As one of the “Big Three” US automakers and one of the most successful automakers to this day, Ford has cemented its legacy in the automotive world. Their large-scale manufacturing procedures paved the way for modern automotive mass production. Ford released the first Mustang in 1964, introducing the world’s most famous pony car. The Ford GT40 and many of Carroll Shelby’s Ford-derived cars like the Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500 are truly legendary.
Ford is well known for their engine designs. The 289 V8 Small Block, 428 Cobra Jet, Boss 302, and Boss 429 engines are all truly classic powerhouses that have powered some of the most famous cars in history.
Typically, when you think of expensive cars, what comes to mind? A Ferrari 250 GTO, Bugatti Chiron, or McLaren F1 perhaps? European sports cars have topped auction sales figures for decades, but that has changed in recent years. As more time passes between the hay day of the classic muscle car and now, prices are…
Before overhead valve engines took over as the preferred setup for the internal combustion engine, Ford flathead V8s ruled the scene. It is a common misconception that the Ford flathead V8 was the first V8 engine. In fact, that honor goes to the Antoinette V8, invented in 1904 by Leon Levavasseur. Other European manufacturers were…
The Ford Fox Body Mustang is a strong contender for the Mustang generation that has the most to gain from aftermarket performance modifications. From the factory, it is hard to point to any part of the Fox Body that actually did its job well. 5.0L Windsor 302? Criminally underpowered. Brakes? Nearly non-existent. Suspension? It would…
Over the years, Ford has produced some incredibly iconic cars and engines. The Model T has long been considered one of the greatest manufacturing feats in modern history, and Ford’s flathead engine transformed V8s for the future. In 1968, Ford released the first versions of their now famed V8 Cobra Jet engines. Ford Cobra Jets…
It truly speaks to Carroll Shelby’s legacy that nearly everyone stateside and abroad can conjur up a mental image as soon as the term “GT500” is brought up. Of course, the GT500 is only a small part of Shelby American’s extensive and decorated history. Fostering a special relationship with eventual Ford president Lee Iacocca, Carroll…
Undoubtedly, Lee Iacocca’s Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic cars in American history. It debuted as the very first Pony Car back in 1965, and it has seen unprecedented success since then. From the small block V6s and V8s of the first generation, through the turbo-fours in the 1980s and all the way…
The Ford 289 Small Block played an instrumental role in establishing the Mustang legacy. As a continuation of the Ford Windsor V8 line, the Ford 289 would replace the Ford 260 V8 which was the standard engine for full-size Ford sedans in the 1963 model year. The 289 small block was nearly identical in construction…
For nearly 60 years, the Ford Mustang has staked its claim as America’s favorite pony car. Ford first introduced the Mustang in 1964, as a sporty new two-door coupe meant to attract the youth, and it has stayed immensely popular ever since. From the beginning, Ford made performance a priority in the Mustang, which is…
Spanning 50 years, the Ford Thunderbird is one of the most iconic cars in American history. First introduced for the 1955 model year, Ford marketed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car that featured outstanding performance from big-block V8s. The original run of the Thunderbird lasted for 10 generations from the 1955–1997 model years, before…
The Ford Torino was one of the top muscle cars on the market in the late-1960s through 1970s. Ford produced the Torino from 1968–1971, where it regularly sold among their top performers. They based the Torino on the Ford Fairlane, which they had introduced back in 1955. The Fairlane was one of Ford’s most powerful…
Galaxie History 1959-1972 A predecessor to the muscle car era, the Galaxie was Ford’s full-size competitor. Although it outpowered the similar Chevy Impala at first, it never sold as well due to its uninspired styling, poor aerodynamics, and heavyweight. Ford kept trying though and continued to install larger and larger engines, reaching a pinnacle with…
On May 26, 1927, Henry Ford watched the fifteen millionth Model T Ford roll off the assembly line at his factory in Highland Park, Michigan. Since his “universal car” was the industrial success story of its age, the ceremony should have been a happy occasion. Yet Ford was probably wistful that day, too, knowing as…
