The Blue Oval’s car culture was forged in the crucible of mass production, utilitarian engineering and cars that became household names all around the world. Ford’s most famous nameplates like the Mustang, F-Series and Model T put the company on the map, but the company’s history is way more complex than any list of popular vehicles will suggest. In fact, behind Ford’s far-flung reach is a fleet of oddballs designed for unique markets, fostered in unlikely alliances and born out of shifting customer needs.

The stories of Ford’s forgotten offerings range from doomed local experiments to regional successes that remained under the radar elsewhere. Along the way, some of these vehicles also show a different side of Ford’s history: the regions where it was building some very odd, very limited-run vehicles to better compete with more established local rivals; early attempts at electric city cars; and an audacious rally prototype.

1. Ford Durango

The Durango was originally conceived as a partner with National Coach Products as a final attempt to upstage Chevrolet’s El Camino. The Durango was not created from scratch, but was developed using the Ford Fairmont Futura as its base, turning that sporty looking sedan into a pickup. The Durango was produced in 1981, with only a handful produced in 1982, and was an entrant into the pickup-truck industry combining the familiar foundations of an automobile with the practicality of a utility vehicle.

Durango’s Limited Run:

• Developed in collaboration with National Coach Products.
• Based on the Ford Fairmont Futura.
• Created to compete with Chevrolet’s popular El Camino.
• Required expensive conversion work before delivery.
• Only around 200 examples were produced.

However, whether or not the Durango had a high enough sales potential for Ford to continue the project is another story. This was mainly because of the conversion process that increased the base price, as it was more expensive than its authentic Chevrolet counterpart and was only aimed at customers who wanted an affordable utility vehicle. The project was then canned by Ford after around 200 units had been built, leaving the Durango as a little-known footnote in Ford’s history and also as a rare find for collectors.

2. Ford XC Falcon Cobra

In 1978, a curious manufacturing issue arose when hundreds of two-door XC Falcon coupé bodyshells sat in the Ford warehouse with no clear plan for their use. Rather than let the unused parts go to waste, Ford’s then managing director Edsel Ford II, devised a plan to use the unused models as a basis for the creation of a Cobra-branded special edition that could return the previously ‘clapped out’ XC to the marketplace as a desirable performance car. The project also presented a chance to further harness the then-recent Bathurst win, which only served to help give it a more defined identity.

Cobra’s Winning Formula:

• Introduced in Australia in 1978.
• Created using 400 remaining coupé bodyshells.
• Finished in distinctive blue and white paintwork.
• Equipped with a bonnet scoop for a muscular appearance.
• Offered with a choice of 302 or 351 V8 engines.

A far more hard-edged look was achieved when Ford put the newly available Falcon Cobra on the end of the completed XC Falcon. The presence of the scoop on the bonnet and the vivid colour scheme made the Falcon Cobra look special even by the high standards of falcon buyers, and the choice of 302 or 351 V8 cars made them even more attractive as Australian performance car buyers snapped up all 400 of the cars. The Falcon Cobra started as little more than a temporary solution to the problem of excess stock, but in the end it became a special car designed by Ford to please enthusiastic customers.

3. Ford Eifel

The import laws, with the huge tariffs on components from foreign countries made it problematic to risk complete reliance on imported parts, with the high costs involved. As the rules in Germany required a different approach, Ford’s German branch were required to engineer and make a unique car, which used local sourcing, hence the Eifel came into being. It was not simply a German variation of a car well known elsewhere, it was a cost-effective solution to building a Ford in a given country.

Eifel’s German Roots:

• Produced between 1935 and 1939.
• Developed in response to heavy import tariffs.
• Used locally sourced components to control costs.
• Offered body styles created by more than a dozen German coachbuilders.
• Around 61,000 examples were built, with approximately 200 surviving today.

Perhaps one of the Eifel’s most fascinating traits was the sheer range of bodies that could be purchased with it. Over a dozen German coachbuilders offered various different designs for the model, including everything from hardtop passenger cars to practical commercial vans and (if you were feeling a little flash) open-topped roadsters. This gave the model a versatility that meant it was able to cater for different needs and tastes without a default body type. Of the 61,000 examples produced in four years, it is thought only around 200 remain.

4. Ford Bantam

The Ford Bantam was built for South Africa, the country that was in need of an affordable small utility vehicle and also had a demand for compact vehicle models. What the locals also called a bakkie in their home language is a small pickup that offered a lite and small car alternative to the bigger more traditional trucks. In the 1980s the Bantam was designed with the same major mechanical parts as other European designed cars such as the Ford Escort, and then later model Fiesta.

Bantam’s Practical Appeal:

• Developed specifically for South Africa’s market.
• Known locally as a bakkie.
• Introduced in the 1980s.
• Shared major mechanical components with the Escort and Fiesta.
• Remained in production until 2011.

However the Bantam’s reliance on a body-on-frame construction and car-like platform helped reduce cost of manufacturing, while the result was a surprisingly agile handling feel which more closely resembles the feel of a hatchback than a traditional heavy-duty truck. Its size and load carrying practicality also made the Bantam well-suited to the local market, keeping it relevant for several decades in South Africa. To save its larger sibling the Bantam’s role was rather to be a smaller version of the Ranger a decent sized pickup aimed at those who wanted the load bay but not the size of a full-sized truck before production ended in 2011 when Ford chose to localise production of the Ranger only.

5. Ford Th!nk City

Even before electric vehicles became the big thing for most of the large car manufacturers, Ford was already dabbling with the idea of small electric vehicles and bought the Th!nk startup. As a result, the Th!nk City was born, an i9″2 model that was optimized for driving through congested city streets. This was a small two-seater produced from 2002-2003, in other words, not strictly a new concept but more of an early attempt to make the technology workable for daily use as a commuter car rather than an experiment.

Th!nk City’s Electric Ambitions:

• Developed following Ford’s acquisition of Th!nk.
• Produced between 2002 and 2003.
• Featured a compact two-seat design for urban travel.
• Offered a top speed of 62 mph and a 50-mile range.
• Sold just over 1,000 units.

Though its dimensions were tiny and its range limited, the Th!nk City brought more practical features to the table than a low-speed neighborhood electric vehicle. It met the full safety standards for crash safety, and being road-legal on American highways meant owners could drive it on public roads, according to regulations. That high price tag proved a barrier to demand, however, and the model never sold enough cars to justify a longer commercial run before Ford eventually wrote off the entire brand and departs from the project.

6. Ford Raider

However, the Ford Raider was not one of the most well-known vehicles that resulted from the Ford and Mazda alliance in the early 1990s. As sales of sport utility vehicles began to gain popularity, it was decided that carmakers should enter this market by simply “cloning” other brands without the added cost of designing an entirely new vehicle. This concept, of badge engineering, allowed a model that existed to be replicated with minimal modifications for each individual automaker. This was how the Raider came to be, and it was only sold in Australia from 1991 through 1996.

Raider’s Unusual Origins:

• Sold exclusively in Australia from 1991 to 1996.
• Based on the Mazda Proceed Marvie.
• The Marvie was derived from the Mazda B-Series pickup.
• Combined pickup-based foundations with a wagon-style rear body.
• Well-preserved examples are now difficult to find.

The Raider was little more than a Mazda Proceed Marvie, which was built on the platform of Mazda B-Series pickup truck and had a wagon-style rear. It was reminiscent of a period when people were seeing the advantage in a vehicle that, in some ways, had the ability to function as an SUV, but in the case of these Mazda models, was based on pickup truck platforms. Interestingly, a version of the Ford Explorer Sport was sold as the Navajo in America under the Mazda-Ford joint-venture until its end in 1997, whereas the Raider appeared in Australia. Many Raiders ended up as work vehicles and were not kept in pristine condition, so well-maintained examples are a tough find.

7. Ford FPV Super Pursuit

The most powerful end of Australia’s decades-old rivalry between GM and Ford was the FPV Super Pursuit. The contest pushed both carmakers to come up with grunty, roadgoing cars that looked easy to live with but boasted the sort of straight-line performance that made their rivals so worried. Released in 2009, the Super Pursuit was a performance-oriented utility vehicle that arrived in Australia just as its local manufacture was winding down and its humble utility bed sat fairly comfortably next to its V8 drivetrain.

Super Pursuit’s V8 Power:

• Introduced in 2009.
• Powered by a 5.4-litre V8 engine.
• Produced 422 horsepower.
• Delivered power exclusively to the rear wheels.
• Competed directly with the 425-horsepower HSV Maloo R8.

With a 422-horsepower V8, the Super Pursuit had the performance chops to rival Holden’s 425-horsepower HSV Maloo R8, but with a focus on power and performance rather than load-carrying ability, it reflected the unique sticker-arse Australian performance ute culture. But wider problems in the Australian motor industry meant Ford’s local factory finally shut down in 2016, leaving them as a memorable benchmark of a unique segment of Australian motoring, though older models such as the 2002 AU XR8 Pursuit 250 has begun to gain favor with enthusiasts watching the 25-year import rule come into effect in the US.

8. Ford Vendôme

After the war, Ford’s French operations failed to develop a distinct identity in the local market. Its Vedette economy car topped the 100,000 sales mark, but questions about its build quality influenced the way buyers saw the vehicle. In an effort to boost its reputation and offer customers a higher-end product, Ford created the Vendôme as a luxury alternative in the mid-1950s. A new, more upmarket model, the Vendôme was an effort to distance the brand from the more affordable Vedette and penetrate the French market for luxury cars.

Vendôme’s Luxury Ambitions:

• Developed by Ford’s French division.
• Created as an upmarket alternative to the Vedette.
• Featured bright chrome accents and a smooth V8 engine.
• Sold just over 3,000 examples.
• Discontinued after Ford sold its French operations to Simca.

The Vendôme adopted a more sophisticated appearance, with bright chrome detailing and a smooth V8 engine intended to deliver a more luxurious driving experience. Unfortunately, the improved presentation was not enough to overcome the commercial difficulties facing Ford’s French operations. The model sold only a little over 3,000 examples, while heavy tax rates and slow sales made its continued production difficult to justify. Ford eventually sold its French operations to rival manufacturer Simca, which quickly discontinued the Vendôme, leaving the car as a short-lived example of the company’s attempt to establish an upmarket identity in France.

9. Ford GT70

Ford’s motorsport history includes many celebrated rally cars, but the GT70 remains a relatively obscure experiment from the early 1970s. Conceived as a mid-engined homologation special, it was intended to challenge lightweight rally competitors such as Porsche on demanding stage roads. The project reflected Ford’s interest in developing a purpose-built competition car that could offer a different approach to rally performance. Rather than simply adapting an existing road car, engineers explored a more specialised design that could potentially compete against established rivals.

GT70’s Failed Rally Plan:

• Developed in the early 1970s.
• Designed as a mid-engined rally-focused car.
• Intended to challenge lightweight competitors such as Porsche.
• Tested with different engines and revised fibreglass bodywork.
• Abandoned after only a handful of prototypes.

Ford originally envisioned producing a small number of road-going GT70s to satisfy racing homologation requirements, but testing quickly revealed significant problems. The prototype was uncomfortable and notoriously difficult to handle, creating concerns about its suitability for the intended role. Engineers attempted to improve the design through smaller engine options, revised fibreglass bodywork and the removal of the pop-up headlights, but these changes failed to deliver the desired results. Ford eventually abandoned the project after building only a handful of prototypes and redirected its attention towards the Escort, leaving the GT70 as a fascinating example of an ambitious motorsport programme that never reached production.

10. Ford F-Max

Although many American truck enthusiasts associate Ford primarily with the F-Series, the company also produces a large cabover semi-truck for international markets. Built by Ford’s Turkish subsidiary, the F-Max is designed for heavy commercial transport and is commonly seen on highways across Europe and Asia. Its configuration differs from the conventional bonneted trucks familiar to many North American drivers, giving it a distinctive appearance in Ford’s wider vehicle range. With a powerful diesel engine and a focus on long-distance transport, the F-Max demonstrates how Ford’s commercial vehicle business extends well beyond its best-known American products.

F-Max’s Heavy-Duty Credentials:

• Built by Ford’s Turkish subsidiary.
• Designed as a cabover semi-truck for international markets.
• Powered by a 12.7-litre diesel engine.
• Produces 493 horsepower and 1,844 lb-ft of torque.
• Available in a premium F-Max Select trim.

The F-Max combines substantial pulling power with features intended to make long journeys more comfortable for professional drivers. Its premium F-Max Select trim adds distinctive two-tone bronze and black paintwork alongside a plush, well-equipped cabin, giving the truck a more upmarket feel. Although the model is not offered to North American buyers, it remains an important example of Ford’s international commercial vehicle range. Ford has also been advancing zero-emissions heavy-transport technology in Europe, with hydrogen-powered demonstration units planned for 2025 as part of an initiative to reduce emissions along key trade routes.