(To read the full series of articles on the history of the Ford F-Series truck, click here for Ford Trucks: The First Generation.)

In 1957, the Ford F-Series of pickup trucks was restyled once again to keep up with changing customer needs. Pickup trucks were starting to be bought because of their looks and not just their hauling capacities, and automakers across America were clamouring to keep up with consumer demands.

Ford designers changed the look to incorporate a new chrome grille that is associated by millions as the Ford pickup truck of yesteryear. The hood was now sitting flush with the fenders, and the back had two options — the traditional flareside and the new smooth sided styleside.

Ford’s four wheel drive drivetrain, which had previously been outsourced to Marmon-Herrington, started being produced in house in 1959, a tradition that continues today. The low GVWR — or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — was still offered for each model, although it wasn’t the most popular choice and the trucks are still rare.

By 1957, Ford discontinued producing the F-series in the Highland Ford Plant in Michigan and truck production was outsourced to 10 other plants across the United States, as well as in Brazil, Mexico, and Oakville, Ontario, Canada. By this time the F-series was being produced in 6 main model types ranging from the F-100 to the F-600 in weights that ranged from half tonne to one and a half tonnes.

If you’re looking for a Ford pickup truck that’s a little more modern, stop on by and visit Sunset Ford and take a look at the new truck inventory. The grille might be a little different and there might be a little less chrome, but the same Ford quality has remained throughout the years.