Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company an American started company that is well known and sold around the world. Here are some facts about the company, products and the designers involved with different models of vehicles.

1908 the Ford Model T was introduced. The Model T was designed by Henry Ford (Phaidon 089).

                Henry Ford was founder of Ford Motor Company. He is also credited for how the modern factory assembly line operates. The parts move not the people (“Funding Universe”).

1948 Ford F1 was introduced it was part of the F-Series trucks. “The truck became more than an afterthought; it became a lifestyle option rather than merely a working vehicle” (Phaidon 354).

                This truck over time became the truck that we all know the F-150. One of the most sold trucks.

1955 Thunderbird the person most credited for this sporty car design is Franklyn Hershey also Bill Burnett and William F. Boyer were involved with the design. The Thunderbird was fashioned to participate in the same class as the Corvette. Over the years it was transformed in to a lavish car for the family with for doors (Phaidon 466).

1961 Lincoln Continental was revealed. George W. Walke and Eugene Bordinat were the two designers responsible for it styling. This was the car the presidents of the 1960’s want to ride in. The car could also be turned in to a limousine. Ford also increased the months and mileage for the warrant (Phaidon 357). 

1964 Ford produced the Ford GT 40 a supercar. The GT 40 was designed by John Wyer and Ford Motor Company design team. This was the super car that Ford ever built to race and beat other super car manufactures in Le Mans Racing (Phaidon 618). “Shaped was developed to be aerodynamic as possible” (Phaidon 618).  

 

1964 the Ford Mustang was released (Davis). 

Lee Lacocca came up with the inspiration for the Mustang.  Designers that influenced the development of the Mustang project Joe Oros, Dave Ash, Gale Halderman, John Foster, and Damon Woods. The Mustang was developed in under a month from idea to a life size clay model (Editors).

The Mustang is a very well know sports car. It has had good and bad body designs over the years. Also over the years many well know automotive legends have designed special performances based models of the Mustang. Mustang models such as the Shelby, Roush, and Saleen. The Mustang is one of the cars that I believe will never stop being produced.

In recent years Ford has brought back some of the classic designs with a modern twist. The Ford GT 40 was engineer and named the Ford GT, but it still had very similar body lines. The Thunderbird was returned to having two seats and took many of the originals key features back to the car. The Mustang has also returned to more of the 1960’s body features. I think this is great because that means the designers from the past really know how to make classic looking car that can’t be beat.

Ford and Microsoft developed Sync a hand free system that allows consumers to change their music on their MP3 players and talk on the cell phones safely. Sync also has 911 Assist for emergencies it will contact the police in the case of an accident. Sync also has a Vehicle Health Report it will take periodically to see if anything is wrong with the vehicle and email it to the customer. I learned this when I was working as a certified dealership mechanic. 

Ford vehicles new technologies “self-parallel parking, rear back up cameras and rain-sensing wiper” (“Ford Story”). 

New safe feature (BLIS) Blind Spot Information System informs the consumer of many dangers while driving (“Ford Story”).

“Ford is the first automaker to introduce inflatable second row safety belts”(“Ford Story”).

Ford is work on being a green automotive manufacture. Many of Ford vehicles’ seat cushions are made out of soy-based foams. Ford also uses recycled to make “underbody shields, wheel arch liners and air cleaner assemblies” (“Ford Story”).

Work Sited

("Funding Universe")

"Ford Motor Company." Funding Universe. © 2006 The Gale Group, Inc., n.d. Web. 21 Jan 2011. <http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1&mode=form&reqsrcid=MLAWebDocument&more=yes&nameCnt=1>. 

(Editors)

Editors, Auto. "Joe Oros: Chief Designer of the 1965 Ford Mustang." How Stuff Works. ©1998-2011 HowStuffWorks, Inc. and © 2006-2011 Publications International, Ltd. , n.d. Web. 21 Jan 2011. <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/joe-oros.htm>.

(Davis)

Davis, Mike. " Wards AutoWorld Logo A History of the Ford Motor Co.." Ward's Auto World. © 2011 Penton Media, Inc., 01 Jun 2003. Web. 21 Jan 2011. <http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_history_ford_motor/>.

("Ford Story")

"Focus on Green." The Ford Story. © 2010 Ford Motor Company, 19 Jan 2011. Web. 22 Jan 2011. <http://www.thefordstory.com/our-articles/cars/focussedan/focus-on-green/>.

("Ford Story")

"10 Years, 10 Vehicle Trends." The Ford Story. © 2010 Ford Motor Company, 20 Jan 2011. Web. 22 Jan 2011. <http://www.thefordstory.com/our-articles/cars/focussedan/focus-on-green/>.

(Phaidon 089)

Phaidon, Editors. "Model T." Pioneers Products from Phaidon Design Classics . 1st. Vol 1 . New York, NY: Phaidon Press Limited, 2006. Print.

(Phaidon 573)

Phaidon, Editors. "Licoln Continential." Mass Production Products from Phaidon Design Classics . 1st. Vol 2. New York, NY: Phaidon Press Limited, 2006. Print.

(Phaidon 618)

Phaidon, Editors. "Ford GT40." Mass Production Products from Phaidon Design Classics . 1st. Vol 2. New York, NY: Phaidon Press Limited, 2006. Print.

(Phaidon 466)

Phaidon, Editors. "Ford Thunderbird." Mass Production Products from Phaidon Design Classics . 1st. Vol 2. New York, NY: Phaidon Press Limited, 2006. Print.

(Phaidon 354)

Phaidon, Editors. "Ford F1." Mass Production Products from Phaidon Design Classics . 1st. Vol 2. New York, NY: Phaidon Press Limited, 2006. Print.