Automotive Recyclers Association - Archive

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Ford Cars

Of all past and present carmakers in the US, Ford is probably the brand that is the most memorable due to the Model T. People attribute the invention of the car to Henry Ford and thus, the name is most widely recognized. Of course, Ford is not the original creator of the automobile, but he did provide significant, historical advancements to the industry which cannot be overlooked. He was the father of modern day production lines in North America, and aggressively sought to ensure his car was an enjoyable commodity for all, not just the rich.

Founded in June 1903, the Ford Motor Company shipped its first vehicle, a Model A, to its new owner in July 1903. As the company was backed by investors and for the most part, they disagreed with Ford's ideas of productivity, Ford needed to buy up as many shares as possible in order to maintain controlling interest. By 1906, he was able to expand his portfolio to almost fifty-nine percent enabling him to replace then president John S. Gray with himself.

Coupled with streamlining factory processes, he also provided better pay for employees than other companies of the time. In fact, instead of keeping all the profits obtained from more efficient production methods, his cars actually became cheaper in price so that more people could afford to buy them. He also knew that the factory work was tedious and employees left because of the boredom. As a result of this syndrome, he announced that he would pay five dollars per day for an eight hour shift of work. For many average workers, this meant more than double their existing wages. Needless to say, everyone wanted to keep their positions.

Basically, Ford believed that a car should not be built one-by-one but rather, with a division of labor and with interchangeable parts. A piece should not have to be indigenous to one vehicle. In addition, employees should only complete a few tasks and do them quickly. Lastly, the vehicle, in stages of construction, should come to the employees to save time, thus the moving production line. Not only should time not be wasted moving about one vehicle, but also, once an employee was assigned a task, he should complete it in the same repetitive fashion each time. Excessive movements were not warranted and caused inefficiencies. Of course, today, this all seems rather common sense and all factory lines are built upon these premises.

Achievements

• 1913 Moving assembly line with a division of labor
• 1914 Five-dollar-a-day workday
• 1914 Decreased nine hour workday to eight to accommodate three shifts per day
• 1920 At one point the Ford Model T was sold for a mere one-third of its original price. The price just kept dropping. Demand was usually greater than the supply, though.
• 1925 created the first airplanes (Ford Tri-Motor) used by commercial airlines in the US
• 1926 Safety glass was added to vehicles at insistence of son Edsel.
• Edsel believed in “comfort, service, quality and beauty” and tried to marry stylish features with the technical specifications of a car. Indeed, Edsel was a driving force behind the company and as much as his father Henry was instrumental in carmaking, Edsel was a leader in the field. It was a huge loss for the company when Edsel died at such a young age in 1943.
• 1999 Model T named "Car of the Century"

Highlights

• 1922 Purchased Lincoln Motor Company
• 1925 Model T becomes available in colors and is more appealing with curved surfaces.
• 1935 Added the Lincoln Zephyr for the middle-class who wanted something more.
• 1945 Henry Ford II, Henry's grandson takes over as president of company.
• 2008 Model T would have been one hundred
• 2009 Celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of the Ford Mustang

Iconic Brands

• Lincoln Continental – Of the five thousand built around the time of the Second World War, many are still in demand today because of their classic nature and reliability.
• Mercury – Released in 1938, it filled a void in the marketplace to provide lower priced high-end cars.
• Thunderbird – Released in 1955 was a luxury two-seat convertible.
• Edsel – Introduced in 1958, the Edsel is not an icon due to its popularity and success but contrarily, because of its dismal failure. Nowadays, when a company produces a "flop", it is said that "it went by the way of the Edsel".
• Mustang – Released in 1964, it became an American classic. The idea was simple. Put a rear seat in a sports car. Look great and carry your kids and cargo at the same time.

Models and Years Released

(this is just a very small group of Ford models)

• 1903 Model A
• 1908 Model T
• 1925 Model T Runabout Truck
• 1953 Vega
• 1955 Thunderbird
• 1964 Mustang
• 1965 Ranger F Series Trucks
• 1967 Mercury Cougar
• 1971 Pinto
• 1971 Escort
• 1978 Fiesta
• 1979 Crown Victoria
• 1983 Mercury Grand Marquis
• 1986 Taurus
• 1990 Explorer SUV
• 2005 Flex Crossover
• 2006 Edge