. The Super Duty was available only with two-wheel drive and either the 7.5L gas V8 or the 7.3L diesel. The Flareside bed was dropped this year. Ford again retained its best-selling title.
For 1989, changes were minimal. The new E4OD electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission debuted, replacing the older C6 in many models. Ford once again remained America’s best-selling vehicle.
The 1990 lineup saw few updates, but Ford introduced the Sport Appearance Package, which added 15x8-inch wheels, upgraded tires, and body-side tape stripes. Ford continued its sales dominance that year.
For 1991, the notable change was the new Nite Appearance Package, available only on V8-equipped F-150s. It featured a black monochromatic paint scheme with either pink or blue/purple stripes and “Nite” decals on the cargo box.
The eighth-generation F-Series represented a period of refinement that began with the seventh generation—more power, greater efficiency, and improved comfort. Ford successfully attracted a wider range of customers, many of whom used their trucks as daily drivers rather than just work vehicles.
That refinement continued into the ninth generation, but that’s a story for another time.
If you enjoyed this video, please consider liking and subscribing. There’s more content covering earlier generations, including the sixth-generation F-Series, with full breakdowns of options, models, and production figures.
Thanks for watching.
Tony has been a member of the car culture since the late 1970s, acquiring his first car at the age of 13 in a straight-up swap for a Schwinn 10-speed bicycle. He has personally owned well over 500 cars and trucks since that first car. He was employed as a jet engine Mechanic by the US Air Force for over 10 years and served in theater during Desert Storm. He has always wrenched on his own vehicles. In the Fall of 2021 he launched his own YouTube channel that focuses on Ford Motor Company products, both old and new, however other manufacturers product will appear from time to time. New content and videos are posted every Saturday Morning at 11 AM EST
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@ 1995 SC Bellingham WA. Faded paint but it may be single stage.
Had a 90 Bronco with a 5.0 and 4 speed. At 76.000 had a rear main seal leak in addition to a transmission leak. It was basically a F-150 with a fiberglass top on the back. While it was a great hunt/snowboarding rig I don’t see the popularity and high collector prices. My current 85 FJ 60 is a far superior vehicle in ride, quality, comfort.