Ford 1999 Lightning news releases

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First engines built for SVT F-150 Lightning Pickup

WINDSOR, ONTARIO, Jan. 14, 1999 - Assembly of the first specially-designed, 5.4-litre, Triton V-8 engines for the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning pickup began today on the low volume line (LVL) at the Windsor Engine Plant Annex.

Officials of Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and Roush Engineering, which designed the supercharged and intercooled engine for the performance truck, were at the plant as employees assembled the first 24 of a total of 24,000 engines they will build for SVT F-150 Lightning pickups during the next six years.

The specially-designed engine can produce 360 horsepower and 440 foot-pounds of torque to enable the performance Ford pickup to reach a top speed of 140 mph. The January issue of Car and Driver Magazine features a prototype of the 1999 SVT F-150 pickup on its cover and describes it as, "The World's Fastest Truck".

The new SVT Lightning Pickup will be built at the company's Ontario Truck Plant in Oakville, Ontario, beginning Windsor Engine Plant Annex houses the Low Volume Line for production of specialty engines for Lightning, Mustang and Navigator as well as machining for regular production engines in the main building. Of the 2300 Windsor Engine Plant employees, 350 are located in the Annex and 200 of them work in engine assembly.

Source: Ford Motor Company

 

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1999 SVT F-150 Lightning pricing

The SVT F-150 Lightning returns for 1999 after a three year hiatus. The last generation Lightning (1993-1995 model years) was a big hit in the sport truck market, and the new Lightning should have an even bigger strike.

As promised from the beginning, the 1999 SVT F-150 Lightning will be priced under $30,000. The Lightning will have a MSRP of $29,995 (including destination and delivery of $640). The SVT Lightning, based on the Regular Cab Flareside F-150, is powered by Ford's 5.4L 2V Tritonä Supercharged V-8, producing 360 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft of torque.

The lightning will have only three options, including a Tonneau Cover ($200), 6-Disc CD Changer ($210), and the Class III trailer Towing Group ($245).

Source: Ford Motor Company

 

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1999 SVT F-150 Lightning to pace NASCAR Cracker Barrel 500

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Lightning is expected to hit this weekend at the NASCAR Cracker Barrel 500, but for Atlanta Motor Speedway race fans, this supercharged version will definitely be a treat to watch and experience.

That’s because Ford’s 1999 SVT F-150 Lightning will make its debut as the official pace vehicle of this weekend’s NASCAR Winston Cup event, marking the first time a truck has paced a race event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This is no ordinary truck, however. The Lightning, which will pace both the Cracker Barrel 500 on Sunday and the Georgia 300 NASCAR Busch Grand National event on Saturday, is offered with the TritonTM 5.4L V-8 engine supercharged and intercooled, producing 360 horsepower and 440 ft./lbs. of torque. Suspension changes include SVT-tuned front and rear shock-absorbers, stabilizer bars, and a lower ride height. To handle the power and suspension upgrades, the Lightning rides on unique 5-spoke 18 x 9.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels shod with GoodyearTM Eagle F1-GS 295/45ZR-18 tires.

This high-performance truck is capable of running the quarter mile in 14.6 seconds at 97 mph, and has a top speed of 140 mph. It is available in regular cab flareside trim only, in Bright Red Clearcoat, Black Clearcoat, or Oxford White Clearcoat exterior colors.

"We're pleased that Ford Division chose the SVT F-150 Lightning as the pace vehicle for the Cracker Barrel 500," said Tom Scarpello, Specialty Vehicle Marketing Manager. "We think it shows that the Lightning is just as much at home on the track as on the street. The Lightning outperforms many sport cars on the road today, and of course, it packs all the toughness you expect in a Ford truck."

The SVT F-150 Lightning began production in early March, and will start showing up in Ford SVT-Certified Dealerships by April. The Ford F-series is also the Official Truck of NASCAR.

Source: Ford Motor Company

 

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1999 F-150 LIGHTNING




An all-new F-Series platform gave SVT engineers a 'clean-sheet' opportunity to design the second-generation Lightning for the 1999 model year. SVT started with the smallest, lightest F-150 chassis for optimum acceleration and handling – the sporty Short Wheelbase, Regular Cab, Flareside Box configuration. They lowered it 2” in the rear and a 1/2” in the front, added big brakes and sport tuned suspension, and gave the truck unique front and rear styling treatments. Underhood, a special SVT-developed supercharged 5.4L Triton™ V8 gave it a whopping 360 horsepower – 120 more than the previous-generation truck and even some 40 more than SVT’s flagship ’99 Mustang Cobra. Together with an SVT-unique interior, the 1999 SVT F-150 Lightning set all-new standards for full-size sport trucks.

ENGINE
Type 90° Triton™ V-8
Bore x stroke 90mm x 105.6mm
Displacement: 5.4 liter/330 cid
Compression ratio: 8.4:1
Horsepower: 360 hp @ 4750 rpm
Torque: 440 lbs.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
SUSPENSION
FRONT: Twin short-and long-arm type suspension, coil springs, tubular gas-charged shock absorbers, 31mm solid stabilizer bar
REAR: Solid axle, staggered gas-charged shock absorbers, five-leaf springs, 23mm solid stabilizer bar
BRAKES
FRONT: 12.1 in. vented disc, twin-piston caliper
REAR: 13.1 in. vented disc, single-piston caliper
ABS: Four-wheel, three-sensor system

WHEELS AND TIRES
WHEELS: 18 x 9.5 in. 5-spoke cast aluminum alloy
TIRES: Goodyear™ Eagle F1-GS, 295/45ZR-18, unidirectional tread
PERFORMANCE
0-60 mph: 6.2 seconds
Top Speed: 140 mph
PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Black 1601; Red 1533; White 866; TOTAL: 4000