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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  no wonder is # 1 - 2004 Ford F-150
  By felipe - February 18 - 2:00 am

  this truck is the best i ever diven in 20 years, i have chevrolet,toyota dodge and also ford, but this one is supreme. THE SUSPENSION is execellent the intirior superior the towing no mash.

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  XLT....great SUV - 2004 Ford Escape
  By Tammi - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Handles very well, drives smooth. The SUV is stylish and has lots of room yet not as bulky as other SUV types. The only downfall I have is the small gas tank. But the I am very pleased with the XLT, it actually handles better then my car!

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  I love the power & handling of my new TH - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By tunasnake - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE THE POWER& HANDLING OF MY 2003. IT HANDLES AS WELL AS MY 1981 CORVETTE. IVE ALWAYS WANTED A THUNDERBIRD SINCE THE 1966 MODELS BUT ONLY UNTIL NOW HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORED!! THANK YOU FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

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  A Fun Car to Drive - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By Retiredbirdman - February 18 - 2:00 am

  The most exciting car I have ever own. It is really fun to drive. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Best for Domestics - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Truckfan - February 17 - 4:50 am

  My company take-home vehicle is a 2001 Ford Supercrew 4x4 Lariat, fully loaded including moon roof and offroad package. The ride, power, versatility and refinement makes my fully loaded 2001 Dodge Quadcab 4x4 SLTplus seem crude and cheaply built. GM has better engines (IMO) but build quality and materials are not up to Ford either and have styling (my 2000 Tahoe a testament to that).

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  2003 GT Convertible - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By 2ndcarstang - February 17 - 1:55 am

  I was looking for a ragtop as my second car and I found an 03 with 3500 miles on it. Ive had the car for two months and what a kick in the pants to drive. It has a great sound system (Mach 1000), upgraded wheels, more than enough power, handles tight, I could go on an on. Im just kicking myself for waiting this long to buy a pony car.

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  ITS MY THIRD ONE - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By EXPLORER0411 - February 17 - 1:23 am

  GREAT OVERALL SUV, THIS IS MY 3RD EXPLORER. SOLID AND FUN TO DRIVE.

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  2003 SEL Taurus - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By Carpoof - February 16 - 2:46 pm

  I am very happy with this vehicle. It is very smooth and overall there have not been any problems with it. It feels much more solid than the older Tauruses.

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  06 Fusion - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Sadak5357 - February 15 - 11:43 pm

  Ford has done very well with this model. The car has a very aggressive line, and the interior design is the best Ive seen from Ford yet, in the price range. The 4 cylinder engine is plenty, combined with the 5 speed auto transmission. Very classy looking. This is what they needed to help get Ford back near, or on top.

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  Escape Hybrid best bet for SUV! - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Dave B - February 15 - 8:06 pm

  Have found the switching between gas and electric to be seamless. Real fun to drive and with the fuel economy shown I find I am challenging myself to keep it on electric as long as possible. Got it at an average fuel economy of 33.7 MPG after a month and 2000 miles of use.