When Ford debuted their new line of cab-over light-duty vans and pickups in 1961, they were an immediate success. But the idea of placing seats above the front wheels (allowing the cab to be shorter and the bed to be longer) was not new. In 1950, Volkswagen had introduced the forward control, rear-engine Transporter, which arrived in America in 1954. In 1957, the Willys-Overland company offered their 4-wheel-drive FC-150 and FC-170 cab-over pickups. The FC designation stood for forward control.
Ford's
Econoline series was based on their compact Falcon model. Unibody
construction allowed the truck to be light; the body also functioned as
the frame, to which the running gear was attached. The cab-over design
required the motor to sit over the front axle, which made the truck
front-heavy. To offset this, a 165-pound weight was mounted underneath
the truck over the rear wheels. Up front an I-Beam axle was used,
suspended by leaf springs. With a curb-weight of about 2,500 pounds,
power-steering wasn't really needed and never offered.
For
the first year of production, all models were powered by Ford's
85-horsepower, six-cylinder, 144-cid engine, which yielded 25-30 miles
per gallon. An optional 170-cid motor was available the following year.
Inside, the driver and passenger sat above the front wheels, and shared
the interior with the engine, which was positioned between the seats
underneath an insulated cover. The steering column stood up nearly
vertical from the floor, and held the three-speed manual shifter.
In
1963 payload capacity was increased, and an optional custom cab was
offered. A heavy-duty package included a reinforced frame, stiffer
springs, 14-inch wheels and tires, and a stronger rear axle. 1963 would
be the Econoline pickup's highest output, with over 11,000 sold. An
automatic transmission option became available in 1964. The following
year Econoline models received larger and stronger bumpers. For 1967,
upgrades included a dual-brake master cylinder, padded sun visors,
two-speed wipers, and back-up lamps.With a diminishing demand for light-duty pickups, competition from Chevy and Dodge, and sales falling under 3,000 units for two consecutive years, 1967 would be the last year for the Econoline pickup.
Source: Internet
