History of the Bumpside | Ford’s ’67-’72 F-Series 

The year 1967 was an interesting one. The Vietnam War waged on, as did the anti-war protests amid the burgeoning “peace and love” movement of the late ’60s. The Doors’ self-titled album hits music store shelves, and Super Bowl I takes place, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. In other football news, a rising star by the name of O.J. Simpson dazzles crowds as running back for USC, winning the Heisman Trophy the following year.

A singer/actor by the name of Elvis marries Priscilla Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, and Loving v. Virginia is decided in the U.S. Supreme Court, overturning a conviction brought forth due to Virginia’s anti-interracial marriage laws.

The Big Mac is introduced to the people of Pittsburg, and soon finds its way to McDonald’s restaurants nationwide. Kathrine Switzer, who has probably never had a Big Mac, runs the Boston Marathon as a registered competitor, despite women not being allowed to race according to its organizers (the official rulebook made no mention of gender). It would be five more years until Boston added a women’s race to the marathon.

Meanwhile in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford had introduced its latest incarnation of the F-Series (How’s that for a smooth segue?). Based on the same chassis as the mechanically revamped ’65 F-Series, the new ’67s were a dramatic take on the future of Ford truck design. A sportier appearance and a pronounced “bump” in the beltline were the most obvious changes, but the interiors were also more car-like this go-around.

Trim packages consisting of Base, Custom Cab and Ranger started off the fifth-generation F-Series’ offerings, although trim names changed somewhat throughout the body style’s run. By the time 1970 rolled around, mid and top-level trim packages were renamed to Sport Custom and Ranger XLT.

In 1968, federal safety mandates required automakers to add side marker reflectors to their vehicles. In the case of Ford trucks, this was accomplished by adding reflectors to the hood and bedsides. Also in 1968 was replacement of the 352 FE with optional 360 and 390 FE engines (170, 240 and 300 cubic-inch I-6s were also available), and the 302 Windsor was also available from 1969-on. This was the first year, too, that one could order a Ford truck with factory air conditioning instead of having to get a third-party setup installed at the dealership. A popular option was the Camper Special, which added camper/trailer wiring, as well as heavy duty cooling and charging system upgrades.

The most drastic change to the fifth-gen trucks came in 1970, with completely a completely new grille design with incorporated wraparound signal lights, as well as changes to the body trim.

As per usual, styleside and flareside boxes were available across the line, and a 4×4 drivetrain was available on F-100 and F-250 models, meaning that no matter what one’s needs, there was a Ford truck that could do the job. Now, check out the rest of the story for some awesome photos and press releases from our friends at the Ford Motor Company Archives!