Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  2003 Explorer comments - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By queenm - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Injector (3) failure at 11,000 miles. Dealership, Earnhardt Ford, states problem due to low quality gas and winter additives.

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  A GREAT RIDE AND A LOOKER - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By JASPER - June 27 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is a great looker. I get only positive comments from everyone who sees the car and those who ride in it. It has lots of pickup and power. The only negative I have discovered is that the convertible top rattles a little when it is not up and is in its storage compartment.You can especially hear that noise when the hard top is on.

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  I dont know if I ll buy it again - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By RNK - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, lots of power ,poor and cheap finish .Very poor paint finish. Good A/c .Not noisy for conv. Cheap interior finish

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  Great Truck - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By karl - June 27 - 1:54 am

  Outside of small electrical problems, this has been a wonderful, reliable truck. Perhaps the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Only thing is the 4 cylinder engine is underpowered. 0-60mph is about 21 seconds. Mountains are a drag. But, I use the truck almost exclusively in the city. So it is GREAT.

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  Fun To Drive - 2016 Ford Escape
  By John Cee - June 26 - 10:52 pm

  Ride well good getting on and off ramps with the 2.0 Turbo engine Hugs the road love the back up system... Only thing so far I do not like is hardly no leg room in the back seats. Also need a some cubby holes upfront to put things in...(in the dash area).beside the armrest

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  1999 P71 Crown Vic - 1999 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Robert Schyck - June 26 - 7:46 pm

  The 1999 Crown Victora is an amazing vehicle when purchased brand new. The rating on a new Police Interceptor model would be very good to excellent in all catagories, however when individuals including myself purchase these used police interceptors the opinions may not be totally accurate, mostly we are evaluating the current condition. Notwithstanding, my Crown Vic has 99,000 miles, impressive power, being white with dark wheels, honeycomb grille and spotlight its appearance is recognizable. Interior in very good condition, altho somewhat plain. It should be noted that for a vehicle this size and weight it has a sport car feel and ride. Overall rating for this particular 99 Crown Vic B+

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  Best Car for A College Student - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By Actuary - June 26 - 6:39 pm

  This car was my party vehicle throughout my college years. I have 145,000 miles on it and all I had to do was change the oil. My convertible top hydraulics began to leak at 100,000 and that is all I had to fix. Of course since I take the top down and put it back up a million times when I went out it had to break eventually! :) I plan on driving this bad boy until 200,000 miles and keeping it as my fun vehicle.

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  Taurus Rocks - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By Mike W - June 26 - 4:06 pm

  I have owned this car about 3 months and I think it is great. Comfortable, reliable, stylish. I am getting pretty good gas mileage. Excellent safety record.

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  Freestar - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By Freestar - June 26 - 1:15 pm

  The Freestar was the best van for me and my family. It had better exterior styling than the Chevrolet Uplander or the Venture. It also had a more refined interior than the Chevy vans. It was more comfort table and versatile and fit in with our life styles more.

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  Best truck I ever had - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By j phillips - June 26 - 10:13 am

  This truck has never had a problem, I pull out stumps, ride over sand dunes, and run it as hard as I can. One tough truck.