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Spy Shots: 2009 Ford F-450 Harley-Davidson Edition
by Noah Joseph on Jul 2nd 2008 at 5:02PM 
If you're a Harley-Davidson fan you might be interested in driving...well, riding an actual Harley. But for those who can't (or won't), Ford has been working on a new Harley-Davidson edition of its F-Series Super Duty pickup. While previous versions were based on the smaller, lighter-duty F-150 pickup, these spy shots and accompanying reports indicate that the new version we're looking at is the full-fat, heavy-duty F-450, complete with dually rear axle and quad-cab four-door set-up.
Like the previous set of spy shots that surfaced back in May, these photos of the undisguised test mule show a variety of exterior add-ons, including blue flames extending down the flank of the truck, although the flames are only visible on one side of the spied vehicle, with the Harley badge evident on the other, suggesting these could have been applied to throw us off. (We won't be surprised to see the final version unveiled in either way.) Unique wheels and special lettering along the side of the bed walls also form part of the visual package, while special badging and leather are anticipated to round out the interior. No changes are expected of the 6.4-liter twin-turbo diesel, already capable as it is of towing a couple of hogs on a trailer behind it, but we're expecting a price tag of over $60k for the special-edition truck.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
CORVETTE ZR1 5:12PM (7/02/2008)
Harley-Davidson Rocks. But... as for Ford Well... my Pic Says it all...
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Randy 6:29PM (7/02/2008)
Except that they build the best trucks on the planet!
Torrent 10:05PM (7/02/2008)
@Randy: ROFL LMAO LOLXD, That's so untrue.
piesior 5:01PM (7/04/2008)
Nice :) 3 MPG ???
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BlackCanary 5:54PM (7/02/2008)
This is so incredibly stupid and I am a big HD fan.
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Jared 5:54PM (7/02/2008)
Oh yeah, that outta be a big seller...
Or not.
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Jacob 6:06PM (7/02/2008)
I am really glad that Ford has learned its lesson, and finally "gets" it, and now works hard to bring products to the market that will make it more competitive at the time of ever shrinking auto market, increasing gas prices, and a huge slump in SUV and truck sales.
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That One Person 8:36PM (7/02/2008)
Yeah cuz this vehicle cost the company thousands of man-hours and millions of dollars to develop. I bet the people who "developed" this took little from the development of future vehicles.
AngeloD 9:36PM (7/02/2008)
I guess you missed all of the news reports in the past few months of Fords small car (Focus Fusion) sales soaring, of huge cutbacks in SUV and light truck production, and the huge investment Ford is making in converting their plants to produce more of their small European products here in N. America.
Ford is trying to get a little income from the F-150 platform in a tough sales environment. Putting out specialty models that attract upper income buyers who are essentially immune to gas price increases is one way to gain some income. Not a bad move.
AngeloD 9:40PM (7/02/2008)
Correction, the F-450 Platform
Freestyle4x4f150 6:13PM (7/02/2008)
I see plenty of Harley trucks here in So Cal. People with money and race trailers willbuy these. Not ment to be a commuter you lames.
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Rick 10:27AM (7/03/2008)
Over $60K for a truck. Are you smoking crack?
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ImportCarSite.com 6:44PM (7/02/2008)
Ok first off they already have had Harley-Davidson Edition Super Duties for 2008 they were just F250 & F350 as well as a F150 version. In the 2008 line up of Super Duties they introduced a F450 pickup. Which for a few years before that lots of people had to make F450 & F550's into pickups by modifying a cab and chassis model and adding a pickup bed and some other modifications. I know because for the last twleve years I have worked for two different Ford Truck dealerships (as a Advertising & Marketing Coordinator).
There is a need for these larger Super Duty pickups and that is mainly for towing larger trailers etc., and the people who can afford them can care less about gas mileage. A few years ago we even sold F650 Super Crewzers which were modified F650's with a pickup bed on the back. The fact is much larger trailers require you to have a truck with much higher towing capacities.
These trucks are not for everyone, and I thought from the very beginning that Ford really should move the Harley package to the Super Duty line simply because the people who can afford the package probably want a bigger truck, and there is no point adding such a high dollar package to a smaller truck.
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www.myharleyauctions.com 7:00PM (7/02/2008)
Wow, sounds like a great combination, but what a time to put this out. However, I agree that the people that like and buy these trucks probably don't care about fuel cost.
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www.myharleyauctions.com 7:05PM (7/02/2008)
I guess what I was getting to was that in a time when everyone is trimming down and cutting back,Ford and Harley decide to unleash this. I love it.
http://www.myharleyauctions.com/
Rootus 7:48PM (7/02/2008)
People who say "what a great idea to come out with this now" apparently haven't the faintest idea how car development works. By the time you see a car on the road, some parts of it have been on the drawing board for over five years. Turning everything a different direction in a matter of months is impossible, and for things like this they might as well bring it to market now that it's ready, and try to recoup at least some of the R&D costs.
Landy 1:10AM (7/03/2008)
Rootus,
you're right regarding developement time. But:
Developement guys should try to design vehicles that will be what people want in 5 yerars! But the once Big 3 decided to completely ignore the situation that was very clearly visible on the horizon at that time. That's why no other car company in the whole world ist that much in the sh*t right now as GM, Ford and Chrysler.
Joce03 7:17PM (7/02/2008)
That's a great blog to put up just before the "Mercedes is getting off oil" story!
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kris 7:26PM (7/02/2008)
GPCs, snake tattoos, and Miller High Life not included.
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Randy 9:15PM (7/02/2008)
H-D on a Ford Super-Duty? Just wait 3 years when the warranty expires and you suddenly realize it takes 6-hours shop time to remove the cab (and re-install) before the engine can be worked on. I'm a Ford fan but you couldn't pay me to buy a S-D for personal use. For the amount of money engine work will cost one could buy a Harley...