1993-1995 Ford Lightning
Ford introduced the Lightning, a high-performance pickup tuned by the Special Vehicles Team of the company, as a direct response to Chevy’s hot 454 SS (SVT). The SVT team modified Ford’s 5.8-liter small block V-8 inside and out with high-performance components to provide 240 hp and a solid 340 lb-ft of torque instead of dropping into the truck in a larger and heavier engine. The suspension was reduced by 2.5 inches, and the Lightning handled better than its Chevy rival, thanks to new shocks, springs, anti-roll bars, and huge 17-inch tires.
1989-1993 W-250/350 Dodge Power Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel
By the 1980s, heavy-duty pickup trucks with diesel engines were already made by Chevy and Ford. So the heavy-duty Dodge Ram trucks with Cummins turbodiesels were late for the game. However, Dodge got an engine known for its durability and longevity by installing essentially the same six-cylinder Cummins diesel that came in big commercial trucks (at that time, the Cummins brand was perhaps even stronger than that of the Dodge Ram). And that’s what finally helped Dodge succeed in the market for heavy-duty pickups.