History of Ford Vehicles

Anyone familiar with the history of Ford vehicles knows that Ford has become an integral part of American culture and history. From the Model T to the Mustang and the Lincoln Towncar, each generation of the history of Ford vehicles introduced a new iconic automobile to the world.

Ford's first car, the Model T, was introduced in the United States in 1908. That year, Ford sold almost 200,000 of them for about $850. The car featured a 20 horsepower engine, an optional windshield and could reach a top speed of about 20 miles per hour.

Ford introduced the Thunderbird in 1955 in order to compete with the popular Chevrolet Corvette. With a 200 horsepower, V8 engine, this new luxury car reached out to the crowd seeking out a roadster with the combined convenience of more passenger and cargo space. The Thunderbird was a huge hit and remains an American icon.

When Ford introduced the F1 pickup truck in 1948, no one knew that the F series of trucks would quickly become one of the most popular pickups in the country from that point forward. The F1 was a half ton truck that housed a powerful 95 to 100 horsepower engine with a stylish design that became an instant hit.

By 1955, the latest F-Series was the F-100, with additional luxuries like a cigarette lighter and arm rests. The engine was well over 100 horsepower and the design featured an entirely redesigned grille.

Two decades later, Ford introduced the F-150 Ranger, which featured a powerful 150 horsepower engine and a large grille that became very popular design throughout the late 1970s. Many of the F-150s purchased in the 1970s were still on the roads and runnin strong well into the early 1990s.

Many people don't realize that the classic Ford Escort series was actually first introduced in Europe, at the Brussels Motor Show, in 1968. The car was part of Ford's European offering. The first Escort was a small rear wheel drive with a very simple 2-door design. Ford introduced the first U.S. Escort model in 1980 as an efficient, compact car with a front wheel drive and a hatchback design.

Ford Motor Company purchased the Lincoln luxury automaker in 1922, and used the success of the Lincoln to capture additional sales in the luxury niche. Ford introduced the Lincoln Continental in the 1940s, and the Mark II in the 1950's. Finally, in the 1960's the Lincoln's claim to fame was it's use as the Presidential limousine.

By 1970, this very successful line of luxury cars saw the introduction of the Lincoln Mark IV and the no-so-popular Lincoln Versailles. In 1981, the introduction of the Lincoln Town Car marked the start of one of the most popular luxury car lines in the United States.

Have you ever heard of the Ford Fiesta? The odds are good that if you were old enough in the 1970's, then you probably do. The energy crisis of the 1970's drove Ford to produce a prototype for a brand new compact car. In 1976, Ford introduced the compact Ford Fiesta to the international community and with an efficient engine it was an instant hit. While the tiny Fiesta was never very popular in the United States while it was distributed there, it was a tremendous success throughout the rest of the world.

The first Ford Mustang was introduced to U.S. markets in 1964 as a small, affordable sports car. Ford General Manager Lee Iacocca based the Mustang on the Falcon model compact car. Ford sold over 22,000 vehicles in the very first day it was introduced, and over a million in the first two years.

If you enjoyed this stroll down automotive history lane, don't forget to check out other LTK Cars slideshows like List of Car Names: Top Ten Most Popular Sports Cars or Edmunds Auto Loan Calculator.