Uncover the Surprising Reason Behind the 11 Identical Lime Green Ford F-150s at CarMax

The Mysterious Ryobi Ford F-150s: Uncovering the Story Behind the Green Fleet

The power of the internet has led us to a fascinating tale of a peculiar Ford F-150 fleet, and we’re eager to dive in. So, what’s the story behind these unusual green trucks? As we discovered, they were indeed used by tool manufacturer Ryobi, but it’s the details that make this story truly intriguing. Let’s discover how these trucks ended up across the nation, ranging from Washington to Massachusetts.

Ryobi’s corporate trucks

To start, the trucks were part of Ryobi’s fleet vehicles, which explains the unique green color that doesn’t appear on Ford’s standard palette. What’s interesting is that these trucks were directly painted at the Ford factory, with Ryobi negotiating a special "Paint-to-Sample" deal, effectively creating its own custom color code within the Blue Oval’s system. Some of these trucks were also finished in black with white and green decals.

The Leadership Development Program

The trucks were assigned to employees participating in the Leadership Development Program, designed for college graduates to jumpstart their careers. Representatives would drive their assigned F-150s to hardware stores like Home Depot, assembling promotional cardboard fixtures, with Ryobi covering gas and maintenance costs.

Inside the trucks

The reader who reached out to us provided intimate details about the trucks’ specifications. Not only did they feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, but they also had a remote engine starter accessible via an app. However, the trucks’ lack of sound-deadening material made them quite loud on extended drives. More luxurious trim levels would undoubtedly be much quieter.

Buying the right one

So, should you consider purchasing one of these F-150s? The reader advised us to scrutinize the service history, as the drivers weren’t allowed to perform their own maintenance. Carfax reports should reveal the maintenance history, which could significantly impact the truck’s overall condition and value.

Get your hands on one… or not

Ryobi’s parent company, TechTronic Industries, has phased out the company truck program, meaning more F-150s will likely appear on CarMax lots. If you’re in the market for a no-nonsense truck or want to start a one-make racing series, now’s your chance. Unfortunately, 10 of the 11 trucks we wrote about earlier have already sold or mysteriously vanished from CarMax’s inventory.

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