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It Began With A Dream

Ford was born by the dream of freedom and continues inspiring drivers for over a century. Henry Ford, the brilliant founder of the Blue Oval brand, began a movement to create an opportunity for middle-class citizens who made a $5 wage by manufacturing automobiles that were affordable and functional for all. The professionals at Palmetto Ford have put together facts about Ford Motor Company history and how its production continues to innovate and enhance drivers’ lives.

Ford Motor Company History

Henry Ford built his very first Quadricycle powered by a 4-horsepower engine in 1896 made out of four bicycle wheels and prevailed as a top race car driver in the Detroit Driving Club. During this time, he was chief engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit where he became a lifelong friend and mentor of Thomas Edison. He then organized the Detroit Automobile Company just three years later, and in 1903 founded Ford Motor Company with 12 other investors and 1,000 shares, selling its first Ford Model A. This same year, the revolutionizing assembly line helped put the world on wheels as we know it, featuring the Ford Model T and its timeless legacy. In 1917, the first truck model arrived as the Ford Model TT, which later transpired the Ford F-100 line of trucks in 1948 and was eventually replaced by the Ford F-150 Series –– America’s Best Selling Pickup still to this day.

Moving along in the Ford Motor Company history, World War II inspired everything from ambulances, armed tanks, and tractors to airplanes and bombers. Many models introduced radical change, from the all-American 1949 Ford to the 1954 Ford Thunderbird and the 1964 Ford Mustang, defining the pony car class. Today, the Ford Mustang remains a cultural icon and the fastest vehicle in Ford Motor Company history. The very first Ford Transit emerged with the collaboration of Ford Germany and Ford U.K. in 1965, and that same year, Ford Philco engineers teamed with NASA satellite control center to help put a man on the moon.

Be A Part of Ford History

Visit us at Palmetto Ford and discover more about the legendary Ford Motor Company history timeline and recent Ford innovations, like partnering with leaders in technology like Microsoft® and introducing the first-ever all-electric SUV model. We are proud to offer these amazing new Ford models to you!