7Mary3

Jack Webb produced 'Emergency', and he was a stickler for details. When the County of Los Angeles started their paramedic program, they used the many Dodge D-300 rescue squads they had in their fleet. So, Universal Studios bought a new Dodge and had it outfitted with the same body and equipment the County used for the show. The pumper originally was an older Crown Firecoach borrowed from the County's reserve fleet, but later when the County bought new Ward LaFrance pumpers (and the show was a big hit $$$) Universal bought their own Ward. Story was they paid for one additional truck on the County's order. L.A. County was a big Chrysler customer but by the late 70's they started buying Chevy C-30's for paramedic squads. They had Ford F-350's in the 90's but went back to Dodge (Ram) in recent years.

That picture makes me wonder why Ford never came out with an aluminum cab for the old Louisville.

Some 2024 F-650/750 info: 10 Speed Torq-Shift transmission will only be available with the 6.7L Powerstroke, the 7.3L gas engine continues with the 6R-140 (a combination I really wish was available in the F-350). Air brakes finally listed as an option for the gas engine. Tractor package seems to have disappeared. I never saw one anyway... No other changes that I can see as of yet.

I think the current F-150/Super Duty cab would be an improvement on the 650/750, it's more roomy and the visibility is a bit better. There would be some costs associated with making that change, but there would be some savings as well. No idea if Ford will ever make that change on the 650/750, they might be planning on not making any changes to those trucks and just selling them as long as the demand is there.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-ford-google-partner-promote-121222014.html

Which USPS is about to find out......

I think it's great for what it is.

Recently changed hands, new owner has other dealerships but I don't think he is that big. Old site is up for lease, but looks ripe for redevelopment.

So much to my surprise my local Ford dealership subbenly moved after something like 65+ years in the same location. Their old facility was quite large, comprising of multiple buildings including an old main building and show room that dated to 1927 (ironically originally a Chevy dealership). They had a complete body shop, a separate service garage built to accommodate large trucks, and a large parts building. They moved a few blocks away to a relatively new building built a few years ago as a Mini dealership. Guess Mini isn't doing too well any more. Anyway the new facility is a single multi-story building with ramps to service, the showroom, and to some new vehicle parking. It's all very clever. That is, if you are selling Mini's. I hope they can make this work, but it looks like trucks are out unless they open another facility somewhere. The goofiest part of the whole deal is the classic 1960-something Mini hanging from the ceiling in the show room. Might want to get rid of that.... I have a suspicion that the dealership is aiming to be a FordE dealer, which if true would make the move a lot more logical.

I think the award is well deserved, no question. However, I also think that this vehicle will be rendered obsolete very quickly (from both within Ford and by the competition) as it is a modified ICE vehicle and its basic design is a compromise.

That was the least of their problems. I am sure low sulpher diesel didn't help, but most of the fuel lubricity problems surfaced in the mid-90's.

I am not loosing that much, more like 15%. However in my area the price difference is substantial, E85 at $2.79 vs. 87 unleaded at $4.59/gal.. Depends on where you live and maybe a bit on what/how you drive.

No question it will be expensive. I am hearing talk of dual SCR's, very sophisticated NOX controls, and some sort of AFM/cylinder deactivation will be mandatory. I think there will be a pre-buy, but some of the increased regulation proponents are already saying it's all good, no evidence of a pre-buy yet! Hearing rumblings that California (and possibly the other states adhearing to CARB regulations) are looking at banning non-CARB diesels from operating in California.

The Cummins is a certainly factor for many fleets, but at least for us the Powertroke isn't a 'make or break' deal. Not having an Allison is because many of our units run multiple PTO's.

This will be about 'it' for diesel: https://www.truckinginfo.com/10189246/epa-publishes-stringent-truck-emissions-regulations You can see why so many truck manufacturers gave up on proprietary diesel engines and handed everything to Cummins. The future is electric and hydrogen fuel cell.

I think not having an Allison transmission is a bigger issue than the 6.7L Powerstroke is. The only problem I see with the Powerstroke is all the garbage plastic parts on the OUTSIDE of the engine, like the fuel filter, intercooler piping, dozens of coolant line fittings and elbows. The basic engine is pretty robust. The TorqShift 6R140 is basically a good transmission but is very limited on PTO options. It is the equivalent of the Allison 2000 series, not the stronger and more versitle 3000 'World' transmission.

I would like to thank 'ol Jim for giving us a good 'heads up'. I will put off purchasing any new Ford vehicles for "several years" until the quality issues subside.

Funny my local Amazon distribution center seems to be replacing their Transits (had them for some years) with these oddball Promaster cutaway cube vans. Never seen that type of Promaster before.

Yes, and GM has Oshawa on line building Silverado and Sierra HD's.

The F-600 is taking off, but the 650 and 750 sales are declining. I wonder if it's because Ford can't get them built or increased competition from the revamped International MV and Freightliner M2. Hino is also back in the game with their new Cummins powered mediums. Probably a combination of both factors.

GM beat Ford in HD pickup market share in September, with over 52%. Guess they don't count orders.......

How many 2022 orders have not been filled yet? Or 2021's for that matter. Heard rumors the Super Duty will have a short 2023 MY. This mess will not improve until the economy tanks, by that time a lot of buyers with trucks on order will back out so dealers will have some inventory when they eventually get built. No way I am ordering anything now, good chance a buyer's market will develop within 12-18 months.

Order bank for 2023 closing in....... I wonder how many of these orders will spill over into 2024.

Demand is insane because so many orders have never been built. Also not building any (or very few) trucks for dealer inventory is a big contributing factor.

Yes, 2024. Production starts 01/30/2023 according to Donlen. GM is going to release their 2024 medium duty trucks early as well. Some new versions of the Isuzu based LCF's and updated Silverado mediums.