Compared to Chevy and Dodge, Ford came late to the pickup game, but they came with a vengeance. The first true Ford pickup was not introduced until 1948, three years after World War II, during the memory of many still living. Today Ford pickups are the best selling on the planet. The Ford F-250 Super Duty three-quarter ton pickup is one of the reasons why.

Ford Super Duty pickup parts are, like most vehicles today, built in many places, then brought together for assembly. Super Duties are assembled in Kentucky and Mexico, depending on the particular model. The F-250 hails from Kentucky.

What makes the F-250 special is that it stands on its own. Before the Super Duties, almost all three quarter and one-ton trucks by any single company were made on a single platform, and Ford was no exception. This led to problems that could never quite be resolved - sort of the same way that rabbit or duck tastes like chicken. They're similar, but not really the same. Separating the platforms worked so well that other companies have followed suit.

While the Ford F-250 Super Duty 2WD has its own platform, it does not have its own motors or transmissions. These it has always shared with some of its larger, and smaller, cousins, and still does. In the beginning there were three choices, including two gasoline engines, a V8 and a V10. Then there was a diesel, which was updated in 2003. Maximum available horsepower before 2003 was 310, but the new diesel, a 6.0 V8, raised the bar, hitting 325.

The number of engines during the first generation (four) was matched by the number of transmissions. This meant you could get either gasoline or diesel in either automatic or manual. Of course, miles per gallon varied based on load and whether you went with diesel or gas. It's reported to get anywhere from 10-16 mpg with those variations.

Like most pickups of the times, the F-250 Super Duty offered your choice of sizes, regular, large or huge (actually called Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab). All three came with or without four-wheel drive and in a variety of trims ranging from "I'm headed out to the field to haul hay" to "I'm taking Halle Berry to the Oscars." You could even get the two larger versions in a short bed, so you could fit them into your garage.

2005 brought the second generation Super Duty, with important changes. The gasoline engines were improved, giving the V10 a powerful 362 horsepower. The diesel engine had developed an array of problems, so it was dropped. Instead of four transmissions, Ford went with two, an automatic and a manual. The frame and suspension were beefed up, as were the alternator and brakes. In spite of minor changes to the exterior, the new Super Duty was all about work.

Three years later came the third generation, with an improved, slightly larger diesel engine and small exterior changes. The third generation Ford Super Duty F-250 is still fairly new, but with a base price of $22,380, its popularity is not likely to drop.