In the world of Ford pickup trucks, 1997 represents the great dividing line between the earlier squared-off designs and the later, curvier and much larger pickups that came after. Leading up to the switchover was the Ford OBS, or “Old Body Style,” pickup, a truck that is becoming more popular with each passing year among truck enthusiasts enamored with its classic looks and surprisingly modern character.

Here are eight reasons why the 1992–1996 Ford OBS is fast becoming the most collectible Rad-era pickup among Ford fans.

What is a Ford OBS (Old Body Style) truck?

By the mid-1990s, the F-Series was moving almost as many units as the two bestselling family sedans, the Ford Taurus and the Honda Accord, combined. In 1997, Ford F-Series pickups underwent a major stylistic change, introducing swooping, curvy sheetmetal to go with the first all-new platform since the previous-generation truck had been introduced in 1980.

Shaking up America’s most popular vehicle — which until that point had been notoriously conservative in terms of design — was a move that was almost immediately controversial. It was a bold decision from Ford that broke with decades of tradition, and it served as the template for the next 20 or so years of the F-Series.

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It also served as a demarcation line that separated those willing to embrace the new-look Ford from those who preferred the traditional, squared-off proportions of the trucks that had come before it. As the years passed, those pickups were increasingly referred to as “Old Body Style” or OBS trucks to differentiate them from the modern Fords.

Although some extend the term all the way back to encompass the 1980–1996 and 1987–1991 F-Series generations, most enthusiasts agree that the OBS term specifically describes the 1992–1996 model years of the Ford F-Series, which was the final iteration of the truck’s ninth generation. You can also include the 1997 F-250 and F-350 models, which didn’t receive their own unique retooling until the 1999 model year.

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Unmistakable looks, with just a hint of aero

Seen in silhouette, the ’90s OBS Fords share a lot with the trucks that came before them, featuring very similar sheetmetal on the fenders, box and doors. In fact, many of these pieces are interchangeable at a basic level, though trim and details on each are unique to each generation.

The primary update made to the 1992–1996 F-150 (and continuing through 1997 for heavy-duty trucks) is at the front. It’s here that Ford installed an updated grille, shaped headlights and a new curbed bumper. The overall effect was intended to provide a better aerodynamic profile for the truck, or at least as much of an improvement as could be made given the vehicle’s right-angle proportions. Regular, extended (SuperCab) and four-door crew-cab versions of the truck were on offer, though the latter was reserved for F-250 and F-350 models.

Inside the truck, ’90s editions of the OBS F-Series stayed simple but still provided all of the gauges and features most truck owners needed. A bench seat was common, with a split bench or captain’s chairs with a console also available (primarily in SuperCab and crew cab). This was the era just before luxury trucks entered the market, so most upholstery was cloth, complemented by abundant vinyl and plastic.

Overall, the Ford OBS was modern enough in terms of features and equipment without sacrificing the classic proportions that had defined the F-Series trucks for the past several decades. That combination served to draw thousands of fans as the pickups transitioned to classic status.

The last of the Ford pushrod V-8s

A major part of the Ford OBS appeal can be found under the hood. The 1992–1996 Old Body Style trucks are the last ones to offer the Blue Oval’s pushrod V-8 engines.

Starting with the 1997 redesign, the F-150 moved entirely to the overhead-camshaft Modular V-8 engines, with the 4.6-liter and the 5.4-liter units leading the way. Although the new engines were competitive in terms of output, old-school pickup fans were wary of the move away from pushrods. During the introductory period, there was also little aftermarket support for the modular engines, and few mechanics, professional or otherwise, had experience with them. This gave them the reputation of being more complicated to maintain and difficult to modify for extra performance.

Despite the ensuing years having wiped out these concerns, classic truck fans are still drawn to the simplicity and the ubiquity of Ford’s OBS engines. The F-150 was offered with the following common V-8 options:

5.0-liter

• 185 horsepower/270 lb-ft of torque (1992–1993)
• 205 horsepower/275 lb-ft of torque (1994–1997)

5.8-liter

• 210 horsepower/315 lb-ft of torque (1992)
• 200 horsepower/310 lb-ft of torque (1993)
• 210 horsepower/325 lb-ft of torque (1994–1997)

The Ford F-250 and F-350 added an available big-block V-8 engine to the mix. This was the final big-block V-8 ever offered by Ford in a pickup truck.

Photo: Ford Heritage Vault

7.5-liter

• 230 horsepower/390 lb-ft of torque (1992–1993)
• 245 horsepower/410 lb-ft of torque (1994–1997)

Don’t forget the unkillable 4.9-liter I-6

Perhaps the most famous Ford truck engine of all time also rode out its final few years in the OBS lineup. The 4.9-liter inline-six — also known as the 300 Six — was first developed way back in the 1960s and quickly became one of the most popular choices for pickup owners impressed by its incredible reliability.

The 4.9-liter I-6 eventually gained features like fuel injection that helped modernize it by the time the Old Body Style Fords arrived on the scene, but it never lost its reputation as being completely unkillable, no matter how many miles or how much abuse was thrown its way. Its extremely simple, low-compression design, with seven main bearings, meant the engine was barely stressed. Although it produced a modest 145 horsepower, its 265 lb-ft of torque was nearly as much as the next-step-up 5.0-liter V-8 of the same model year.

Photo: Ford Heritage Vault

Power stroke diesel debuts with the Ford OBS

Ford offered diesel options to go with its F-250 and F-350 OBS pickups. Originally, these trucks made use of the same indirect injection, or IDI, as diesels that had been around since the early 1980s. Designed and built by International Navistar, the 7.3-liter V-8 version was used until 1993, and it was appealing thanks to its stout character, affordable upkeep and simplicity.

When Ford unleashed the first Power Stroke diesel engine in 1994, it eclipsed the modest horsepower provided by the IDI setup. This turbocharged engine also displaced 7.3 liters, but it included innovations like direct fuel injection, advanced electronic controls, a wastegate and an intercooler. Built in partnership with Navistar, Power Stroke stayed in production for a full nine years, moving well into the next generation of Ford’s task-focused trucks (the Super Duty models) and blazing a trail for the company in the commercial towing and hauling sector.

7.3-liter IDI V-8 Diesel

• NA: 185 horsepower/360 lb-ft of torque (1992–1994)
• Turbo: 190 horsepower/390 lb-ft of torque (1993–1994)

7.3-liter Power Stroke V-8 Turbodiesel

• 215 horsepower/425 lb-ft of torque (1994–1995)
• 225 horsepower/450 lb-ft of torque (1996–1997)

Photo: Ford Heritage Vault

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The first Ford F-150 Lighting was an OBS pickup

Although muscle trucks weren’t a new concept, in the early 1990s they were undergoing something of a renaissance in Detroit with vehicles like the Chevrolet 454 SS and the GMC Syclone shredding tires and embarrassing sports cars off the line during that period. It was only natural that Ford get in on the action with a performance truck of its own.

This is how the 1993 F-15 SVT Lightning was born. The model stuffed a tuned version of the brand’s 5.8-liter V-8 under the hood, good for 240 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque (thanks largely to the installation of a larger throttle body, a roller cam and GT40 cylinder heads). The pickup also came with a beefed-up four-speed automatic transmission and 4.10 rear gears. An aluminum driveshaft helped prevent vibration at speed, and a lowered suspension introduced a smidgen of handling advantage over the standard version of the F-150.

The truck sat on 17-inch rims, came in a choice of three colors (black, white or red, with trim painted to match), and featured an air dam up front to further excite the eye. The Lightning was offered until 1995.

Don’t forget the Ford Bronco OBS

Helping to boost the popularity of the ’90s Ford OBS pickups is rising interest in the Ford Bronco of the same era. The fifth-generation Bronco SUV makes use of the same platform as the Old Body Style pickup (riding on the short-bed version of the platform), and had nearly identical styling and interior features as compared to the F-150 of the same model year.

The Bronco featured many of the available F-150 engines, though it left the big-block V-8 and turbodiesel options found on heavy-duty trucks off the order sheet, and like the pickups, it could be had with rear- or four-wheel drive and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. It was the final full-size sport utility vehicle from Ford found in a two-door body style, as the current version of the Bronco rides on a Ranger, rather than an F-Series, frame.

Ford OBS trucks are still cheap to buy

Even though Bronco prices are climbing, Ford’s Old Body Style pickups remain affordable for most enthusiasts. Outliers include four-door crew-cab F-250 and F-350 models, particularly those featuring the Power Stroke diesel, as these are among the rarest examples of the ‘90s OBS family — particularly given how many of these heavy-duty trucks were driven into the ground hauling trailers and working ranches.

A short-bed version of the 1996 Ford F-150 equipped with the base 300 I-6 will set you back between $10,000 and $25,000, depending on its condition. That’s a very reasonable starting point whether you’re looking to go full restomod or simply enjoy a comfortable, useful and stylish classic truck as a daily driver.

’90s Ford OBS truck highlights

• Ford OBS pickups come from the 1992–1996 model year for the F-150 (and up to 1997 for F-250 and F-350)
• The Old Body Style trucks from Ford offered 5.0-liter, 5.8-liter and 7.5-liter V-8 engines, which were the last pushrod designs available from the company.
• The Ford OBS pickups introduced the Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8.
• The Old Body Style F-150 was the last model to feature a square-looking design before the 1997 F-Series introduced dramatic, curvy body styling.
• Ford’s famous, unkillable 300 I-6 engine ended pickup production with the OBS trucks.
• The first Ford F-150 SVT Lightning appeared in 1992 as an OBS pickup.

Photos by MotorTrend staff; illustrations by Ryan Lugo