A long-running legacy
Henry Ford is responsible for the creation of America’s greatest motor vehicles. For generations, Ford Motor Company has produced some of the best road vehicles to grace North American and European roadways. Whether we’re talking about huge trucks like the F-350, muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, or the O.G Ford Model T, here are forty of the most iconic Ford vehicles since the company first launched on June 16th, 1903.
Ford Model T
Lauded as the most revolutionary automobile of all time, the Ford Model T, or “Tin Lizzie” was the car that started it all for Henry Ford in 1908. Although the Ford only sold for 19 years (between 1908 and 1927), the Model T was the first vehicle to be produced on an assembly line and set the standard for automobile production in the United States. Ford sold 16.5 million units of the Model T. The number of Model T’s still in existence and in use today is estimated to be less than 50,000.
Ford Transit Van
First introduced to the European and global market in 1965, the original Ford Transit Van was designed to be a workhorse vehicle used by tradespeople and others who needed space for large tools or boxes. It was supposed to rival the VW vans that were popular in Europe during the 1960s. It accomplished this with great gusto, earning the nickname “the backbone of Britain.”
Ford Escort Mk. 1
The Ford Escort was introduced in Europe in 1968 as a replacement for the Ford Pinto. The Ford Escort Mk. 1 was marketed as a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive family vehicle, but instead found itself drawn into rally car racing (a popular type of racing in the United Kingdom and Europe), being capable of a top speed of 181 km/h and having excellent handling.
Ford Focus
The original Ford Focus was considered a huge replacement and upgrade for the Ford Escort in 1998, first launching in Europe and bringing Ford’s engineering and expertise to the European market in a big way! This compact car was favoured by first-time drivers for its ease of use and driveability and its cost-effectiveness. Ford Focuses are still very popular today!
Ford Thunderbird
As Ford and General Motors battled it out for automotive supremacy on the American market in the early 1950s, Ford introduced the Ford Thunderbird in 1955 as a direct competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette, produced by GM. The Ford Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by 23-to-1 in the first year of sales. While the two cars are attractive to different audiences, the sleek, stylish nature of the Thunderbird seemed to win over those who didn’t want a speedster, but rather a luxury cruiser.
Crown Victoria
Affectionately nicknamed the Crown Vic, Ford’s Crown Victoria is the world’s most recognizable police car. Released in 1991 and enjoyed 20 years of longevity over two iterations of the Crown Victoria, it is perhaps the world’s most recognizable Ford car.
Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ford F Series (1st Generation)
The first iteration of the Ford F-Series pick-up truck was a bulky and relatively ugly vehicle on the front end, but was the first of Ford’s light-duty pickup trucks introduced in the United States. It was intended to replace the car-based pick-up with a higher cab and greater capacity. First introduced in 1942, the Ford F-Series is one of the longest continuous lines of pick-up trucks worldwide.
1964 Ford Mustang
Billeted as the ultimate American muscle car, the original Ford Mustang from 1964 was geared towards younger drivers looking for an exciting and attractive vehicle to ride around in. With it, Ford created a new class of vehicles known as “Pony cars” and produced the original Mustang from 1964 to 1971. Its affordability and power made it an instant success among Ford loyalists and newcomers alike.
Ford GT40
The GT40 or ‘Grand Touring 40’ was Henry Ford’s answer to Enzo Ferrari in 1963, when Ferrari and Ford were about to sign a partnership agreement that Enzo Ferrari walked away from suddenly. Ford created the GT-40 to compete in the track racing market against the Ferraris and Mercedes of this world — with moderate success with the GT-40 from 1966 to 1969.
Ford Model A
Introduced in 1927, the Ford Model A was Ford’s successor to the legendary Model T. It came with increased power and performance compared to its predecessor and was seen as a more luxurious vehicle than the everyday driver of the Model T. The Model A broke (or didn’t, as it were) new ground when it became the first production car to feature safety glass as its windshield. Despite only being produced until 1931, the Ford Model A sold over 4.8 million units and cemented Henry Ford’s automotive legacy.
Ford Model 18
The Ford Model 18 isn’t what one might think of when one thinks of classic Ford vehicles, but it was unique for being the first Ford to feature a V8 flathead engine. It also wasn’t that expensive, despite its power and performance capabilities thanks to the V8. Ford balanced power and performance with cost-effectiveness perfectly, selling millions of units from it’s production run from 1932 to 1953.
Ford Explorer (1990)
In 1990, Ford introduced the Ford Explorer, billed as an everyday driver with the capability to go off-road. It was seen as a versatile option for those who liked a bit of both worlds. It could seat seven people along with room for cargo, built on a truck chassis, the Explorer allowed one to take the kids to soccer practice in the morning and then go off-roading that afternoon!
Ford Fusion (2005)
First produced in 2005 as a fuel-efficient option to the beloved Ford Focus and with similar exterior design principles, the Ford Fusion offered 8.66L/100 kilometres, making it an immediate fan favourite for long-distance road trips or suburbanites that drove into and out of the city daily for work.
M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1953 Ford F-100
While we’ve discussed the first iteration of the Ford F-Series above, the 1953 version, the F-100 stole the show for pick-up truck lovers. It offered sun visors and armrests and was a definite upgrade from the 1942 model. The F-100 is a rarity in today’s classic car market as it was the workhorse of its day and most have been worked into the ground, finding homes (sadly) at the scrap heap.
2005 Ford GT
Not since the days of the GT40 had Ford produced a car quite like it’s first supercar, the 2005 Ford GT. Again using the Grand Touring name, it lived up to the hype and became a fierce competitor for Ferrari and Porsche. The GT had a staggering top speed of 347 km/hr or 216 mph, holding pace with its supercar competitors.
2010 Ford F150 Raptor
Seemingly built as little more than a toy/vanity project for Ford truck lovers, the Ford F-150 Raptor boasts a staggering 700 horsepower and a gas-guzzling V8 engine. While by far one of the newest iterations of Ford trucks out there, it’s stood the test of time in the last 14 years and began the horsepower competition between America’s largest automobile manufacturers.
Lincoln Continental GT
Built for luxury, Lincoln is owned by Ford and was first introduced in 1939 and had largely flunked in the luxury car market throughout the Second World War and in the immediate postwar era. That is, until 1961, when Ford launched the Lincoln Continental GT. This gorgeous luxury vehicle with plush leather seats, flat panelling and sheer size (it’s like driving a boat, but on-land), is said to have been the car that saved Lincoln as a brand.
Danique Veldhuis, Flickr, Pexels
1965 Ford Galaxie
In the mid-1960s Ford launched the “Galaxie” to capitalize on the ongoing space-race extravaganza and capitalize they did! This large sedan bore some resemblance in terms of style to the 1961 Continental GT but was a family-friendly vehicle in both function and cost. It’s massive 7-liter engine helped make it a favourite among drag racers at the time.
Ford Capri
The Ford Capri was Ford’s introduction to Mustang-style performance on a far boxier European-style body. It wasn’t terrible and it wasn’t like putting lipstick on a pig, built on the Ford Cortina platform it offered a 1.3 or 3.0-liter V6, an affordable option for Europeans seeking a performance-based transcontinental roadster.
Ford Shelby 427 Cobra
So, this might not count, as Shelby and Ford collaborated on this gorgeous little vehicle, crafting the chassis together. So, it’s going on the list. It received a Ford 427 engine and was a fantastic little sports car with stunning design elements that made it unforgettable.
Ford RS200
Before Ford shut down their entire rally class of vehicles due to accidents and deaths in the mid-1980s in the UK, they didn’t do it before the Ford RS200 gained a cult following among rally racing enthusiasts in the United Kingdom and Europe. The Ford RS200 was built specifically to race in Group B races (races without limitations on vehicle weight, technology and overall cost as is the case in Group A racing) and took the rally racing world by storm until the program was discontinued and the cars stopped production in 1986.
1962 Ford Cortina
The Cortina is mentioned above when discussing it’s successor, the Capri, but the Ford Cortina is an iconic car in its own right. This two-door, two-seater sedan was the perfect everyday driving car and beloved by many Europeans.
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
Yet another European stalwart of Ford’s was the Sierra RS Cosworth. It’s turbocharged, 200 horsepower engine with rear-wheel drive was viewed as the ultimate racing car for years in the 1980s worldwide, winning a staggering 86.4% of races!
Miguel Angel Prieto Ciudad, Flickr
Ford Bronco
No, not that space-looking thing that passes for a Bronco today, we’re talking the original Bronco from the mid 1960s. This gorgeous-looking 4x4 off-road vehicle wouldn’t look out of place on a car catwalk or tearing up a mountainside at speed. Built to go off-road, the 1965 Ford Bronco and the versions that came after it (until the mid-1990s, at least) are one of the most iconic off-road 4x4 vehicles ever.
Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST was a turbocharged 1.6L engine with tuning potential coming out of it’s ears. This beloved hatchback served two main purposes on the European market in 2019 when Ford introduced it: compactness and performance. While the Fiesta had been a model since 1976, Ford enjoyed relatively little success with it until their 2019 offering with the Fiesta ST.
Third-Generation Ford Mustang
The third generation of Ford Mustangs, produced in the 1970s and 1980s saw Ford replace their classic sleek shape of the 1960s Mustangs with a narrower design that boasted a different hood, less harsh lines and a ‘busier’ design. Ths became known as the “Fox body Ford.”
2001 Ford Escape
Yet another wondercar for suburban travelers, the original Ford Escape debuted in 2001 as an SUV with pizzazz. Known for it’s iconic yellow coloring, Ford’s 2001 Escape was one of their major SUV successes of the early 2000s, putting the utility in sport utility vehicle.
1975 Ford F-150
Before there was an F-150 Raptor, there was the 1975 Ford F-150. Built as a more powerful, bigger, bulkier and more capable successor to the F-100, the 1975 model of Ford F-150 was as commonplace in rural America as you’d expect for a versatile workhorse of a pick-up truck. While the F-100 is still the O.G Ford pickup, the longevity, utilitarian nature and design of the F-150 makes it the king of rugged do-it-all pickups.
1959 Ford Falcon
Developed as Ford’s first ever compact car, the Ford Falcon was a scaled-down version of the above-mentioned full-sized sedan (boat on a road) Ford Galaxie. The Falcon was geared towards those who wanted all of the cruising capabilities of a sedan without the excess size. However, the Ford Falcon would be phased out by 1970, giving way to the Ford Torino.
1974 Ford Torino
The Ford Torino is what replaced the Ford Falcon in 1970. Four years later, the third generation of the Ford Torino would become synonymous with Starsky and Hutch, with each model in that generation fitted with a V8 engine. Power was the name of the game with the 1974 Ford Torino.
1973 Ford Falcon XB-GT Coupe
The 1973 Ford Falcon was made famous by Mad Max in 1979, when Max is seen tearing through a desert in this sleek, stylish convertible with a raised engine and unique hood design. This iteration of the Ford Falcon once again drew attention to the now-rebranded Ford Torino, with many Mad Max viewers keen to see (or buy) the 1973 Falcon XB.
1932 Deuce Coupe
The stunning lines and overall design of the 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe was a 65-horsepower sports car that didn’t look like one! It featured a different engine design from Ford’s traditional V-8, a side-valve flathead design instead of the traditional top-valve designs of V-8s previously. The 1932 Deuce Coupe was made famous by it’s appearance in George Lucas’ breakout film American Grafitti in 1973.
1972 Ford Gran Torino
With their name change well underway, Ford rolled out the stunning 1972 Ford Gran Torino. This four door muscle car with the hood scoop was made famous by Clint Eastwood’s film, also called Gran Torino from 2008.
Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
If drag racing is your thing, chances are you’ve seen one of these. The limited-production run of the Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was purpose-built for drag-racing. Ford produced exactly 100 of these supercharged 7L V-8 cars in 1964 only. Capable of at least 430 horsepower, the Fairlane Thunderbolt helped secure the 1964 stock car championship for Ford.
1949 Ford Custom
Bearing the famous Ford crest emblem for the very first time in 1950. The ‘49 Ford Custom is iconic because it was Ford’s first production car post-World War II and the first production vehicle to be released after the deaths of Henry and brother Edsel Ford. The 1949 model beat Chevrolet to the market by six months, a huge deal at the time of post-war American car market production.
1971 Ford Pinto
Ford’s 1971 Pinto is considered iconic for all the wrong reasons. Apparently, it is considered by many automotive experts and even Ford die-hards to be the worst car ever produced — ever! Many people died during it’s first production year and the thing could apparently burst into flames with a hard stare… The Pinto makes the list for being iconically awful.
1958 Ford Edsel
Named after Henry’s brother, the 1958 to 1960 production run of the Ford Edsel seemed to be targeted to the American market as the do-it-all sedan. Big, bulky and more like a boat than a car, it was a far cry from what many had come to expect from Ford sedans.
Lincoln K-Series
Another entry for Ford’s Lincoln company on this list is the gorgeous K-Series. The stunning curves on the wheel arches, the spoked tires, the big front headlights, convertible, oh and the iconic spare tire attached to the side made the K-Series a luxury vehicle for the ages.
Ford Fordor 1942
Created as a ‘staff’ car in 1942 for American and British military officers to be driven around in the Ford Fordor (yes, it had four doors) was a rather interesting take on military vehicles at the time, with a long sweeping hood and large wheel arches, the Fordor is iconic in military vehicle circles.
1973 Ford Explorer Concept
While (thankfully, Lawd have mercy) only a concept vehicle, the 1973 Ford Explorer is an… interesting take on what it is for a car to be long, but also short. In an attempt to best Dodge’s Deora long-bed pickup, Ford conceptualized the two-seater 1973 Ford Explorer. It was an awful design and was rightfully never put to the market. But, it’s still iconic for it’s ugliness.
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