Table of Contents
The Features of the 1994 Ford F150
The 1994 F150 may have looked the same as its predecessor, but some significant changes occurred.
Safety First
By late 1993, other vehicles received airbags, and it was clear that this was the wave of the future. Dodge announced that airbags would be standard in their new RAM pickup for the 1994 model year, and Ford followed the trend. (Chevy would begin in 1995). The truck only had a driver’s side airbag (passenger side airbags would grace the ‘97 model), which Ford reminded customers that were designed to supplement the use of your lap and shoulder (seat) belts.”
In addition, Ford installed a brake-shift interlock for its automatic transmissions. The new design prevented the gearshift from moving out of Park until the brake pedal was depressed. (This device prevented the car from rolling accidentally).
A new rear brake light was installed directly above the rear window. (While cars had been required by the NHTSA since 1986, the agency extended that requirement to light-duty trucks in 1994). Ford offered the option for an electrochromic mirror that automatically dimmed in response to headlight glare.
Keyless entry had been introduced on the F150 the year before as an option, but now it added a car alarm feature. The system was an option for XLT trims but not offered on the XL.
The SVT Lightning
Ford introduced the new SVT Lightning in late 1992 but only produced around 5200 in the first year. The truck was a product of Ford’s SVT (Special Vehicle Team) and featured an upgraded 5.8L V8 with GT40 heads, upgraded suspension, and steering systems. The truck was fast, blazing at 0 - 60 mph in around 7 seconds.
For 1994, Ford added white to the exterior colors of the Lightning (it had been offered in only Red or Black). Ford produced 4,007 F150 Lightnings for 1994, with white outselling the other colors. The 1994 SVT Lightning was named the “Official Truck” of the Indianapolis 500. (While the 1994 Cobra ended up being the pace car, Ford did make about ten special Indianapolis 500 “Official Truck” editions). If you wanted a Lightning in any color, you needed to be prepared to shell out over $21k. (Base Price for an F150 was around $13,500).
Trim Levels/Cab Configurations
For the second year in a row, Ford continued the F150 in two (three) trim levels, the XL trim being the base. The XLT covered the mid-tier and the top-tier depending on which Preferred Equipment Group it had (503A or 507A). The Flareside was built as a short bed truck in 4x2 or 4x4 versions, and it was offered just as it had been in 1993.
The standard F150 truck continued in Regular and SuperCab configurations, with a 6 ¾’ or 8’ bed. Two-wheel and four-wheel drive options were available.
Exterior
There were no changes to the exterior of the 1994 F150. The grille and headlight treatments were the same, and hood lines continued to help with aerodynamics and fuel economy. The straight lines of the truck flowed toward the rear, providing a lean, slim appearance.
Ford put together a special Off-Road package that allowed F150 owners to customize their trucks with a Rally Bar, off-road lights, and a bedliner. Ford encouraged owners to go to their local shop for installation.
Ford changed its color palette to 15 for the Styleside F150 in 1994. New colors like Dessert Copper, Electric Red, Crimson, Deep Forest Green, Royal Blue, and Iris were added, with many old colors dropped. Raven Black, Oxford White, and Colonial White were held over. The Flareside color choices were increased from 5 to 13. Interiors were either Scarlet Red, Medium Mocha, Dark Charcoal, or in some rare cases, Crystal Blue.
Engine
Ford continued to offer the same engine lineup as before, with the 4.9L inline-six as the standard and the 5.0L V8 and the 5.8L V8 as options. All engines were EFI (electronic fuel injected).
Transmission
Ford paired its transmissions down to two for 1994 (there had been four in the previous year). The truck had a standard five-speed manual with overdrive transmission which was standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive (AOD - E) as optional. Ford offered the automatic electric touch drive as an option on 4WD, allowing drivers to access the off-road capability with the flick of a button.
Interior
The most significant change in the interior was the new 40/20/40 seat, with a convertible center section that folded down. The back side had cup holders and a small center console for storage. A power driver’s seat was only available for the XLT SuperCab, but not for the Regular Cab. A chromatic rearview mirror was a part of the XLT option, and an upgraded sound system with a compact disc player were two of the options available.
The steering wheel was large and boxy to accommodate the new driver’s airbag. Dual horn buttons were on either side at the top of the wheel, with speed control (cruise) buttons on the side below.
Cloth Captain’s Chairs with lumbar support were available in SuperCabs, along with a rear cloth bench seat.
Many other options were available, including extra insulation in the headliner and doors, dual fuel tanks, an AM/FM stereo with cassette, and a chrome rear step bumper. New items like remote keyless entry, hood covers, and bed liners were options customers could pay for.
What Are The Specs For The 1994 Ford F 150?
What Is a 1994 Ford F150 Worth Today?
The MSRP for a 1994 Ford F150 started at $13,568, but most owners haggled the dealer down to get a good price. Hagerty states that a 1994 F150 in good condition is worth $10,200. A used Lightning truck in good condition will fetch close to $25k. For a review of free listings of 1994 F-Series trucks on sale, vehicle history, and consumer reviews, see the classiccars.com website. Many Classic car collectors attempt to find an F150 that runs good for their restoration projects.
