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Photo evbmitied

THE 1997 Ford F-150 Flareside pickup truck differs from the standard Styleside pickup iy its flared rear tend-
_@re, wraparound veer taillights and smaller box. Test drive the new Ford pickup at Dave Buck Ford, 879 Marine

1 Or., Morth Vanecuver.

's many Variations,
has been‘one of the.
best-selling vehicles
in Canada for many

,is‘attributable to the F-
a Series utilitarian nature,
‘tugged durability, and
ease of serviciig and
parts:availability.
While many F-Series trucks are “used
t dedicated work applications, such as
farming, forestry, and mining, a
number of these full-size pick-

‘up trucks’ are being used by individuals -

for. work: and play, such as tradespeople
> them for recr:
day, commuti

That’ 's. we in designing the 1990 F-

nd ore The new Mieka ie is roomier, -

quieter, n more © comfort table, better han-

fe i:
oe

A CAR FOR ALL AGES, ALL SEASONS ~

_Witison __

joes sporty

Gling and safer than the
“96 truck, while retain-
‘ing and improving upon
its payload and towing

capabilities. By the
way, the ‘97 F-Series is
being sold alongside the
‘96 models until August
when ‘96 models will
be discontinued.

As before, 1997 F-

. 150 models are avail-
drive able in Regular Cab,
SuperCab, and
Flareside body styles,
with two wheelbase lengths, two bed
sizes, and'a choice of two-wheel-drive
or part-time four-wheel-drive.

The base 4.9-litre inline six-cylinder
engine has been replaced by a 205
horsepower 4.2-litre OHV V6 engine
with most of its peak torque available at

under 1500 rpm. This is the most pow-

erful standard engine in the full-size

‘pickup truck class.

Two new overhead camshaft V8 °
engines are available as optioss on the
F-150.-A 210 horsepower 4.6-litre V8

and 2 5.4-litre V8. Both of these engines
offer a ‘fail-safe’ mode which allows the
engine to run temporarily without
coolant.

A five-speed manual transtnission is
standard and a four-speed automatic
with on/off overdrive switch is optional.
Part-time four-wheel-drive can be
engaged with u flocr shifter or an easy-
to-use dash-mounted dial, depending on
which truck you order.

Base F-150 pickups can tow trailers
weighing 1,043 kg (2,300 Ibs.). but
when equipped with a 5.4-litre V8
engine and automatic transmission, the

F-150.4X2 Regular Cab can tow trailers —

weighing up to 3,720 kg (8,200 Ibs.)
F-Series buyers will notice areal ~

inyprovement in ride and handling in the’:

‘97 models. This is partly due to a new
independent front suspension -— a long
arm/short arm type with coil springs in
the 4X2 and a torsion bar setup in the
4X4 - both replace Ford’s Twin I-beam
suspension. Combined with a wider
stance, larger 16-inch tires, and a stiffer

' See Airbags page 38

Friday, June 21, 1996 -- North Shore News ~ 39

e
F-150 Flareside
technical data

Price as tested: $22,720
Base price: $21,195
‘Type: two-door, three-passenger
full-size pickup
Layout: longitudinal front engine/
rear-wheel-drive
Engine: 4.2-litre OHV V6
Horsepower: 205 @ 4,400 rp.m.
Torque: 255 ft.-lbs. @ 3,000 r.p.m,
Transmission: five-speed manual
GVWR: 2.517 kg (5,550 ths.)
Length: 5,236 mm (202.2 in.)
Width: 1,991 mm (78.4 in.)
Height: 1.839 mm (72.4 in.}
Tires: P235/70R-16
Box length: 2,001 mm (78.8 in.)
Warranty: three years/60,000 km

#4 aN CANADA - FOR SIX YEARS iN A ROW!

A CAR FOR ALL REASONS!

52 BRAND NEW il STOCK AND 28 ON THE WAY...

ee ARE DEALING. NOUS? a0. 47