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Ford History
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Henry Ford started making a name for his new company with the debut of the 1903 Model A. That car was replaced in 1908 by a model that will forever be synonymous with Ford Motor Company - the Model T. Ford continued production of the T for nearly 20 years, after which the company followed with another Model A and a V8. Production shifted to support the war effort in the 40s, but Ford resumed production of consumer cars and launched the first Ford Thunderbird in 1955, followed by the Ford Fairlane in 1962.
By that time, more than 50 million Fords had been built, but what was one of the company's greatest success stories was just around the corner. In 1964, the original pony car, the Ford Mustang, hit the streets with incredible fanfare. That was followed in 1966 by the unveiling of another popular FoMoCo nameplate, the Ford Bronco. Unfortunately, issues with emissions and fuel economy lead to the development of the Ford Pinto, Ford Fiesta, and Ford Mustang II in the 70s. Moving into the 80s, Ford offered buyers a new take on the Mustang as the all-new Ford Escort, a small and fuel-efficient alternative to imports that had taken hold during the previous decade. That economical approach continued when the 1983 Ford Ranger joined the F-Series in the Ford truck lineup.
Ford made waves again in 1986 when it showcased the all-new Ford Taurus. Shoppers loved this attractive new domestic offering, as did the buyers of 1991's Ford Explorer. All the while, the Ford F150 was selling like hotcakes.
Like fellow domestics GM and Chrysler, Ford hit a lull in subsequent years, thanks to an updated Taurus that failed to impress and waning interest in the Explorer. Ford's Freestar minivan never took off, and quietly ceded the segment to Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota. The same can be said for the Ford Taurus X. However, other recent products have turned things around, thanks to improved quality, attractive styling, and innovation. The Ford GT and Shelby GT500 provided the Blue Oval with serious street cred, and the retro-themed 2005 Ford Mustang proved to be the right design at the right time. Redesigned versions of the F-150 and Taurus have also drawn praise, as have the miserly Ford Fusion hybrid and the EcoBoost engine that's planted in the Taurus SHO.
Dig a bit deeper into the Ford stables and you'll find something for everyone. The E-Series works to serve every van-related need you might have; the Ford F250 and F350 Super Duty trucks are designed for heavy lifting; the useful Ford Flex, convenient Ford Edge, and spacious Ford Expedition aim to carry families in comfort; the Ford Escape/Ford Escape hybrid does its best to deliver utility on a budget; and the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is an off-road enthusiast's dream.
Companies such as Ford and General Motors enjoyed the profitable large SUV boom while it lasted, but buyers have steered away from those behemoths in recent years in search of more fuel-efficient options. To satisfy demand, Ford's lots were filled with few solutions besides the Ford Focus.
Change started with the launch of the Ford Fusion hybrid, not to mention the 21-mpg Ford F-150 SFE. Next up is the small Ford Fiesta, a European-inspired model that made its 2008 auto show debut as the Ford Verve. In addition to fuel economy, look for Ford to continued progress in the areas of fit and finish and overall quality.
By that time, more than 50 million Fords had been built, but what was one of the company's greatest success stories was just around the corner. In 1964, the original pony car, the Ford Mustang, hit the streets with incredible fanfare. That was followed in 1966 by the unveiling of another popular FoMoCo nameplate, the Ford Bronco. Unfortunately, issues with emissions and fuel economy lead to the development of the Ford Pinto, Ford Fiesta, and Ford Mustang II in the 70s. Moving into the 80s, Ford offered buyers a new take on the Mustang as the all-new Ford Escort, a small and fuel-efficient alternative to imports that had taken hold during the previous decade. That economical approach continued when the 1983 Ford Ranger joined the F-Series in the Ford truck lineup.
Ford made waves again in 1986 when it showcased the all-new Ford Taurus. Shoppers loved this attractive new domestic offering, as did the buyers of 1991's Ford Explorer. All the while, the Ford F150 was selling like hotcakes.
Like fellow domestics GM and Chrysler, Ford hit a lull in subsequent years, thanks to an updated Taurus that failed to impress and waning interest in the Explorer. Ford's Freestar minivan never took off, and quietly ceded the segment to Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota. The same can be said for the Ford Taurus X. However, other recent products have turned things around, thanks to improved quality, attractive styling, and innovation. The Ford GT and Shelby GT500 provided the Blue Oval with serious street cred, and the retro-themed 2005 Ford Mustang proved to be the right design at the right time. Redesigned versions of the F-150 and Taurus have also drawn praise, as have the miserly Ford Fusion hybrid and the EcoBoost engine that's planted in the Taurus SHO.
Dig a bit deeper into the Ford stables and you'll find something for everyone. The E-Series works to serve every van-related need you might have; the Ford F250 and F350 Super Duty trucks are designed for heavy lifting; the useful Ford Flex, convenient Ford Edge, and spacious Ford Expedition aim to carry families in comfort; the Ford Escape/Ford Escape hybrid does its best to deliver utility on a budget; and the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is an off-road enthusiast's dream.
Companies such as Ford and General Motors enjoyed the profitable large SUV boom while it lasted, but buyers have steered away from those behemoths in recent years in search of more fuel-efficient options. To satisfy demand, Ford's lots were filled with few solutions besides the Ford Focus.
Change started with the launch of the Ford Fusion hybrid, not to mention the 21-mpg Ford F-150 SFE. Next up is the small Ford Fiesta, a European-inspired model that made its 2008 auto show debut as the Ford Verve. In addition to fuel economy, look for Ford to continued progress in the areas of fit and finish and overall quality.
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