• Ford's F-150 has been the best-selling truck in the United States for 30 consecutive years. It was the first truck to feature a fourth door as a standard feature on all SuperCab trims. The 1997 model featured a new engine lineup, as well as a new body and chassis.
  
  

Engine Specifications

• The V6 engine, which was standard on many models of the 1997 F-150, was a 4.2-liter and delivered 205 horsepower and 255 foot-pounds of torque. It had two valves per cylinder, an overhead valve, 3.81 inches of bore and 3.74 inches of stroke, as well as a 9.3:1 compression ratio. A five-speed manual overdrive transmission was standard, with a four-speed automatic overdrive transmission as an optional feature.
  
  

Fuel Economy

• The V6 engine, using the four-speed automatic in four-wheel drive, got 15 miles per gallon in the city and 19 miles per gallon on the highway. The five-speed manual transmission got 16 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. The rear-wheel drive got 17 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway.
  
  

Safety Specifications

• The 1997 F-150 received four stars in front driver-side crash tests, as well as five stars in front passenger-side crash tests. These tests are administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a scale of one to five stars. Anti-lock brakes were standard features on all models to help prevent an accident. In the event a crash were to occur, driver and passenger side airbags would minimize the effects of the collision.
  
  

Dimensions

• The dimensions of the F-150 varied with the trim level selected. It stood between 75.1 and 72.8 inches tall, and between 202.2 and 222.3 inches long. It was between 79.5 inches and 78.4 inches wide, with a wheelbase ranging from 119.9 to 157.1 inches.