“Fordstorian” Paul G. McLaughlin’s digest-sized paperback offers a photo history organized into 12 chapters ranging in length from six to 14 pages. Each chapter covers a specific era beginning in 1917 with Ford’s first truck—the Model TT—and progressing through all of Ford’s medium-duty truck offerings through 1998. The 170 black-and-white images include a wide-ranging variety of trucks, sales literature, interiors, trim details, and views of Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant assembly line. However, while the largest are a half-page in size, most photographs are small 2x3-inch thumbnails. While all include a brief caption, most lack source credits. A two-page Historical Timeline—with inconsistent use of capitalization—highlights 39 noteworthy events such as 1928 when the Model AA replaced the Model TT, the introduction of the F-Series Bonus Built trucks in 1948, and 1996, when Ford sold its Class 7 and 8 models to Freightliner to create Sterling. The Mercury trucks made in Canada warrant a one-page mention. Reflecting McLaughlin’s well-regarded reputation, while a limited overview, the book’s informative text also includes price lists, engine and chassis specifications, equipment offered, and styling summaries. The Epilogue offers the author’s thoughts and advice for the potential medium-duty vintage truck collector. 

Book Review by Robert Gabrick