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The Features of the 1975 Ford F 150
Ford continued to offer the F100 pickup truck, but it also seriously committed to manufacturing the F150. According to production numbers, 101,875 units of the F150 were made, compared to over 226,000 F100s. Most of the F150s were Regular Cabs, although about 20k SuperCabs were made. Ford did not offer the new pickup in four-wheel drive, but did offer it on the F100 and F250. Owners could order a Styleside pickup box or Flareside version of the F150, but the “Shorty” (Flareside box with a 6.5’ bed) was unavailable.
Exterior
Even though the F 150 was a new vehicle, Ford utilized the basic design of the popular F series that it had fashioned in 1973. The truck offered a solid, straightforward look with very few curves. The exception was the concave body character line from the front fender’s side marker lights across the door and along the body sides to the back bumper. (Truck enthusiasts would use the term “dentside” to describe these trucks). Owners could opt for bright body-side moldings on the two top trim levels, the Ranger and Ranger XLT.
The split grille continued to give the F-Series a menacing front-end appearance. The iconic Ford lettering was situated just under the hood lip, and the oversized hood curved over the front, shadowing the grille. Front turn signals fitted into the front right above the round headlights recessed into Chrome inserts. A chrome front bumper shined from the front for added effect.
The truck cab structure dated back to Regular Cab and Super Cab configurations (the extended cab having been added the year before). While most of the F150s were single two-door models, Ford did make about one-quarter of the production line with the new Super Cab doors that allowed additional rear seat space for passengers or cargo.
The cargo box length varied depending on what cab you wanted. The Super Cab (Styleside) was offered with a 6.5’ or 8’ long bed, while the Regular Cab only came with an 8’ cargo area. Ford used the exact measurements of width (50.8”) and length (98.2”) as the F100, but all the Supercab long bed did was confuse potential buyers. A central one-hand tailgate latch gave customers ease when loading from the rear. Ford did increase the GVW for the Ford F 150 to 6200 lbs, which was a considerable improvement over the 4750 the F100 offered.
Ford offered their trucks in 16 different color choices, with hues like Parrot Orange, Candyapple Red, Raven Black, or Bahama Blue. Ford offered choices for owners to have colored paint on the upper portion of their truck, with four different two-tone packages to choose from. The Ranger XLT came with upgraded wheels.
Engine
While the 4.9L 300 ci inline-six was the standard engine, Ford offered three other V8 engines. Ford had used the FE 360 and 390 V8s for years (1961), but they had run their course and were beginning to be phased out. (Ford would shift to the 351M and 400 V8s in 1977, dropping the FE engines).
Transmission
The 3-spd manual was the standard transmission, although Ford offered a 4-spd manual and the Cruise-O-Matic as optional features.
Suspension
The Twin I-beam suspension continued to be used on Ford trucks allowing for a smoother ride and better steering control. Ford had been using the suspension system since 1965, so they had a decade of experience with it and would continue to use it until 1996 on F150s and 2016 on two-wheel drive F250s and F350s.
Interior
The Ford F150 came in three trim levels, Custom, Ranger, and Ranger XLT. The top tier was the Ranger XLT, which included wall-to-wall carpeting (including the back cab wall). Upgraded color-coordinated seating surfaces and wall panels gave an intimate feel, while the wood-grained moldings offered luxury like many other Ford cars. (Bucket seats were not available). More notable elements were the side door map pockets, a convenience package with a locking glove box, ashtray courtesy lights, a large rear view mirror, and even a tinted windshield.
The lower two trim levels offered good basics, including 7 inches of foam on the seat bottoms (5 inches on the seat back). Insulation was added to help insulate against road noise, and the large steering wheel offered easy access to easy-to-read gauges.
Power brakes were standard, but power steering was optional. For the 1975 model year, two notable elements: a new speed control button (an early version of cruise control offered on the 7.5L 460 ci V8 only) and a new fuel warning light offered for the first time. (The Federal government would mandate that all vehicles be equipped with a seatbelt warning light, but most of the 75s bypassed it, as Ford installed it in the next year’s production).
Other options included an AM/FM radio with a speaker in each door. (A basic AM radio was standard). Air-conditioning was an option, with movable levers for directional control. A simple ground-level toolbox was inserted on the curbside of many Stylesides, and a cargo box cover could be purchased. (Ford did not offer Camper packages on the F100 or 150 but reserved them for larger class trucks like the F250 and 350).
The Specs For The 1975 Ford F 150
What is a 1975 Ford F 150 Worth Today?
A 1975 Ford F 150 pickup truck in good condition should bring an average price of $15,300 (excellent condition has a significantly higher price). Various data sources indicate a substantial market for the sixth-generation F-Series. For a current listing of available ‘75 F 150s, see classiccars.com. (Please note that values shown may vary depending on the condition of the vehicle and market conditions).
