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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  Best Truck Made - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By Angela - June 18 - 6:16 pm

  I wanted this truck for a long time and finally came up with the funds to get it. It is wonderful! I am a very picky person and I can not find anything wrong with it. It is the best truck ever made!

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  CROWN VIC "THE BEST" - 2003 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Jerry Lawrence - June 18 - 11:50 am

  Being a paraplegic and towing a small travel trailer this car meets my needs.It has plenty of power but as soon as you take it out of over drive pulling the trailer you mpg takes a nose dive.The Crown is still one of the finest looking cars on the road!I love it!

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  Wonderful Truck - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By madmaxoohhh - June 17 - 1:57 pm

  Surprisingly good build quality and great off-road capability.

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  Best of cars, vans and trucks - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By k - June 17 - 6:20 am

  The AWD handles hills and turns with confidence. The CVT adjusts "gear" ratio on slopes reserving enough power going up and sparing the brake from stress going down. Interior is nice, roomy and comfortable. Pick up from stand still is sluggish but mid-range acceleration ok. I wont make a fuss about the 0-60 number though since the gas mileage matches most larger cars and easily beats the Pilot. Ride is good except on the heavily damaged highways, which can be quite rough. Engine is noisy when pushed but very quiet otherwise. This car looks good in and out.

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  T-BIRD - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By ART VAN DELAY - June 16 - 11:39 pm

  Fun to drive, they did this right. This car is tight. Well appointed, I love this car. Ive had over 50 automobiles. Had 66 Corvette, 56 T-bird they were great. This car is simply fun, and a good buy. Used theyre relatively cheap, will only go up in value over the years. How many cars can you say that about?

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  Nice Ride! - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By 415~phil - June 16 - 10:40 pm

  Overall, a nice car to drive everyday. Exterior looks great and the interior is decent. The car has good handling and just enough power as well. The cars reliability is superb and most maintenance can be performed on your own very easy car to maintain. I drive this car 5-6 days a week and it starts up first time, every time and runs smooth, even on regular graded octane fuel. Just an overall fun car to drive!

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  Wouldnt trade it for the world - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By toricat24 - June 16 - 4:32 pm

  I absolutely love my Excursion! It has become a member of our family. I have the V-10 and, yes, it does drink gas but its a trade-off Im willing to make for the performance and the LOOK of the truck. Gas is a cost of using any vehicle. It just costs more for the Excursion.

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  What Ive been waiting for - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By rageribisl - June 16 - 6:06 am

  Being an 8 cylinder guy who doesnt care about gas prices, my priorities had to change. My wife and I traded in our 2003 Durango and it was the best thing we ever did. I was skeptical at first, but this is by far the most comfortable car I have ever been in. Being 6 3" and 230 pounds, this is the first car that I have ever been in where Im completely comfortable sitting in the back seat - with room to spare! Its great to drive and has a beautiful interior with nice and easy to use features. I absolutely love the looks of this car. My advice is the redfire metallic, prettiest color Ive seen.

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  A fun car - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By Steven - June 15 - 7:59 pm

  I bought my T-bird last month, after thinking about it for several years now. Its a fun car to drive, gets a lot of attention on the road. Handling is great, as is acceleration.

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  Love My Fusion Hybrid - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Alan - June 15 - 2:56 pm

  I wanted to own a hybrid to be more green and ended up choosing the Fusion because you get so much more car and features for the money than the Prius, Insight or Lexus H250H. My previous car was a BMW 5 Series and I expected to have to give up a lot of features and comforts but the opposite turned out to be true! I love the elec. instrument cluster, BLUR, rear camera, great nav system with Sirius. But the coolest thing is cruising in all-electric mode when driving through the neighborhood and in parking lots. The 2.5L engine gives me enough power if I want it and the CVT gives you a really smooth driving experience. Fun to drive and low carbon emissions. Good job Ford!