What is an OBS Truck?

For those new to classic trucks, OBS is the abbreviated enthusiast term for “Old Body Style.” It gets its roots from when Ford moved to its 10^th generation F-150 body style for 1997, while retaining the existing body style on its F-250/F-350 platforms in the same year. The unsubstantiated rumor of the term’s origination is that when Ford changed the body style in 1997, F-250 HD gas and Diesel versions remained OBS, while F-250 configurations adopted the New Body Style (NBS), and OBS was used as a way for dealers and mechanics to differentiate the split. While the term OBS may have its origins in Blue Oval lore, many enthusiasts have accepted that 1992-1996 F-150 and 1992-1997 F-250 and F-350 9th generation Ford, and Chevy/GMC GMT400 trucks fall within the definition of an OBS truck.

Thanks to the passionate brand loyalty within the truck enthusiast community, there is a ton of debate about what years, makes and models are considered OBS trucks. While we know that these debates will continue to rage on in the form of (mostly) friendly rivalries among enthusiasts, this article breaks down the most popular OBS trucks from Ford and Chevy/GMC in our list of the Top 8 Most Popular Ford and Chevy OBS trucks, and gives mention to popular OBS-era trucks from Dodge, Nissan and Toyota.

Which Ford Trucks are OBS?

Ford OBS trucks are classified as 1992-1996 F-150 trucks, and the “Aeronose” 1992-1997 Ford F-250 and F-350 pickups. This is when Ford transitioned from its 9^th generation to 10^th generation truck platforms, when the F-150 received the New Body Style (NBS), while the F-250 HD and F-350 retained the old body style for another year. 

Which Chevy/GMC Trucks are OBS?

Chevy/GMC OBS trucks are made up of the GMT400 C/K platforms, which were produced from 1988-1998, with the exception of the C3500HD Crew Cab, which continued production until 2002 on the same platform. Bowtie enthusiasts generally agree that the GMT800s which were produced from 1999-2009, and the pre-OBS Chevy/GMC squarebody trucks produced from 1973-1987, do not fall into the category of old body style Chevy trucks. 

Are Dodge Trucks Considered OBS?

While the term OBS is synonymous with Ford and Chevy/GMC trucks, the second-generation Dodge Ram/D-Series pickups that were produced from 1994-2001 have been referred to by some enthusiasts as OBS Dodge trucks. Generally, though, Dodge enthusiasts refer to the Ram series of pickups by generations. We will dive into the Dodge trucks including the “OBS” Dodge Ram in an upcoming article. 

Are Nissan Hardbodies and pre-Tacoma Toyotas Old Body Style Trucks?

Midway through 1986 Nissan released the D21 pickup, which quickly earned a reputation for its durability and an enthusiast following in both off-road and mini truck culture. It was blocky and aggressive looking, and featured a double-walled bed that led to the Hardbody nickname. This generation of Nissan pickups continued until 1997.

Pre-Tacoma Toyota pickups, especially the 1979–1995 U.S.-market trucks, created a cult following in the mini truck movement and with off road enthusiasts. The off-road version, made popular in the classic movie “Back to the Future”, was a 1985 Xtracab that is so desirable a tribute version of it sold for $110,000 in 2021. 

While these trucks share the same degree of passion amongst their enthusiast followings as their domestic counterparts, they are technically not OBS trucks. 

Get ready to pop some popcorn! We rank the Top 8 OBS trucks in the list below. But before you jump to the list, here is the criteria we used to determine the rankings: We researched enthusiast demand and applied it to 50% of our scoring, factored in collectability based on prices and applied it to 25% of our scoring, looked at search interest and factored it into 15% of our scoring, and for the last 10% we took into account parts availability, and modification support. Based on these criteria, the following Ford OBS Trucks and Chevy/GMC OBS Trucks rank as follows:

Why are OBS Trucks Popular Again?

OBS trucks are popular again through a combination of proven durability, classic truck styling, and recently, increasing value as a collectible truck platform. The engineering of OBS trucks combine the best of old truck looks and reliability with modern systems like fuel injection and creature comforts, only without the system complexity found in today’s modern trucks.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Owning an OBS Truck?

Pros

Old body style trucks are more modern than their carbureted predecessors, with fuel-injected engines, power windows, digital stereo systems, and air conditioning. Most engines in OBS trucks are renowned for their reliability, and most OBS truck parts are inexpensive and readily available, making them relatively easy to repair.

Cons

The cons of owning an old body style truck are that OBS trucks require maintenance, as they are approximately three decades old. General mechanical issues due to aged components and cosmetic wear are common with OBS trucks.

What are the Main Differences between OBS and NBS Trucks?

The main differences between OBS trucks and NBS trucks are that they represent a major change in platforms and/or generational models. Old body style trucks appeal to enthusiasts because they retain much of a manufacturer’s older styling, simpler feel and overall character, where new body style trucks ushered in the beginning of an era of major and continuous refinement of body, suspension and engines in the truck segment.