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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  americas pony car. - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By arfies - April 25 - 10:00 am

  nothing more fun to drive on a sunny afternoon or cruisin on a saturday night.midnight black,shiny like a quiet pond,what looks better?although the engineers missed the boat on the speed controlled volume control for the radio. the suspension has come a long way,better handling,great body styling, and affordable.

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  My Review - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
  By Sunwoshiper816 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle can take a beating. I have driven it on off-road, interstate highway, country roads, and city roads and it has performed quite well.

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  No Problems At All - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Amazo - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Have owned this since it first came out. Have camped, hauled, went out on the town with it. Always gets stares from people and many questions. 3-5K miles between regular oil changes and normal rotations and mtce. Good brake wear, good tire wear, no squeaks, noises or rattles. 4WD works in snow and mud very well.

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  my mule - 1997 Ford Explorer
  By bugguy - April 24 - 2:00 am

  overall it is a great suv, not as fancy as some of the other over-priced want to impress everyone trash on the market. Has been with us since new never had any real problems with it, except the annual trip to Flordia makes your rear feel like you sat on a peice of plywood, the seats are really uncomfortable on long trips (front & rear). Replaced exhast with Borla S.S., induction also, strongly recommend synthetic oils

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  98 xlt review (SOHC - 6cyl) - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By jaason - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car new. ItÂ’s a good reliable vehicle, especially considering the features and 4 wheel drive components. The car handles well in high winds, up hills, and fully loaded. The cargo compartment is spacious, enough for 4 people for a week of camping. The Explorer, for me, is the right size for most all situations, easy to handle, and well built enough for off-road use. Easily handles the worst weather.

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  Economical, fuel efficient, roomy lil SUV - 2008 Ford Escape
  By astromike - April 23 - 12:16 pm

  Editors get paid to find weak points in all vehicles. Overall I think the Escape is a "sleeper" in todays gas guzzling SUV, 4.00/gallon gas world we live in. I mean this lil SUV is known for been fairly good on fuel (19-26 mpg) and is fairly inexpesive. Yea its not perfect but the fuel efficiency alone is the prime reason I got it! As thats hard to find in an SUV. Decent factory sound sytstem, and plenty of room. I love my 08 Escape, its fun to drive!

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  Mine Rocks! - 1996 Ford Bronco
  By buckin Bronc - April 23 - 2:00 am

  Let me explain, stock its a great truck, with a little work its a work of art. Add a K&N kit Flowmasters, a little suspension, tuck some 35X12.50 into the wheel wells and start driving anywhere and everywhere. This truck is a real looker as well to keep the look origional I had to have some brackets made to keep the stock bumpers.

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  Best truck i have ever owned - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By Bridgerat04 - April 23 - 2:00 am

  I just bought this truck and it is just a fun but very reliable pickup. It lives up to its name Ford Ranger.

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  economy - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By hankl77 - April 23 - 2:00 am

  This little Ranger gives a big bang for the buck. I got a 3000 rebate and a dealer discount. FInal price was around 13,500, List was 19,500. I enjoy the ride, fuel consumption, and ability to haul wood. Overall I am very pleased with my purchase.

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  Nothing Fancy, Gets The Job Done - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By SteelersFANinMA - April 23 - 2:00 am

  Bought used in 1996 with 60k/mi., 8 yrs. later it has 196,500mi. & burns no oil. Other than regular maintenance this car NEVER failed me until the summer of 2003. I then had to replace the ORIGINAL battery, starter, muffler, A/C unit, CCRM module and most recently the oil pan. At this point the car could use some new struts and the odometer recently started to float, but stays near the actual mph. Since the car has been paid off for a few years Id say the cost of upkeep is still cheaper than having a car payment. Overall I would say that this is a highly reliable and easy to maintain vehicle that I would recommend to anyone.