More About Ford
Ford has to be the most famous name in the history of cars and is, undoubtedly, one of the most significant
automobile manufacturers. It was Henry Ford whose is credited with the invention of the assembly line that is the
very reason cars are available to the average person today. The brand's long and interesting history makes for good
reading, as their cars make for good driving.
Ford in Southern Africa
Locally, the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa was founded in 1923 and within a year, Model Ts were being
assembled in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) - making Ford SA's first automobile manufacturer. In the late 1960s, Ford
opened its Silverton (Tshwane) assembly plant where Fords and Mazdas were produced for the local market. In 1985,
Ford founded the South African Motor Corporation (Samcor) but by 1988 had withdrawn from SA citing economic and
political reasons.
Local Ford Heroes
Over the years, Ford had massive success locally with models like the Cortina, Escort and Sierra topping sales in
the 70s and 80s. Ford's reputation for toughness was made by vehicles such as the Ford Cortina bakkie; this model
was sold only in South Africa. Some say that there may be no other vehicle that symbolises South African motoring
more than the Ford Cortina bakkie. This bakkie paved the way for another local legend: Ford's Bantam bakkie.
Various unique models were built exclusively in South Africa, with unique Ford Rangers joining the list in 2019.
Today, the Ford Ranger and Ford Everest are produced at the Silverton plant and exported around the world.
On the International Front
In the 1980s, Ford launched many highly successful vehicles worldwide as well as the slogan, "Have you driven a
Ford, lately?". In 1990 Ford bought Jaguar Cars and 1994 they acquired Aston Martin, giving Ford a reach across a
range of automotive market sectors.
Samcor continued to produce Ford vehicles and in 1994, Ford acquired a 45% stake in Samcor and returned to SA. BY
2000, Ford held the majority of the Samcor shares, and it became Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.
Ford's Masterpieces
From the Model T to the F-Series truck that continues to be America's best-selling vehicle, Ford has an impressive
bragging list. Yes, there were some lemons along the way, like the infamous Edsel, but there are many vehicles that
stand out in automobile history.
The Thunderbird was launched in 1955 as a two-door, two-seater convertible to rival the Chevrolet Corvette. Praised
for
its sleek exterior design and comfortable ride, the Thunderbird created its own niche.
The Ford Cortina was an economical family sedan which gained popularity worldwide. Its lightweight, rear-wheel-drive
layout, and powerful range-topping engine gave it a sporty character.
Ford introduced the now-iconic Mustang in 1964, during New York World's Fair (where, incidentally, Ford had a
pavilion
made by The Walt Disney Company). It was marketed as an affordable sports car concept and immediately gained
popularity,
spawning the pony car segment. The first-generation Mustang remained in production from 1964 to 1973 and evolved
dramatically over the years. In its latest incarnation, it is one of the most desired cars available thanks - in
part -
to large amounts of nostalgia.
Hot on the heels of the Mustang came the GT40. Co-developed with input from Carroll Shelby and John Wyer Automotive
Engineering, the GT40 was Ford's first factory race car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Various versions and
various
engines were built for the GT40, but the Mk II is arguably the most iconic, as it was the first to beat Ferrari at
Le
Mans in 1966. Ford won the race in 1967, 1968, and 1969 as well with this car.
Shelby Cobra is one of the most iconic sports cars ever made. It is basically a British-made AC Ace with an
all-American
V-8 engine. This was the brainchild of Carroll Shelby, who revealed it in 1962.
From Anglia to Escort, Focus to Figo, Ford is a part of South African motoring history. Today, Ford is a major
player in
the automotive industry, offering vehicles that are consistently top sellers in their segments and constantly
introducing innovative technology.