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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  One Fun Car - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By cmyrick - August 9 - 8:10 am

  My first car was a 67 Mustang so the first time I saw a 05 GT, I knew I would own one. My only regret is not waiting for the GT 500. I have already upgraded my suspension from Ford Racing and plan to upgrade the exhaust and put on headers next. Next year the supercharger goes in. It wont quite be a 500 with a 4.6 vs the 5.4, but the Miller Track in Utah is sure going to be fun. I would recommend this car to anyone that likes a little muscle.

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  1994 Ford Mustang GT Vert Triple Black - 1994 Ford Mustang
  By Chuk - August 9 - 2:00 am

  Im 16, its my first car, it was my dads for a short time and has sat in the garage for a while only coming out for weekend drives and for upgrades i have been doing. It handles great, great pickup, lots of torque, comfy, really fun to drive i only wish it was a 5 speed.

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  2001 Ford Excursion 4 door Limited - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By K. Wilson - August 9 - 2:00 am

  Very well built SUV. Diesel engine is a plus for mileage and torque. Interior is well designed and very attractive. Sound system and entertainment center well-worth the investment.

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  Excellent Truck! - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By Haines - August 9 - 2:00 am

  This truck has not disappointed at all! It has been extremely reliable- no major problems at all and one very minor problem with it- through 85000 miles! It still gets 28 mpg highway and 21 mpg city, not bad for a 4.0 liter 6 cylinder engine (5 speed stick). I recommend this truck and plan on buying another one in future... hope Ford keeps making them in 4.0 liter six with 5 speed manual transmission!

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  good stuff - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By Aruba27 - August 9 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this truck for a few weeks now. Because mine is a manual, ive gotten it to get great, and horrible gas mileage. mine is also a 4 cyl, which is why i can get such good mileage. the acceleration is horrible though, even though it is a manual transmission.

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  i hate this car so much, NEVER buy - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By johnsmith@aol.com - August 9 - 2:00 am

  o gosh, ford. there ya go, that explains it. Where do i start? i have had SSOO many problems with this car. The TRANNY, electrical problems, lights burn out constantly, stalling of engine, overheating of engine, tranny fell out, trucks space limited, poor sound system, 1 wheel came off driving at 55 mph, not good pick up, is that enough to turn you away from this car? trust me dont buy one. It has spent weeks in the shop. its a peice of crap. dont put your money down the drain!

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  So far so good - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By Patrick Sullivan - August 8 - 11:24 pm

  I have owned the car since May and use it to commute back and forth to school. Only has 30K and is three years old but still feels solid. Acceleration is slow with 2.5 but I got it for reliability and gas mileage and it has delivered on both ends. Highly recommend this vehicle to anyway.

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  GT 500 - 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
  By Dave - August 8 - 8:03 pm

  I waited for a year, I love it, I rated the reliability high so I hope it lives up to it. I used to own a Boss 302, they dont even compare, the Shelby is fast, and it feels great. The rear suspension could be better, it hops a little on rough roads. The six speed Tremec is smooth shifting, but the clutch is tough. It lets out just a little late for me, hopefully it can be adjusted. Great car, great look. Thank you Carroll, for another great American car.

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  Wow - 2012 Ford Focus
  By facelessdrone - August 8 - 2:56 pm

  I have driven my Focus about 4000 miles now, and Ive gotten to love it better than when new. This is a very solidly built car made out of high quality materials. It handles great and I enjoy flinging it around corners with abandon. My other car is a Porsche and around town the Focus is at least its equal in handling. I also use the Focus for my 50 mile r/t commute and on the last 3 tanks it has gotten 33, 35, and now 37 honest-to-goodness mpg. I have noticed that the mileage and smoothness of the transmission improved greatly over the last 1000 miles. The upgrade to MyFordTouch solved virtually all the issues with that, not that I had many to begin with.

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  Great Car - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By FordGearhead - August 8 - 2:00 am

  109k in Mexico! This is a great car! Still runs like a clock