Ford Motors has a long, rich history as one of America’s legacy corporations. Their vehicles represent American ingenuity and help to define U.S. culture, especially in rural areas. Ford is associated with innovative technology and tough vehicles for farming, construction, and exploration. Here are some things you might not know about these classic vehicles.
5 Facts About Ford Motors
1. Ford is the second-largest family-owned company in the world. (Source)
Ford has remained a family business ever since Henry Ford founded it. William Clay Ford, Jr. is the current executive chairman and Henry’s great grandson. He even owns the original Ford vehicle.
2. Ford Ranger pickups are involved in the highest number of fatal accidents. (Source)
In 2022, 402 Ford Rangers were involved in fatal accidents. Is this a reflection on the pickup truck’s popularity or insufficient safety features?
3. The Ford company has helped the U.S. military in war time. (Source)
Ford was a commercial innovator that played a key role in developing assembly line production. They used their cutting-edge methods to help the U.S. military build planes during times of strain, like World War II.
4. Ford favored black vehicles. (Source)
Henry Ford famously insisted on focusing on creating black vehicles because the paint was cheaper and dried the most quickly, helping to keep the assembly line process moving.
5. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were best friends. (Source)
The duo both owned vacation homes in Fort Meyers, Florida where they could spend time together. The friendship ran so deep that Ford captured Edison’s last breath in a test tube for posterity, a keepsake still in possession of the Ford family.