Hard to believe, but there have been 14 generations of the iconic Ford F-Series trucks that debuted in 1948. As the authors argue in their brief introduction, “Throughout the nation’s history, the pickup truck has been a constant.” Noting that, as the nation evolved from an agricultural society to be “more civilized and industrialized, and more commercialized, so too did the F-Series.” As the authors indicate, the “civilization of the truck perfectly sums up this book and sums up the Ford F-Series.” To document the truck’s civilizing, this visually rich, vertical format, paperbound book devotes a chapter to each of these generations, featuring a total of 306 color photographs of restored examples and closeups from a technical viewpoint—engines and interior and exterior features—the hallmark focus for CarTech titles. The text briefly covers each model year of a generation, highlighting its specific features. Informative charts for each generation cover engines, transmissions, paint colors, sizes, prices, and sometimes production totals. Numerous sidebars highlight unique aspects of the F-Series story, including the EcoBoost engine program, emissions, the Twin I-Beam front suspension, Ranchero, Canadian Mercury, and even the influence of the Dodge Ram on the market. The Ford Carousel sidebar also includes renderings and sketches and stylist comments.

Book Review by Robert Gabrick