The Triton concept gave buyers a good idea of what they’d be getting when the latest iteration of the F-150 dropped in 1997. Motor Trend reports that then-design director for Ford, Gary Hass, said of the vehicle, “There are many styling cues and functional options on the Triton that you’re likely to see in Ford’s pickup trucks of the future.”
Though it still featured a pickup bed, the front end of the vehicle — namely its softened grille — marked a massive departure from Ford’s traditional trucks. However, as it happened, the 1997 F-150 wasn’t all that markedly different from the Triton concept. However, this “soft” look ultimately didn’t appeal to customers wanting a trucker’s truck. Jalopnik notes that in 2004, Ford returned to its more angular status quo.
Although the vehicle faded quite quickly into obscurity, Triton became the moniker for Ford’s 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V8 engines.
