The 1983 Ford F-150 was the first of the line to be offered with a diesel engine (a 170-horsepower diesel V-8). If you didn't need that much power, or the hassle of finding diesel in the city, you still had the choice of the Windsor V8 or a straight-6.

No significant changes were made in the design of the 83 Ford F150; the square-shouldered workhorse continued to be Ford's top-selling truck in the U.S. and around the world. The 1983 Ford F150 came in XL, XLT, and XLT Lariat trims, with a variety of configurations including the extended cab supercab, as well as 2-door and 4-door setups.

The 83 Ford F-150 continued to be the choice of many a farm and ranch; the sturdy pickup also appealed to four-wheelers looking for a solid off-road ride, and to anyone drawn by the model's record of rugged reliability. Tuners still prize the 1983 F-150 for its muscle and its boxy linebacker shape.