The first Ford vehicle, Model A, was unveiled in 1903. The model was an instant hit, and after that, Ford became a household name for family cars. Since then, the company has been rolling off fuel-efficient, low-maintenance and technologically advanced vehicles in the market.
The century-old legacy of Ford encompasses a number of big achievements, milestones and amazing facts. Let’s unfold some interesting Ford facts in more detail.
Ford Facts You Didn’t Know
Ford is one of the most popular American car brands and secures a significant position in the automotive industry. Other than the obvious, there are many Ford history facts that you must know. Here is the list of the most amazing Ford facts.
Family-Owned Business
Ford Motor Company is counted among one of the largest family-owned businesses across the globe. In the early days, Ford was owned by 11 different stakeholders, including the founder Henry Ford. Later, Henry Ford and his son purchased all the shares and became the owner of the company. In fact, the current CEO of Ford, William Clay Ford Jr. is the great-grandson of Henry Ford. Moreover, the majority of shareholders of the company are also from the Ford family.
Advanced Assembly Line
After the success of Model A, Ford launched Model T in 1908. This second model series was more successful than the first one, and its demand skyrocketed within a few days. To meet the demands, Ford introduced a moving assembly line for the very first time in 1914. This innovative and advanced assembly line reduces the production time and cost.
The assembly line also deducted the labour input and their working hours were reduced. In the same year, Henry Ford increased the daily wages of labour to $5/day. It is considered a prime example of corporate social responsibility to date.
First Car of Ford
Henry Ford was the mastermind behind this successful car brand. The first car built under the banner of Ford Motor Corporation was the ‘Model A’. The car was assembled at the Park Avenue plant in 1903. The first model of this two-cylinder car was sold to Dr. Pfenning for $850. This first model is currently owned by the CEO of Ford.
Ford Cars Owned by American Presidents
A number of ex-American presidents include Ford in their private collection. Starting from John F. Kennedy, who was a huge fan of Ford Thunderbird. He owns a wide range of Ford cars including 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible and 1963 Ford Thunderbird hardtop. It was the last vehicle he drove before his assasination. Similarly, Bill Clinton owned convertible Mustangs. In fact, he used a 1967 Mustang convertible during his 1992 presidential run.
The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid was the first choice of Barack Obama after he became president. On the contrary, George W. Bush always preferred to drive a 4WD minitruck Ford F-150.
Ford’s All-Electric F-150
Ford following its Green vision is creating electric vehicles that are busting all the myths about these vehicles. Recently, Ford launched its all-electric F-150 minitruck that is more capable that petrol or diesel engine vehicles. The vehicle is equipped with advanced technological features, battery backup and driver assist feature. A single F-150 is capable of towing 1 million pounds at a time. The prototype of F-150 was also driven by current American President, Joe Biden
Thomas Edison’s Last Breath
Henry Ford was a life-long friend of Thomas Edison, a famous scientist. In fact, Henry Ford used to work in Edison Company before initiating his own car brand. Henry requested Thomas Edison’s son to capture his last breath in a glass tube. This glass tube is preserved to date as a memorial of Thomas Edison. The tube was named ‘Last Breath’ by Henry Ford.
Ford GTs
GT is a two-seater mid-engine sports car of Ford. It is an exclusive car range of Ford and is sold to only a limited number of people. People have to complete a series of documentation before purchasing it. The model is also credited for winning the 24 hours motor race of Le Mans. You can browse through these used Ford GTs for sale in the UAE and leverage this ultimate vehicle.
Jim Morrison and His Ford
Jim Morrison was a famous American singer, songwriter and poet. He is better known as the lead vocalist in the rock band ‘Doors’. The legendary singer only owns one car, Ford Shelby GT 500. What makes it an interesting Ford fact is that the singer drove only this car till his death.
Mustang – The Ultimate Ford Model
Mustang is a revolutionary model series launched by Ford in 1964. The car is known for its unique shape, high engine torque and agility. Mustang became a trendsetter and inspired a new car class named ‘Pony Cars’. This ultimate classic car is still counted among the most popular used American car models in the UAE. The latest Ford Mustang is launched in 2022, which makes it the linget-produced nameplate by the company.
Eco-Friendliness
Ford was one of the first companies to start working on the Green initiative. Even in 1930, Ford’s manufacturing plant used biofuel as an energy resource. Moreover, to avoid plastic usage, animal feathers were used to dust the cars before painting. The first plug-in hybrid car of Ford was launched in 2009. Since then, the brand has been working on its vehicles to its carbon footprint. The company is recently working on its Blue Oval Charge Network plan that will plant charging stations all across the country. These charging stations will facilitate electric vehicles to cover larger distances with ease.
These were all the interesting Ford facts. Ford has paved its way in the automotive industry by providing unique and power-oriented vehicles. Their cars top the list of low-maintenance and durable vehicles. If you are also interested in driving such vehicles, browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more Ford fun facts.
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