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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  98 Taurus Se Fully Loaded - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By Joshua Krause - March 5 - 6:31 pm

  I have only owned this vehicle for a month now, but I can already say that I love it. It is the fully loaded model with the 24V V6. It has plenty of power and the Tranny shifts very smoothly. I like all the features and since it is a pretty popular car, I got a really decent price on it.

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  truk rate - 1998 Ford Ranger
  By pete - March 5 - 4:24 pm

  truck performs as good as itlooks i have logged 500000 miles only change oil brakes

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  Good car overall - 1992 Ford Taurus
  By d - March 5 - 3:54 pm

  Quality car for the price.

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  Excellent Car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Philly - March 5 - 10:13 am

  My husband and I just purchased the Limited FWD and we love it. We traded in our Pathfinder suv. This car blows away any car I have ever owned. I have two car seats in the back and have more room than I had with the suv. The interior is beautiful and the outside looks both strong and elegant. My husband loves the 18 inch Pirelli tires; they look good on this sedan. The command seating is great, especially if previous car was an suv. This is a great family car. It has tons of space inside and out. Ford did a great job. Now there really is no reason to buy a foreign car.

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  MyContourReview - 1995 Ford Contour
  By contour95 - March 5 - 3:02 am

  Fun to drive car. Great handling and road feel. Good visibility. Comfortable firm ride. Some reliability problems that can be mitigated substantially by reading the techical bulletins and FAQ on www.contour.org

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  Pleasant change from euro-box - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By luc - March 5 - 2:16 am

  The GT, while looking over blown certainly delivers FUN. The fake vents are a little embarrassing but the respectable interior and traction control makes up for it. The TC allows for rapid progress without the need for anxiety attacks, even in the wet. Overall I like the car, its easy to reach the cornering limits but safe enough to stay there and play a while with the option of a leaving the TC on to calm you down. I get between 15 and 22mpg and for the money what would be more fun?

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  good truck - 2000 Ford F-150
  By texnomad - March 5 - 2:01 am

  Exceptionally reliable

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  Beautiful - 1991 Ford Mustang
  By JRSikes83 - March 5 - 1:03 am

  Awesome, Love the power and the exhaust sound

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  great car - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By ericscott - March 5 - 12:09 am

  Im baffled as to how this car got a 2 for a ranking. I love this car. I bought mine as soon as they introduced the new design and have loved it ever since. Not one mechanical problem yet with almost 50,000 miles.

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  Car buff - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By flyingbrad - March 4 - 11:52 pm

  The car is a disappointment in some ways. For instance, It does not have eithor memory seats or built in garage door opener. Which I think is shortsighted for this class of car. I do feel the car is drop dead georgious. It draws a croud every time I park it.. The hard top is too heavy It is difficult for two older guyes to handle. The proformance is great, although not as refined as I had hoped. OPn the whole I would give the effort a "B"