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May 12, 2009
CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning
By Jim Brennan
UDMan
Welcome to the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the notion of what a muscle car is, and to see if a truck can fit the definition of muscle car. Previous trucks featured in this series include the Dodge Warlock and Lil Red Express and the Chevy Silverado 454 SS, so I thought it was time to feature a set of trucks for all of you Ford guys. Let’s take a look at both generations of the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning.
Continue reading after the jump!
The Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) was established in 1991 to “Polish the Ford Oval,” a mission very similar to the reasons behind the company’s participation in motorsports. Ford created a small, passionate, cross-functional group of engineers, product planners, and marketing people all housed together under one roof with a common mission: to create vehicles specifically designed to meet the unique needs and desires of the knowledgeable driving enthusiast. The first two products offered by this enthusiast driven division were the SVT Mustang Cobra, and the SVT F150 Lightning.
Ford introduced the SVT F-150 Lightning at the Chicago Auto Show in February of 1993. It was a model to showcase what the SVT Team could do with an everyday, workable, Pickup Truck. It was also an effort to compete in the performance truck market, with the Chevrolet Silverado 454SS and the GMC Syclone, both drawing a lot of press attention at that time. The Lightning shared its basic platform structure with the regular F-150, but custom modifications were made to many vehicle systems. The stock Lightning was capable of achieving 0.88 g lateral acceleration, yet it was a full-sized American pickup truck with almost all the hauling and trailering capabilities of the parent F-Series. A 351 Cu In (5.8 L) Windsor V8 producing 240 hp and 340 ft·lbf of torque replaced the standard F-150 engine. The engine was based on an existing block, but Ford engineers fitted it with high flow rate “GT40″ heads to increase response, output and durability.
An upgraded Ford E40D automatic transmission equipped with an aluminum driveshaft was standard and the only available transmission. 4.10:1 ratio rear gears, special 17″ aluminum wheels with Firestone tires, unique Lightning badging, a custom front air dam with integrated fog lights, a 120 mph speedometer and unique under hood treatments including a special “Lightning” intake manifold casting all differentiated the Lightning from normal F-150s. Bucket seats with adjustable side bolsters and lumbar supports were part of the package. Suspension modifications made the truck stiffer and more responsive, and provided a 1 in front and 2.5 in rear drop in ride height, lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity and improving handling.
The 1993 Lightning received more than 150 favorable articles in America’s newspapers, magazines, and television outlets, and helped Ford regain leadership in the all-important personal-use truck market. Three-time World Champion driver Jackie Stewart was highly involved in fine-tuning of the Lightning’s handling prowess, and Mr. Stewart finally announced to the motor press, “I love the Lightning!”
The 1993 Lightning had an incredible 23 product “firsts” or pilot applications, including the first true dual exhaust on an F-Series, the first bucket seats in an F-Series, the first 17″ wheels and tires, and the first use of synthetic lubricant in Ford truck rear axles. 1994 saw the addition of a new color to the SVT Lightning palette, White. The only other colors offered were a bright Red, and Black. Production of the first generation F-150 Lightning wound down after only 3 years of production, and with only a little over 11,500 produced.
Ford resurrected the Lightning in 1999, after a five year hiatus. With its new F-Series body the Lightning now came equipped with a SOHC 5.4L Triton V8 and an Eaton supercharger helping pump out an astounding 120 more horsepower than the previous generation. The Lightning’s 360 horsepower and 440 ft-lbs. of torque made it the fastest production truck in the world doing 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The twin short-and-long-arm suspension was lowered 1/2-inch up front and the solid axle, five leaf-spring rear suspension lowered 2-inches over the standard truck’s three-leaf units. Behind the engine sat the 4R100 automatic transmission which connected to a rear end housing 3.55:1 rear gears. The Lightning featured specialized 18″ wheels mounted with Goodyear Eagle F1 295/45ZR-18 tires.
In the 2001 Model Year, the engine design was slightly altered to produce 380 horsepower @ 4,750 rpm and 450 ft·lbf of torque @ 3,250 rpm. At the other end of the drivetrain, the final drive ratio was shortened to 3.73:1 in 2001. The specially developed 295/45ZR-18 Goodyear Eagle F1-GS unidirectional tires were upgraded, improving the tires’ gripping capability. With these engine and drivetrain revisions, Car and Driver magazine drove a lightning from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. For 2003, the Lightning’s cargo capacity was raised from 800 lb. to 1,350 lb.
Also for 2001, the Lightning adds brand new Bilstein monotube shocks with better dampening than the tubular, gas-charged shocks found previous years. The rest of the suspension and chassis remains unchanged. The Lightning hugs the road like Lycra on a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. When combined with the limited-slip differential in the rear and those specially formulated Goodyear Eagle tires, the Lightning exhibits the best handling found in a pickup truck not sporting all-wheel drive.
The second generation Lightning was initially offered in just Bright Red, Black, and White paint colors. The 2000 Model Year brought the addition of the Silver color to the lineup. In 2002, True Blue, a very dark blue, was offered, but replaced with a lighter Sonic Blue in 2003. The 2003 Model Year also saw the introduction of the Dark Shadow Grey color. These trucks were in production for 6 seasons, with a production run of over 28,000 units. These trucks were manufactured at Ford’s Ontario Truck Facility in Oakville, Ontario until its closure.
CarDomain Members Rides
Well, it looks like there are over 100 F-150 Lightnings showcased within the CarDomain Community, and they all can be seen here. However, I though I would highlight a couple of my favorites. Here’s Gary’s first generation stock F-150 Lightning, from Mt. Pleasant, NC. He calls his pride and joy “Black Betty”, and has done some subtle enhancements on her. Take a look!
Here’s Jesus’ 2000 F-150 Lightning, with a custom paint job. This truck hails from Guymon, Oklohoma. Check out the two tone silver and blue. While not factory, it is sharp.
There you have it, a limited edition truck, built in two distinct generations. Many of you agreed that the Dodge and the Chevy performance trucks were a great addition to the Parking lot, but what about these Fords? Is the first generation really any different than a standard Ford F-150? Is the second generation just trying too hard, and are these Muscle Trucks really that obscure? Let me know.
Comments
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SVTEnthusiast
May 21, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Check out http://www.SVTEnthusiast.com for a great SVT Forum and online community.
SouthernGuy8503
May 16, 2009 at 9:52 am
Boydz – thank you captain obvious, i guess nobody knew it was a truck until your clarified that, your so smart i swear, but just so you know, people do use “car” as a general term when talking about vehicles, i’ve heard people say stuff like “im going to my car” or “its in my car” and they actually have a truck or SUV, so “car” is used as a general term to
bigboi313
May 15, 2009 at 8:26 pm
booooo ford!!!!!!!
BoydZCustomZ
May 15, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hey retard(S) – This is a “truck” not a “car”. The title clearly states: CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot.
buickpimpin101
May 15, 2009 at 9:12 am
LOVE IT!!!!
mrsnifflez
May 15, 2009 at 8:44 am
Ford Power baby! The lightning would dominate the GM trucks.
BlazerNIN
May 15, 2009 at 7:35 am
I think The Typhoons and Syclones would smoke the Lightning in a heartbeat becuase of their AWD that makes them invincible. plus im not a ford guy so thats why a I say that.
Legacy_camaro
May 15, 2009 at 7:25 am
muscle truck is what it is. and it rocks for sure! a muscle car is different from a muscle truck due to the fact that they are TRUCKS. however, most muscle trucks are still Rear wheel drive V8 monster machines like my buddy, Blue Thunder’s truck
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3124362
cbeech316
May 15, 2009 at 6:40 am
THATS RIGHT JIM, SET THEM STRAIGHT, THANKYOU
Jim Brennan
May 15, 2009 at 4:11 am
Some of you seem to be missing the point about this series of posts. It’s called the Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, not the Obvious Muscle Car Parking Lot in which there are Chevelle SS 396, Oldsmobile 442, Ford Torino Cobra Jet, and Plymouth Hemi Cudas parked. No, this is where we discover Obscurity. A Truck is a rather Obscure Muscle Car. So is a Station Wagon, most anything from the 50′s, as well as a few Imports. It seems when I stray from the obvious “formula” of what a muscle car is suppose to be, the comments tend to be rather vocal. The focus of these postings is to expand your mind, and to discover a way of looking at vehicles you would may have never heard of, or look at them in a new light. Keep following this series, and look at the featured cars (and trucks) in a whole new way.
chevyman327nova
May 15, 2009 at 2:56 am
trucks can be muscle hell i even consider a regular pickup you put power into as muscle it dont need to be a special edition it just has to be tough as nails and i guess that goes for every domestic make and yes thats kinda hard for me to say cuz im mostly a chevy guy
cv123
May 14, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Definatly muscle, these trucks are fast
codylee6969
May 14, 2009 at 6:06 pm
muscle is muscle car, truck, bike, boat, etc….
cbeech316
May 14, 2009 at 5:36 pm
WHO CARES ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS A TRUCK AND NOT A CAR ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I agree with phattacorider ‘s comments. Why are all you retards getting so hung up about a truck being in this story!!!??? When it comes down to it, cardomain.com is doing this article Im sure because the thing honestly has balls! Who cares if it has a cargo box or a fucking trunk, its got serious power and sweet styling. If they had a Freightliner or a Peterbilt transport truck on here,,,OK I COULD SEE ALL OF YOU BEING PISSED about this, but just give it a rest, change your tampons guys! Really.
wsbob
May 14, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Wat about a feature on the GMC Syclone or the GMC Typhoon. Or the Dodge Ram SRT-10
phattacorider
May 14, 2009 at 11:53 am
Why are people getting so bent about a truck being in a muscle CAR blog? Muscle truck, muscle car, who cares! The point is the muscle and the speed and acceleration abilities it has. All that differs between a truck and a car is the way the bulk of the cargo is carried. Other than that, the suspension, drivetrain, and engine are fairly similar. So people gotta get the sticks out of their asses about this being a truck in a muscle “CAR” blog. Hell, this is one bad ass truck and will surely do donuts around those who lose sleep over the difference between a car and a truck.
BoydZCustomZ
May 14, 2009 at 11:20 am
What a retard – This is a “truck” not a “car”. The title clearly states: CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot.
Resurrected_Z28
May 14, 2009 at 10:59 am
I have to agree with Papacherry, the title muscle car goes to cars and not trucks. I would much rather say truck; with muscle car performance.
PapaCherry
May 14, 2009 at 10:21 am
Im sorry but a “truck” cannot be a “car”. Even if it is a muscle truck you cannot categorize it as a muscle car. The big factor is… ITS NOT A CAR. The only thing you can consider to be a muscle car because it in fact listed as a car is an el camino. If the case is that a muscle truck is a muscle car then why not put all the high powered trucks in the muscle car category.
cbeech316
May 14, 2009 at 5:36 am
Love the Lightning…always will be a favorite,,,,,Hope in the future they bring it back….The new SVT Raptor is lookin sweet though,,,,Ford man or not ya gotta appreciate these trucks.
CarsonD
May 13, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Everyone is talking about the SRT10 Dodge as the ultimate truck. Yet you are all forgeting the whole weight to power issue. Though lightnings are heavy, there not as heavy as a dodge ram. Plus im pretty damn sure a lightning can out perform any SRT10 in a corner. For the money, I would rather have a lightning. And you know what? My dad has one. Just becouse of this im going to add it under my vehicles.
albania_fier
May 13, 2009 at 8:21 pm
i agree trucks are muscle cars especially the ram srt-10
brivan
May 13, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Really cool truck,but I still think they look/ed a little too ahead of their time’.
fastisuzu
May 13, 2009 at 5:12 pm
are we all forgeting the el camino
fdw412
May 13, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Come on guys, i love ford trucks as much as the next guy but i believe the Ram SRT-10 is king of all “muscle car” trucks.
FordRulesAll
May 12, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I was waiting for this, definitely a cool truck.
satty12
May 12, 2009 at 9:59 am
Do you have to ask i mean really its a big hell yes in my book nuff said.
wsbob
May 12, 2009 at 9:57 am
Yeah they’re obscure enough… and they perform well enough. I think a better question woulda been the Plymouth Prowler or the Chevy SSR (Hint Hint)
dgaf88
May 12, 2009 at 6:56 am
I would hardly call this “obscure”. Everybody that’s into cars knows about them and everbody knows they hog gas and haul ass.
NobiZero
May 12, 2009 at 5:54 am
I used to work with a guy that had a red ’94 with a Vortech supercharger, and 3 NOS bottles in the bed. I’ve never seen a truck that size move so fast. I’ve seen the potential these have first hand, and while it’s not a muscle “car,” this most definitely is a muscle truck.
SouthernGuy8503
May 12, 2009 at 5:51 am
ya this is one, if the chevy silverado SS 454 is one then this is one to, in that chevy silverado SS 454 Obscure Muscle Car blog i even said that both the silverado SS and the ford lightning are both considered muscle trucks
>>>>>>>>>>
i guess next for the muscle truck on Obscure Muscle Car would be the Dodge Ram SRT-10, that is it if hasn’t been on there before
Brett Powers
May 12, 2009 at 5:44 am
I have wanted a first gen Lightning for years. I came real close to buying a wrecked 2001 Lightning that had been in an accident and needed a new front end. Wife decided we didn’t need a supercharged truck with a regular cab and a short box though.