Autoblog

Hagerty profiles Sandy survivors and their classic cars

George Kennedy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:32:00 EST

One of the harsh realities encountered by some in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is the damage done to their beloved classic cars. Such a story may not make it to CNN, so Hagerty Insurance set about chronicling the efforts by several owners to preserve their classics during the storm.

One owner from Staten Island lost a 1977 Ford F-250 Custom pickup. He tried desperately to save his truck, attempting to start it as the waters rose around the vehicle. At one point, he says the water started pouring into the truck. It eventually became impossible to open the doors, and had to crawl out the window. For him and others electrical, brakes and other systems failed when the brackish water rose around the cars.

Some may label the pining over a lost classic insensitive, given the larger issue of rebuilding and reclaiming these costal areas. However, these cars are as much a part of their memories as baby pictures or family heirlooms. There are personal connections with these vintage automobiles that may have been lost forever.

This video just goes to show the powerful bond that some owners have with their treasured classics.

Continue reading Hagerty profiles Sandy survivors and their classic cars

Hagerty profiles Sandy survivors and their classic cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kelderman Ford F-250 Super Duty laughs at lesser trucks

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Don't be confused; for every low, fast and/or sleek looking car at the SEMA show, there is at least one towing truck or SUV. The off-road and working vehicles of the world are well represented here in Las Vegas, as typified by this Ford F-250 XLT Crew Cab by Kelderman Air Suspension Systems and Tim Nicolau Designs.

The huge Super Duty diesel has between eight- and ten-inches of available lift via tricked-out suspension components and an AccuAir TouchPad air suspension management system. It can probably drive over most of the traffic in and around the Las Vegas convention center, which means we're seriously considering it for our escape vehicle later in the week.

Enjoy the monstrous live image gallery, attached.

Kelderman Ford F-250 Super Duty laughs at lesser trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Truck, Crossover, Ford, Diesel, Off-Road, Racing

After already tipping its hand with a goodly selection of Focus ST concept teasers, as well as a passel of tuned Fusions, Ford has let loose with more images and information regarding its huge presence at this year's SEMA show. And, while we'll be bringing live reports of all the SEMA goodness to you next week, we couldn't help but want to share these last minute previews.

Four Mustang concept sketches have been offered up for our consumption today, including three cars based on the Mustang GT 5.0 and one based on the V6. All three of the GTs carry significant appearance modifications: bigger wheels, bespoke paint jobs and the whole shebang. The Mothers/Autosport Dynamics/RTR car boasts performance upgrades that net some 650 horsepower, while the DSO Eyewear car is kicking out a massive 750 ponies.

A brace of Ford F-150 trucks and one monster F-250 are repping for the pickup segment. Truckin' Magazine has done up a race-ready F-150 with a chopped look, bigger brakes and an upgraded interior. The diesel-powered F-250 is by Kelderman Air Suspension Systems, so it's natural to see that it has an airbag suspension with eight to ten inches of lift.

A few hotted up versions of Ford's new Escape will be presented as well, to round out this fleet of tuned fun by The Blue Oval. Be sure to check in, early and often next week, for live versions of all of the madness. In the meantime, find fuller information on all of these SEMA models in the press release below, and images in the associated galleries.

Continue reading Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants

Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford sued for allegedly using defective gas tanks in F-Series and E-Series from 1999 to 2008

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:13:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Ford

According to a report from Reuters, Ford has been sued for allegedly selling F-Series pickup trucks and E-Series vans with defective fuel tank linings. The suit alleges that Ford knew about the problem and continued to sell affected vehicles over a 10-year period.

According to the complaint, the fuel tank lining of Ford's full-size trucks and vans built between 1999 and 2008 can "separate and flake off," clogging the fuel system and causing the truck to stumble or stall. Further, Ford is said to have issued a "secret" technical service bulletin to dealers about the problem, but never issued a recall or offering to fix customer vehicles for free.

The complaint, brought on by Coba Landscaping and Construction Inc of New Jersey and its principal Galo Coba, is said to be seeking class-action status on behalf of all owners of affected models. Considering that the Ford F-Series pickup was the best-selling vehicle between 1999 and 2008, that's a heck of a lot of owners.

Ford has yet to comment on the issue, saying it has not received the complaint. Apparently, the issue is unrelated to the rusted-out gas tank straps found by certain F-Series owners in snowy climates.

Ford sued for allegedly using defective gas tanks in F-Series and E-Series from 1999 to 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Super Duty teased, new trim coming

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Design/Style

The Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup truck is a pretty big deal. Not only is it physically large and imposing, it's also a huge seller for Ford and a vehicle that practically generates its own weight in ~~gold~~ profit. That being the case, it's no surprise that Ford is keen to make some noise about a new trim level for the 2013 Super Duty.

Judging from the lone teaser image let out by Ford, we can all expect the 2013 F-Series Super Duty to retain its massive, upright and in-your-face grille, flanked on either side by squared-off headlamps. We'd also expect to see enough chrome to bling the teeth of a dozen rappers, though nothing much is visible behind the curtain of the image above.

What will the trim level be called? We have no idea, but Ford is announcing the truck alongside its Professional Bull Riding partner, so we're figuring there may be some sort of tie-in along those lines. In any case, we'll just have to wait until Friday, March 9 for all the details. Stay tuned, truck lovers, and feel free to click on the image above for the full-size version.

2013 Ford Super Duty teased, new trim coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford recalls 16,000 F-Series pickups over transmission concern

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Ford

Ford is recalling thousands of F-Series pickup trucks from the 2011 and 2012 model years over a transmission problem that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, theft protection." NHTSA reports that the transmissions in these defective trucks can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to a problem with the brake shift interlock switch.

Affected models include 2011 F-150s built between September 9 and September 22, 2011, as well as F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Heavy Duty trucks built between September 12 and September 22, 2011. A total of 16,091 trucks are included in this recall.

Ford dealers will inspect - and if necessary, replace - the brake shift interlock switch on these affected vehicles, free of charge. The official recall is expected to kick off in the coming days. Hit the jump for NHTSA's official release.

Continue reading Ford recalls 16,000 F-Series pickups over transmission concern

Ford recalls 16,000 F-Series pickups over transmission concern originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fed closes investigation of Ford F-150 fuel tank straps

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Ford, Lincoln

According to The Detroit News, The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has closed its investigation into 2.7 million Ford pickups for fuel tank straps that may have rusted and failed. Affected models included 1997-2001 F-150, 1997 to 1999 F-250 and 2002 to 2003 Lincoln Blackwood trucks.

A total of 339 complaints were received from Ford and NHTSA, of which there have been nine confirmed cases of straps so deteriorated that the fuel tank completely dislodged and fell to the ground, with many more cases involving at least one failed strap. It seems that road salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice were blamed for the corrosion.

In response, Ford issued a recall that covered 1.1 million trucks that were operated in cold-weather states. That action was good enough for government work, says NHTSA, so the case has hereby been closed.

Fed closes investigation of Ford F-150 fuel tank straps originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-250 Super Duty sets diesel and biodiesel land speed records

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Etc., Ford

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a place where records are constantly made and broken. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are driven, towed or pushed out to the brilliantly white sodium chloride desert where drivers embark on a quest for high speeds. You can expect to see production cars, motorcycles, purpose-built streamliners and vehicles that look ready to leave the flat plain and attack the sky. One vehicle you would not expect to pull away from the start line, however, is a Ford F-250 Super Duty.

Brent Hajek sees the world a little differently.

The Hajek Motorsports team prepped a 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty for high-speed blasts under the Bonneville sun. The truck is a nearly stock diesel-engined model equipped with the new turbocharged 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8. Hajek Motorsports swapped out the fuel injectors, fuel pump and turbo to get more go-juice into the engine at a greater rate. Inside, a roll cage and five-point harness were added for safety while moonbeam wheel caps attempt to streamline the high-speed brick. Other than the moderate upgrades and sponsor stickers, the Hajek F-250 is a run-of-the-mill production vehicle that can run on standard diesel or B20 biodiesel. There's no exact number with regards to the upgraded performance figures, but Hajek Motorsports states that it's pushed horsepower and torque up by 50 percent over the stock engine's 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of grunt.

What sort of speed does that translate to on the salt flats? A new B Production Diesel Truck record of 171.123 miles per hour, which bests the previous record 166.850 mph held by a Duramax-powered GMC pickup. The Hajek team also filled the truck up with B20 biodiesel and set out to beat the previous record of 130.614 mph. They smashed that one, with a speed of 182 miles per hour. That's a pretty ~~terrifying~~ good clip for the large pickup. Kudos are in order for Brent Hajek and his team.

Continue reading Ford F-250 Super Duty sets diesel and biodiesel land speed records

Ford F-250 Super Duty sets diesel and biodiesel land speed records originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford recalling 1.1 million F-Series pickups over gas tank straps

Chris Shunk — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Ford, Lincoln

Back in May of 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it was expanding its investigation of 2.7 million Ford F-150 models for corroding gas tank straps. Less than three months later, the recall is on like Donkey Kong, though Bloomberg reports that Ford has announced that the actual number is closer to 1.1 million. Further, the 1997 through 2004 F-150 models will be joined by 1997 to 1999 F-250 trucks and 2002 and 2003 Lincoln Blackwood models.

Ford says the gas tank straps are being recalled due to possible corrosion from road salt and other ice-melting chemicals. And since elements like salt are the reason for the corrosion, Ford is only recalling the trucks in the 21 cold weather states and the District of Columbia.

Ford spokesperson Wesley Sherwood adds that the trucks involved in the recall are of the "older, higher-mileage" variety, adding that the straps can corrode after the trucks spend a lot of time in high-corrosion environments.

While the recall is official as of August 1, Ford reportedly won't begin sending out recall notices until mid-September. When the notices arrive, owners of the affected vehicles can bring their truck to the nearest Ford or Lincoln dealer for a free-of-charge repair. if the straps aren't available when the customer enters the dealership, Ford will install a cable support under the fuel tank strap as a short-term fix.

Any time an automaker announces a recall of over 1 million units, it's a big deal. And this is the second seven-digit recall of Ford truck in the last few months. Since these are older trucks, most truck buyers will likely turn the other cheek, but we're guessing Ford is hoping this is the last big truck recall for a long while.

Ford recalling 1.1 million F-Series pickups over gas tank straps originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford recalling over 26,000 trucks over taillamp issues

Zach Bowman — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Ford

Ford has announced a recall of 26,715 E-Series, Excursion and Ranger vehicles for a defective hazard warning, signal and brake light switch. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, certain F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles manufactured between 2002 and 2007, certain Excursion models built between 2002 and 2005 and Ranger pickups built between 2002 and 2011 may have been assembled with a faulty switch that could deform over time.

All of the vehicles were manufactured at the automaker's Twin Cities plant. The deformed switches may eventually lead to malfunctioning lights, which NHTSA warns may increase the risk of an accicent. What's more, the recall also covers certain service parts distributed to dealers as well.

Ford dealers will replace the faulty switches free of charge once the recall begins on or around August 31, 2011. NHTSA urges owners to call Ford customer service with any questions related to the recall. Click past the jump for a look at the full recall notice.

Continue reading Ford recalling over 26,000 trucks over taillamp issues

Ford recalling over 26,000 trucks over taillamp issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford recalling nearly 15,000 F-Series and Edge/Lincoln MKX crossovers

Zach Bowman — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Ford

If you thought 2010 was going to wrap up with an all quiet on the recall front, think again. Ford and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have announced the recall of 14,737 vehicles for a faulty body control module that may short out and cause a fire.

The recall covers certain 2011 models that were built in a six-day period, including some 2011 Edge, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550 and Lincoln MKX vehicles. NHTSA says that if the body control module shorts out, it could overheat and cause a fire.

Dealers are expected to inspect the module and, if necessary, replace it free of charge. NHTSA says that Ford plans to start the work on or before January 10, 2011, and that owners may contact Ford directly with questions at 1-866-436-7332. Hit the jump for a look at the full recall notice.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading Ford recalling nearly 15,000 F-Series and Edge/Lincoln MKX crossovers

Ford recalling nearly 15,000 F-Series and Edge/Lincoln MKX crossovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man hits 1M miles in Ford F-250... in four years

Chris Shunk — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford

Every now and again, we come across news that a vehicle has eclipsed the one million mile mark. The vehicles are typically very old, and they're often pickup trucks. That's only partly true for Phil Marsella, who uses his relatively new four year-old Ford F-250 to deliver greyhound dogs to racetracks and families across America. Marsella reportedly drives his gas F-250, "Betsy," between 7,000 and 10,000 miles per week, or more miles than many drivers log in an entire year. And it appears as though Ford never expected the F-250 would surpass one million road miles, as the digital odometer stopped working once the milestone was reached. Marsella says that he's tracking the miles, though, with another 12,000 miles or so since one million.

All those miles must make for a pretty big maintenance bill, as trucks typically need an oil change in fewer than 10,000 miles, and tires and brakes usually don't last for more than 60,000 to 70,000 miles, though obviously with that much highway mileage, the binders should hold on a bit longer than that. That's two or three oil changes a year and a brake or tire job every few years for most of us, but Maresella hits those milestones in no time flat. The career driver claims his four-year maintenance bill is a cool $67,000. If Marsella continues at this pace, and his beloved truck remains road-worthy, in the next six years he could challenge the all-time record of 2.8 million miles in a single vehicle; a record that required 40 years of driving.

Click on the link below to watch a local NBC affiliate's news coverage of the million-mile hound hauler.

[Source: NBC Miami]

Man hits 1M miles in Ford F-250... in four years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Bigfoot still a crowd favorite, 35 years later

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Classics, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Bigfoot #1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We distinctly remember 3rd grade. Specifically, sitting in the library once a month during recess. Why would we give up dodgeball and four-square to sit inside and read? Because the new issues of Off Road and 4Wheeler had just dropped and they had stories about Bigfoot! Bearfoot too, and Carzilla - but mostly Bigfoot! Happy days, happy days. And here at this year's SEMA Show, both the original 1975 Bigfoot #1 (the world's first monster truck) and the new-for-2009 Bigfoot (#12 of fifteen Bigfoots) showed up to terrorize the Las Vegas Convention Center's parking lot.

Well, not terrorize - because people love the Bigfoots (Bigfeets?) so very much. But lordy, are these some hella intimidating trucks, even all these years later. Perhaps most notable is that the new Bigfoot is actually a 2008 Ford F-250 body cut to look like a 1979 F-250. Also cool is the 35-year gulf in technology between the two beasts. We could have spent a couple hours standing underneath (no, really!) Bigfoot #12 just admiring the headers. And the gas bypass shocks. And the supercharger, etc. Sadly, the duo of Bigfoots won't be crushing any cars this week. Let's make that double sadly, as this year's SEMA show features many deserving candidates. For more (and better) details, check out pickuptrucks.com's Bigfoot post.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Bigfoot

SEMA 2009: Bigfoot still a crowd favorite, 35 years later originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ROUSH unveils liquid propane-powered Ford F-250

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Green, ROUSH

LPG has come to the masses massive, with ROUSH introducing a conversion for the Ford F-250. The changes are minimal: fuel tank and pump, stainless steel fuel lines, aluminum fuel rails and PCM calibration. They'll mean cheaper running costs but no loss of horsepower, torque or towing capacity. Depending on which conversion you choose, though, you could lose bed capacity: an under bed tank provides a 250-mile range, or a 62-gallon tank that goes in the bed means 500 miles of running.

The conversion costs $7,995, but you get a federal tax credit of $5,000 and some states offer additional credits. It can be purchased as a kit for home fitment or as a ROUSH-built vehicle. Both options carry a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. Ordering is open as of January 26 and deliveries are expected in the fall of this year. If you're interested in a medium-duty liquid gas burner, you can check out the exhaustive press release after the jump.

[Source: ROUSH]

Continue reading ROUSH unveils liquid propane-powered Ford F-250

ROUSH unveils liquid propane-powered Ford F-250 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: 2011 Ford F-150 to share new V8 with Mustang, also get EcoBoost V6

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:17:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Technology, Ford

PickupTrucks.com is reporting that by the end of 2010, Ford will alter the three engine options that currently make up the engine choices in the F-150. What is coming in time for the 2011 model year will be a new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a 5.0-liter V8 code-named "Coyote."

Subbing the V6 EcoBoost for the V8 is about providing the same power with more efficiency. Said to be the premium engine for light-duty trucks, the direct-injection gas engine will offer something like 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque while carrying an EPA rating of "at least 23 miles-per-gallon on the highway." Those power numbers handily beat what you'll get from any of the current engines on offer, even though it's down two cylinders.

The "Coyote" 5.0-liter, modular, four-valve V8 will have "huge heads," and will return the same numbers as the V6: 400 hp and 400 lb-ft. This engine will become the standard F-150 lump, returning the same gas mileage as the current 5.4-liter but with much more power. This same engine will also reportedly find its way into the Mustang. That will leave the 6.2-liter V8 (the Boss) slated for the Raptor later this year as last engine choice (unless there's a 4-cylinder EcoBoost added in 2013), and it will go into special edition F-150s and the Super Duty trucks.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

REPORT: 2011 Ford F-150 to share new V8 with Mustang, also get EcoBoost V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Ford Super Duty's less than super seats being recalled

Michael Harley — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Ford

If you own a 2008 Ford F-Series truck, your Fun Friday is made less so by the news of a recall for your truck that involves its seats. Apparently, the front driver's seat on these trucks fail to comply with federal rules for seat back strength, as a weld that connects a bracket and the seat back could crack. The report didn't mention whether cracks have occurred during normal use of the seats or when they're subjected to high loads such as in an accident, though it did say no accidents or injuries had been reported due to the weak welds.

Of the 100,000+ vehicles subject to recall, 87,000 of the trucks are in the United States, while the remaining 14,000 are in Canada, and all are either F-250 or F-550 Super Duty Models.

Ford won't be sending notifications out until later this month, so F-Series owners who just can't wait can call Ford at (800) 392-3673 for more information.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Super-Duty

[Source: The Detroit News]

2008 Ford Super Duty's less than super seats being recalled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Super Duty pickups are super for smugglers

Alex Nunez — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Ford

Click image for a gallery of '05 - '07 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks

If the Ford Escape Hybrid is "The Candidate's Choice," then the automaker's big, bad Super Duty trucks are "The Smuggler's Choice." You see, unfortunately for truck owners, drug and human traffickers are "choosing" to steal them from the public to use in their nefarious endeavors. The reasons are simple: they're big (plenty of contraband can be carried), rugged (they can handle running off-road in the border areas), powerful (handy when running from the police), and apparently easy to make off with (they can be "stolen with a screwdriver" according to the Houston PD). In 2007, 1,245 F-250 and F-350 Super Duties vanished from Houston driveways, a forty percent increase over 2006, and notable when you consider overall car thefts in the city were down. In response, Ford is enhancing vehicle security by using keys embedded with chips required to activate new 2008 trucks' electronic ignition systems. Of course, that may not help win back former owners whose trucks have already been stolen. The Chronicle article tells of one victim whose actions spoke volumes. He switched to Chevy.

[Source: The Houston Chronicle]

Gallery: 2005-2007 Ford Super Duty

Ford Super Duty pickups are super for smugglers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to keep truckin at Super Duty plant despite International strike

Chris Shunk — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, UAW/Unions

International and Ford haven't been the best of friends lately, with the two companies sparring over compensation for the Powerstroke 6.4L. International stopped making the engines in protest earlier in the year, but this time the union has walked out on International. Even with the strike, Ford hasn't yet suspended production of the Super Duty at its Louisville plant. If the strike lasts more than a few days, however, the blue oval will simply run out of parts with which to build the big truck.

Union rhetoric points to what may be a longer strike than we saw at GM and Chrysler, and if days turn into weeks, Ford could lose $22 million a week in lost profits. International supplies Ford with up to 250,000 Powerstroke 6.4L engines per year, and the oil burner reaps Ford's largest profit margins. We're pretty sure Ford is in no shape to lose out on $22 million a week, so lets hope this union spat ends quickly.

[Source: Auto News - sub. req'd]

Ford to keep truckin at Super Duty plant despite International strike originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford F-250/350 Harley-Davidson

John Neff — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford

For those complaining that the Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson introduced yesterday wasn't suited for real truck duty, here you go. It's the F-250/450 Super Duty version of Ford's cobranding enterprise with Harley-Davidson, and can surely tow a few more bikes behind its bed than the half-ton version. Since this big bruiser from Milwaukee via Dearbon hasn't been officially unveiled yet, we can't tell you any details beyond what the spy pics show. Expect a set of nice chrome wheels, a catchy paint job, and badging, lots of badging. The grille up front gets the same slim bars seen on the F-150 version, as well.

Man, how embarassed would you be rolling up to Sturgis behind the wheel of your 2007 F-150 Harley-Davidson and seeing some Hell's Angels fella bombing around in the Super Duty version? At least the F-150 Harley-Davison can be ordered with a $6,500 SALEEN supercharger/intercooler set up so you can smoke the other guy off the line.

Spy Shots: Ford F-250/350 Harley-Davidson originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2007 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits

Scott Davis — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Ford, Earnings/Financials

When a vehicle rolls over, one of the critical components in assuring the safety of its occupants is the roof structure and its ability to protect, not injure its occupants. On the heels of nearly $250-million dollars in judgments relating to injuries caused in rollover accidents, Ford Motor Company has considerably stepped up its efforts to assure the roof strength of its vehicles.

A new standard proposed by NHTSA in August, 2005 raises the minimum force withstood by a roof structure from a multiple of 1.5 to 2.5 times the vehicle's weight while maintaining sufficient head room for a buckled-in average size adult male to avoid being struck by a crushed roof. Unfortunately, a final ruling could take as long as a year and would give the manufacturers until at least 2011 to comply.

In a letter to the NHTSA, Ford's director of automotive safety office, James P. Vondale, disclosed that some versions of 11 models would have roofs 20 percent stronger than required. For instance, the Expedition and Navigator, as well as some F-250 and E-series models would exceed the standard, matching the Volvo XC90, which has one of the strongest roofs on the market.

Follow the jump for more info and a list of the 11 models from Ford that will receive stronger roofs in the near future.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits

Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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