The 1993 F-150 SVT Lighting was Ford’s original sport truck and the first SVT model along with the Mustang SVT Cobra. Ford retired the Lightning name in 1995, but brought it back on the tenth generation F-Series pickup platform for 1999. The new model reflected significant mechanical improvements over the past four years. The body style was reconfigured as a regular cab stepside design, with a unique grille and headlights, fog lights, and taillights with clear lenses. The Lightning’s suspension was lowered one inch in front, two inches at the rear, and the model remained two-wheel drive.

Where as the original Lightning used a version of the tried and true 351 Windsor, the 1999 Ford Lightning used an Eaton Supercharged 5.4-liter Triton engine, good for 360 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. MSRP for the 1999 SVT Lightning came in at $29,355 when the F-150 XL V8 listed from $16,015.

For 2001, the Lightning’s intake manifold was modified to boost power to 380 bhp, and torque rose to 450 lb-ft. The driveline remained aluminum but was increased from 3.5 inches to 4.5 inches in diameter and rear end gears were shortened to 3.73. To reduce axle tramp Ford relocated the right rear shock ahead of the axle. Monroe shocks were replaced by Bilsteins from 2001-04.

Ford sold a total of 28,124 second generation SVT Lightnings from 1999-04. Available colors over the years included Black, Bright Red, Oxford White, Silver Metallic, True Blue, Dark Shadow Grey, and Sonic Blue.

The Lightning was certified as the world fastest pickup in 2003 with 147.714 mph through the traps. Ford decided to concentrate on the off-road SVT Raptor after 2004, calculating that the Lightning had become too big to be competitively fast. Dodge, meanwhile, adapted the second generation Viper’s 500-bhp, 8.3-liter V-10 to create the SRT-10 pickup and take the top speed truck title at 154 mph.