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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  Great Car, Bad Gas - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Xena - October 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is very luxurious and spacious. It could fir five heavy adults. Handling is great. The styling and the bed size are perfect. Its perfect to haul furniture, etc. The best part is that its very high and you can see everything on the road. I love it!!!

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  Great Truck - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Sivmem - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 2002 Lariat CrewCab fully loaded. My new 2004 is a great truck. It has a heavy feel to it and rides on the highway like a dream. The fuel economy improves daily as the engine breaks in. Overall, I am very, very happy with this vehicle and the dealership I bought it from in Memphis.

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  Explorer - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By dd3958 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  this is the finest suv on the road, bar none, a great comfortable ride

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  Love my Pony - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Pony girl - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I just love the looks of the Mustang. No wonder they have been making them for 40 years. I have had many new cars over the years but Ive never liked one as much as I like my Mustang. I may never drive anything else. What took me so long to get a Mustang? Not only do I love its looks but its fun to drive.

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  i love mustangs - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By sk8trgurl1116 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I am obsessed with mustangs. My mustang is fun to drive. They look good. They are the hottest cars around.

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  Best Ford buyI purchased - 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
  By myles haynes - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle at a sale through the dealer buyer with 10,500 miles on the odometer> It had its first check-up at 13,000 and everything was up to factory specs. Ive had nothing but good service up to the present at 16,000 miles. This is my second Crown Vic, the other being a 1996 which my son now owns and continues to run good at 96000 miles.

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  Smooth Ride, Classy & Practical Minivan - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Michele Fitter - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I love how the Freestar handles. Its smooth ride is very similar to the Sienna and the two tone exterior makes it a very classy look. You forget your driving a minivan, except that you have so much room especially with the rear row tucked nicely into the floor.

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  Best car I ever owned - 1997 Ford Contour
  By Handy Andy - October 26 - 5:43 pm

  I bought this car used and being a person that prefers GM I was skeptical. However, this has turned-out to be the best Ive ever owned. It has excellent "giddy-up-n-go", 28+ mpg hwy with a/c, easy to drive, and plain satisfies all of my expectations of what a car of this type should be. It is regrettable that I am forced to get rid of it, but dire financial problems forces me to.

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  Diesel Excursion - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By Patrick Stokes - October 26 - 2:15 pm

  The truck is primarily for running my kids between NY and Il. At 65mph I average about 890 miles to a tank or about 20 mpg. I have the Limited 4WD and the Powerstroke diesel. The truck is huge and on long trips we put a twin mattress in the back for the kids to fall asleep while watching movies. This way they are quiet and dont annoy us while driving. I travel with 4 of them. The truck stalled out at about 50,000 miles for want of a fuel filter and I just replaced all the brakes at 93,000. There have been two recalls, one to check a seatbelt and the other to give me 5 new tires at 65,000 miles. No road or weather is too much for it. It is a safe place in a troubled spot.

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  Ford Focus ZX4 SE - 2005 Ford Focus
  By All4Godjl - October 26 - 5:20 am

  This car wasnt even what my wife and I were originally looking for. However when we saw the gas mileage, exterior style, and heard about the safety features we decided to buy it. I was hesitant about buying a Ford, however we have put 28000 miles on it in one year and drove from CA to TX. The car is still doing good. Its got a few down sides but over all its a 9 out of 10.