Background

The 1978 Ford F-150 was the first to be offered in the luxurious Lariat trimline, as well as the Custom, Sport, Ranger, and Ranger XLT trims. Some 78 F150s came off the line with a beefy 169-horsepower Cleveland V-8 engine; output that big came at a heavy price for fuel economy, though, so the 1978 Ford F150 pickup also shipped with a 385 V8, a 460 V8 and a straight-6.

Ford's F-series topped the market for the first time in 1978, winning its place as the best-selling vehicle line in America, a position it was to hold for years. The popular trucks drew their following from off-road enthusiasts as well as buyers looking for a sturdy workhorse for farm or ranch. Tuners were drawn to the truck's muscle, and to the variety of configurations of bed, tonneau, and cab (including a supercab extended crewcab option for styleside models, as well as 2-door and 4-door setups).