Ford F-Series Prototype Reduced to Ashes
Tim Esterdahl | Aug 04, 2014 | Comments 13
The internet is abuzz today with pictures of a Ford F-Series Super Duty burning to the ground. While the images are stunning, it is interesting how much (or lack thereof) debris was left. The cat is out of the bag, the new F-Series Super Duty trucks will be made out of aluminum.
A Ford F-Series prototype caught fire while testing. Hmmm… Ford and Fire. Photos courtesy of Car and Driver.
Setting aside Ford trucks are ON FIRE jokes, we hear nobody was hurt by the inferno and the engineers made it out safe.
What’s in the inferno? A lot of r&d money.
The photos clearly show fast a Ford truck can go down in flames (we’ll stop – we promise!).
Honestly, there are several questions/items that got our attention on this story:
- 1. Was it just pure dumb luck that a spy photographer was there? Or was this staged?
- 2. Look at the debris. This tells you the truck used a lot of aluminum. Steel leaves a shell, aluminum melts.
- 3. What were they doing or testing which caused the fire?
Probably the biggest news here is the lack of the steel frame. This picture seems to confirm it is aluminum.
Ford did release an official statement confirming their prototype burnt to a crisp.
This truck is HOT!
This isn’t the first truck to catch fire recently. Remember the Ram truck that caught fire while a Texas automotive journalist was driving it?
Apparently, at some point, it was just a pleasant day for a drive.
The news of an aluminum Super Duty doesn’t surprise us. Ford went all in on their aluminum-bodied F-150. Why wouldn’t they bet the farm on it working throughout their lineup? They would since it is a hot product.
Filed Under: Auto News
What is it with Ford and fires? God I wish toyota would build an HD truck with a hino diesel and wipe The floor with the competition.
Most tow companies here in South Florida have switched to hino trucks. They are impressed to say the least.
Then there could be 40 more recalls for Toyota to deal with. GARBAGE!!! Lol
Hmm, this is interesting. I asked Uncle Google if aluminum catches fire. Here’s what he replied with: http://www.g2mil.com/aluminum.htm
The answer looks to be yes…
There may be more to this that meets the eye…
LJC,
That is interesting about the aluminum on ships. Make sense in light of these photos.
-Tim
Yes, aluminum doesn’t just melt: it burns. I’ve seen it.
Research USS Belknap’s collision with USS John F. Kennedy back on 22 November 1975, and what happened to the thick aluminum “armor” on her superstructure.
Steve
Really? GM has recalled 30 million cars this year. Ford has seven recalls on their fire escape suv. You have the audacity to speak of garbage?
Truck goes up in flames: What did one Ford Engineer tell the other?
“I just took it to the dealer last week because it went into Limp Mode again!”
The dealer said: “There are no codes present and Ford said it is perfect”
Engineer: “But this is the twelfth time we brought it back for the same problem”
Dealer: “Sorry”
Later after the fire:
The pile of aluminum is delivered to the dealer on a flatbed truck.
Engineer: “This time we have proof, just before it burst into flames in went into Limp Mode again”
Dealer: “We found no codes (literally); therefore Ford Motor Company says it is perfect….warrantee claim is denied”
This is the same aluminum chemical burning process that takes place when water is added to Drano
May be Ford was testing their trucks using the SAE J2807 towing criteria. This could be why Ford is still dancing around the SAE towing standards. Their trucks can tow what Ford say they can tow without burning up if they use the towing standards.
Thats funny right thur……… Ford, they just dont do enough R&D and the uninformed or unfortunately the uneducated (on the subject) masses will still by this untested garbage and deal with the problems talkin bout how tough their ford is LOL…… wow ‘merica wake up! noone learned from the pinto where ford OPENLY said they weighed the cost of the recall against what it would pay to the families for the deaths that occurred and DECIDED IT WOULD COST LESS TO IGNORE AND PAY THE LOSSES FROM THE LAWSUITS! then they pointed the finger at Firestone, then the texas instruments cruise control units and 5.4’s spitting plugs and timing chain slack and NOW ecoboost issues and people are STILL dumb enough to buy them, WOW.
I remember when the Explorers were rolling over. Recently I walked past an MVA and saw an old Explorer on its roof. The truck was going down a steep driveway and didn’t hit anything. The uninjured driver said he turned the wheel sharply and the truck just tipped over.
I wonder if the fire in this story had anything to do with light weight magnesium. That stuff burns too and is used in vehicles.
you just talked me right out of it, LOL.
plus, no large V8, 🙂
Living at the top of a 12 mile grade, I have seen many cars and trucks completely burned up. Seems going up steep grade in the summer heat is part of the issue. When the fuel starts to leak and burn thats it. I bet I have seen close to 20 fires in about 20 years but I have never seen a meltdown like this Ford. Now that we know the aluminum will melt and burn Ford might as well save even more weight and build the truck out of magnesium. They are both gong to burn but the magnesium will be lighter and make for a much better fire.
My guess is that this Ford was a little twin turbo gas motor. The turbos melded down and started the fire. Wonder if the spark plugs are still in the engine.
I’ll take the old/current Tundra with the V8.
We all know that Toyota is going to need to change the Tundra to meet the demands of the FEDS. Can they do it and have better success? We will see soon.