By Struan Jones
FORD’S F-150 truck is one of the most iconic vehicles in the history of motoring.
Since its inception in 1948, well over 40 million F-Series trucks have been sold, making it one of the best-selling vehicles in history, and still today, it is the most popular vehicle in America.
The F-150 is a symbol of toughness and utility, with spartan, non-pretentious styling. However, it has been Ford’s innovation and focus on comfort that has made the F-150 appeal to a wide audience beyond farmers and business owners.
For Nagambie’s Lindsay Moore, his F-Truck, lovingly named Betsy, is the Queen of Cars.
His eighth-generation, 1990 F-150, built at Geelong’s Ford plant, is a long wheelbase 4×4 five-speed manual powered by a V8 motor. It’s done more than half a million kilometres, but still looks and feels as good as new (partly due to a recent mechanical refit).
It’s arctic white exterior and chestnut interior have a timeless quality.
A Geelong man through and through, Lindsay has been a life-long Cats and Ford fan.
He started his driving life with a Ford Zephyr, and since then has had relationships with a Mustang, an XM Falcon hardtop, an XT Falcon Fairmont and an XW Falcon ute.
Betsy, however, is the car equivalent of a wife.
“I’m not going to buy another one,” Lindsay said.
“I’ve had a lot of people wanting to buy it from me, but where are you going to get another one? You just can’t replace it.”
Since acquiring Betsy in 1996, Lindsay and his wife have driven around Australia, several times around the state towing a caravan, and she remains Lindsay’s daily drive, recognisable around town.
“It’s just like driving a car, it’s so comfortable. It’s up high, you’ve got a good view. It’s very economical to me,” he said.
“We just love it, it’s like a family pet I suppose.”
If you, or anyone you know, is passionate about their car, motorbike, bicycle, or wheelbarrow (basically anything with wheels), please get in contact with The Adviser at editor@sheppartonadviser.com.au. Happy driving!
