Founded in 1903, Ford Motor Company has been building vehicles and changing the way we think about travel for over 100 years. The company’s history is rich and extensive and Ford has used numerous nameplates to do things its own unique way over the decades, with many series remaining continuous in production for decades. As the second most popular car brand of all time, Ford has been responsible for over 100 million vehicles in production and has helped to shape the entirety of the automotive landscape in many countries of the world, with legendary models such as the Model T, Mustang, and F-Series trucks. Today, as the world moves forward with electrification and technology, Ford continues to evolve, with present-day models such as the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E progressing the company’s past with present-day innovations.
A Ride Through Ford’s Engineering, Racing & Model History A journey into Ford’s extraordinary history provides an intriguing insight into the marque’s engineering developments, motorsport success and standout models which redefined the expectations of drivers everywhere. A ride through the decades of Ford models reveals a number of the marque’s most important vehicles including the ground-breaking Model T, the iconic Mustang, high performance supercars, rally cars and 4WD off-road trucks, all of which have played a significant role in shaping the evolution of cars and trucks. Spanning well over 100 years of research, development and racing, Ford’s greatest cars not only give an insight into the types of models the market was searching for but also demonstrated the significant advances made in technology, performance, style and capability.
1. 1965 Ford Mustang
That was almost 60 years ago now and the Mustang remains the best-selling sports car in the world to this day. Ford actually came up with the idea to build the Mustang after it decided to do some research into the buying trends of the Baby Boomer generation those leaving college around the early 60s and in the market for something sporty, cost-effective and practical. The result, which was actually named after a different type of horse, was specifically designed to meet that emerging demand and its success proved just how much Ford understood its target demographic.
Mustang’s Remarkable Legacy:
- Best-selling sports car worldwide
- Designed for Baby Boomer buyers
- Four million showroom visitors
- Seven generations of Mustang
- Mach-E added electric chapter
More than anything, that the Mustang existed as it did is what made it such an important car. It wasn’t just a pure sports car in style or a pure performance machine under the hood, it struck a balance of sporty looks, relatively low price, and everyday usability, opening it up to a far larger range of customers. That success was there from the moment the car was introduced, and the fact that it’s still being built over seven generations later proves the car’s enormous value, while the all-electric Mustang Mach-E proves that the nameplate can be applied to a whole new kind of car. While the latest traditional Mustang has yet to electrify, Ford’s decision to put the badge on an electric crossover marks an important milestone in the model’s long life.
2. 1955 Ford Thunderbird
Upon seeing the success of Chevrolet’s two-seat Corvette, Ford swiftly introduced its own two-seater, the Thunderbird, which was available from the 1955 model year. Sharing many components with other Ford models but offering stylish good looks and a relatively low price, the Thunderbird quickly attracted more customers than the Corvette. Over the years its place within Ford’s range changed, with the nameplate eventually drifting upmarket and with the variety of body styles greatly increasing in number from the original two-door convertibles produced from 1955 to 1957.
Thunderbird’s Changing Identity:
- Corvette inspired Ford’s response
- Launched for 1955 model year
- Quickly outsold the Corvette
- Became Ford’s luxury offering
- Final model left production
That meant the Thunderbird grew far beyond Ford’s initial effort to beat the Chevrolet Corvette. The mix of style, relatively low cost and shared components made for a strong debut, and even as it became a more upmarket model over the course of its production run, the nameplate found itself occupying a different place in Ford’s hierarchy. The two-door convertible body style was only part of the equation, and later Thundebirds would wear a more extensive array of body styles.
3. 1966 Ford GT40
The Mustang is not the only original Ford performance car to turn in a car that literally made history. The Ford GT40 was one of the most legendary American race cars ever built, though it was initially born out of a spiteful feud with Enzo Ferrari when he thwarted plans for the two companies to cooperate. In retaliation, Henry Ford II tasked just a handful of engineers to come up with a car that could best the Italians on the race track.
GT40’s Historic Racing Triumph:
- Born from Ferrari rivalry
- Henry Ford II ordered victory
- Early prototypes proved unreliable
- Le Mans delivered 1-2-3
- Originals command seven figures
The story of the GT40 is a special one because it is a story of success after a troubled program, with the established goal being to get ahead of Ferrari in racing. The engineers behind this ambitious project faced numerous obstacles, such as losing key staff and the initially unreliable prototypes that turned up for racing. However, all of that was swept aside when the GT40 finished 1-2-3 in the 1966 Le Mans, finally fulfilling the objective Ford had been chasing. It placed Ford at a pivotal point in the history of endurance racing, and more than five decades later, the GT40 remains one of America’s most iconic racing cars, and the original models now routinely go for millions at auction on account of their mythic status and racing success.
4. 1991 Ford Explorer
SUVs have never been more popular among American buyers, and the Ford Explorer was a huge factor in that market shift. Ford claims the Explorer is the best-selling SUV ever sold in the United States, and it has been continuously in production since it debuted in 1991. Ford kept things simple in design with consecutive generations, and the Explorer never strayed far from its boxy, upright look with a variety of trim levels to appeal to a variety of budgets.
Explorer’s SUV Success Formula:
- Launched in 1991
- Best-selling SUV in America
- Continuous production since debut
- Boxy upright styling remained
- Electric European version unveiled
One thing you can see in the Explorer’s origins is the way it successfully ascertained people’s growing interest in SUVs and constructed one to meet the needs of everyday family life. Its fundamental recipe remained relatively unchanged over generations upright styling, multiple trim options and a lot of interior volume. This formula underpinned its popularity with American consumers and ensured its success over the model’s long production run.
5. 1986 Ford RS200
Car making News Home › 4×4 › Vans › Ford has a history in rally but the RS200 is somewhat unusual, in the fact that it never really got a chance to shine in the racing class it was originally intended for. Built for Group B, the class was discontinued after the tragic loss of life at rally driving’s pinnacle just as Ford’s original cars were ready to compete. Around 200 production models for sale to the general public were built before the cars ran in rallycross races, with the cars intended for racing retained for spa
RS200’s Unfinished Rally Legacy:
- Built specifically for Group B
- Group B was cancelled
- 200 road cars sold
- Some competed in rallycross
- Ken Block revived interest
Part of the RS200’s appeal is also what it could have been if Group B had carried on. It was a purpose-built racing car, not a modified version of a road car that was adapted to race, but Group B’s premature end meant it never got to demonstrate itself in the arena that was intended for it. The 200 road-going homologation cars became really rare beasts, and some of the owners would take them rallycross, while Ford preserved the racing cars for parts. The limited numbers and odd history have seen it grow in value and want, and it has a profile well beyond rally fans thanks to the late Ken Block introducing people to this curious Ford with subsequent customised builds.
6. 1953 Ford F-100
The F-Series was or is still the best-selling line of pickup trucks in America and the current generation is and still has a long and storied history, with the first generation coming after the war. The F-100 was especially significant as it took advantage of the trend of more people using pickup trucks for daily driving and even adds small touches like sun visors and armrests to make them feel more like cars to the general populace rather than just utilitarian work trucks. The F-100 was a major hit and can be hard to come across in totally original condition, as so many were extensively used, modified and tweaked over the years. The second generation of F-100s was made from 1953 to 1956 before the styling, features like a wraparound windscreen and eventually more car-like features show up in the later Falcon-based versions of the model.
F-100’s Pickup Revolution:
- Post-war F-Series foundation
- Everyday driving became easier
- Added sun visors and armrests
- Second generation ran 1953-1956
- Original examples are scarce
F-100s proved that a pickup could be more than simply a cargo carrying box to do hard work. Sun visors and armrests were an attempt to appeal to Americans who were now using trucks as their daily transportation, and it established a formula that future generations of F-Series trucks refined. The second-generation trucks of 1953-1956 were more heavily styled, offering a wraparound windscreen, and later generations of pickups became more car-like, drawing elements from passenger car design, over time. The legacy of the F-100 can be seen in today’s very well-equipped and cosseted trucks, and survivors that have been correctly maintained are now highly collectible and can attract huge premiums when owners tire of them.
7. 2005 Ford GT
2005 Ford GT 2005 Ford GT: The Ultimate Ford This 2005 Ford GT “supercar” was the spiritual successor to the original GT40, and it signalled the return of Ford to the supercar scene after a long hiatus. The styling of the Ford GT was very much a homage to the racing GT40 from the 1960s, with the low-slung, powerful and aggressive exterior design language, and an overall retro look and feel. Powering this iconic road-rocket was, however, a modern aluminium block V8 that was supercharged, and focused on delivering top-end track performance and road-going refinement.
Ford GT’s Supercar Credentials:
- Spiritual successor to GT40
- First true Ford supercar
- Inspired by 1960s racer
- Exceeded 200 mph
- GT Mk IV ended era
The 2005 Ford GT bridged the gap between Ford’s racing glory days of the 1960s and its current supercar angle. Cues on the body to match its iconic GT40 forebears are evident, but everything below the skin was a big leap over the original racecar. It ran with Ferrari Enzos and Porsche Carrera GTs on the road, yet real-world test data proved that it could actually take on those European heroes on the race track, where it achieved a quarter mile of over 200mph on Ford’s Arizona Proving Ground. The second-gen GT, confirmed as the last of that line, continued that story, while the ultra-exclusive 2023 GT Mk IV marked the end of the current GT run for Ford.
8. 1968 Ford Escort
Ford has been present in Europe for decades, especially in the UK where it produced a number of models designed with local tastes in mind. Ford was one of the few European manufacturers of the time to have great success with the Escort. Longtime replacement for the Ford Anglia, small, inexpensive and European in origin, the Escort defied the cultural differences with North America to become a great sales success and a favorite of the press.
Escort’s European Motorsport Story:
- Replaced the Ford Anglia
- Built for European buyers
- Escort Mexico boosted racing
- Drivers’ titles in 1979
- Production ended in 2000
But the Escort was to be more than just a cheap European family car thanks to its rallying prowess, which helped give the Escort a strong identity. Its rallying prowess helped create the Escort Mexico and RS2000 some passion, and the RS Cosworth underscored the model’s sporting aims. It was the Escort’s rallying wins with Bjrn Waldegrd in 1979 and Ari Vatanen in 1981 that showed the Escort could truly compete with the best. After almost 35 years, the Escort was finally replaced by the Ford Focus in 2000, although the Escort still remains a popular model with collectors and is still seen at many a classic car rally.
9. 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Yet this is just one part of Ford’s future The electric F-150 Lightning The other is unveiled in the form of muscle petrol trucks like the 700-hp Raptor R still pulling in performance-hungry buyers. The Raptor name first appeared in the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor which began a new chapter for high-performance off-road trucks. Based on the 6.2L V8 producing 411 hp the original Raptor combined plenty of power with high performance suspension and factory-built off-road capabilities capable of tackling challenging terrain while still doing the stuff of a full-size pickup truck.
Raptor’s Off-Road Revolution:
- Performance line began in 2010
- 6.2-litre V8 produced 411hp
- Built specifically for dessert
- Dune capability surpassed predecessors
- Created new truck segment
This first Raptor redefined what a performance pickup was. Most ridiculously powerful street trucks of that era had been defined by straight-line performance on the drag strip and quickness and acceleration in a straight line. Ford supplied the Raptor with a purpose far more specific: its 6.2-litre V8, which yielded 411hp, was designed to tackle demanding desert terrain and attack dunes.
10. 1908 Ford Model T
The number 1 Greatest Car Made By Ford The Ford Model T was easily the most popular Ford car in history, and the most significant automobile ever made. On its introduction back in 1908, the Ford was the first car to be built using Mr Ford’s concept of a moving assembly line. He was thus able to manufacture the car at far less expense and at much higher volume than any other car industry.
Model T’s Manufacturing Revolution:
- Launched in 1908
- Assembly line reduced costs
- Made cars far cheaper
- Over 15 million sold
- Production ended in 1927
The Model T formed the basis for much of Ford’s subsequent success. Yet the greatest legacy of the Model T was not the car itself, but the manufacturing revolution that emerged around it. Henry Ford’s assembly line at Detroit’s Highland Park factory slashed production costs and enabled the company to produce a vehicle that was at a fraction of the price of many of its competitors.
