Full-size Ford
| Full-size Ford | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1908–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | full-size car |
| Layout |
rear-wheel drive, body-on-frame (1908–2011) front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive (2008–present) |
| Body style(s) |
Sedan Station wagon Coupe Convertible pickup truck coupe utility |
| Vehicles |
see listing (1908–1978) Ford Panther platform (1979–2011) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine(s) | V8 (1932–2011) |
Full-size Ford is the popular term for a long-running line of Ford vehicles which have been produced in North America with a large degree of similarity since the Model T in 1908, up to the Crown Victoria, which ceased production in late 2011. The term full-size does not necessarily indicate it was large relative to its competitors, but that it was the largest and most complete model offered by Ford. The Model T's 134-inch overall length makes it substantially shorter than a current-generation Fiesta hatchback (160.1" OAL).
American automobiles in the early years were usually only identified by make and year (such as a 1952 Ford). Typically, companies produced only one distinct model (excluding trim specifications) in a year, and thus nameplates were the exception rather than the rule. Nameplates emerged when companies began selling other cars to augment their lineup. The term "full-size" came in use after Ford introduced compact cars and mid-size or intermediate size classes in the 1960s.
If the Ford full-size line were to be considered as a single shared lineage, it would comfortably be the longest-running in the car industry with staggering collective production numbers. The Crown Victoria and Police Interceptor were produced until September 2011, 103 years after the introduction of the 1908 Model T. By comparison, the longest-running nameplate in the industry, the Chevrolet Suburban (which has also been branded as a GMC and a Holden at various times), has been in use for 83 model years.
Over a century's time, full-size Fords from North America have been updated to keep pace with contemporary technology and tastes. In addition to the status of largest Ford vehicle, they were distinguished by a front-engine, rear-wheel–drive layout, live rear axle, and body-on-frame construction; unibody construction was introduced in 2005 with the Ford Five Hundred. From 1932 to 2012, a V8 engine was available, being standard from 1935 to 1940 and from 1973 to 2012.
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