ERIC DYMOCK
Foreword
A hundred years of Ford
Ford model by model
Chronology of Ford in Britain
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Index
Synopsis
This book is a car-by car account of Ford models sold in Britain from the dawn of the 20th century, together with a history and detailed chronology of the company and its achievements.
Ford sold cars in Britain from the dawn of the 20th century. It made them in Manchester from 1911 with components imported from America, which completed their journey to Trafford Park up the Manchester Ship Canal. Throughout the first half of the century Ford vehicles were usually black, sold to the blue collar market, and proudly advertised as made from British components by a British workforce. Ford in Britain was recognised as a quintessentially British company, sometimes even by Detroit.
By the middle of the century Ford began to represent something more than motoring for the millions. Well-loved models like the Zephyr and Zodiac, and best sellers like the Cortina and Escort transformed Fords into aspirational cars endorsed by victories in the sporting field. Ford made its mark in grand prix racing, at Le Mans, and in touring car racing. Its technology was world class yet Ford never relinquished its skill in production engineering, and at the beginning of the 21st century it was turning out some of the best and fastest luxury cars in the world.