1974 Ford Maverick

In an ever-changing market, it can be an auto company’s biggest challenge to conceptualize a model that will demonstrate the company’s ability to harness power, agility, affordability, and style all in one frame. In the late 1960s and into the 1970s, Ford was busy producing a model to fit that bill. The company rolled out the Ford Maverick in 1969, and production would continue through 1977 in the United States.

The 1974 Ford Maverick received a larger trunk and different bumpers, and it earned a sales boost because of its better fuel economy. The car was equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. Under the hood, the car contained one of two engines: an I6 or a V8. The I6 was a 200 cubic inch engine which produced 75 horsepower at 3200 rpm. The V8, however, was a 302 cubic inch engine producing 129 horsepower at 3800 rpm.

Ford had originally intended on discontinuing the Maverick in 1975, but made the decision to carry on with the model until low sales helped put an end to the model in 1977. Outside of the United States, the Maverick continued to be produced for another few years in some places, such as Mexico.

Do you own or have you ridden in a 1974 Ford Maverick? What are your favorite aspects about the car or what do you wish was different? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below.

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1955 Ford Crown Victoria

1955 was a year of relative stability for most Americans. The war was long over, prosperity had set in, and the Flower Power days and protests of the 1960s and 70s were barely in the minds of the children who played gleefully outside. In the auto world, 1955 was the year of the two-toned vehicle, and chrome accents, and perhaps no other vehicle epitomized that so much as the 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria. Though it was never a particularly popular model, this was a car which had a smooth look and likely still brings thoughts of the movies from the 50s rushing back to anyone that sees it.

The car weighed in at a little over 1.5 tons. Meanwhile, the engine was a 272 cubic inch V8, which produced 162 horsepower at 4000 rpm.  The wheelbase measured 155.5 inches, and the sticker price started at $2,302 in 1955 dollars. Today, that price would be equivalent to slightly under $20,000. The “tiara” roof trim helped to give this model its name.

Have you ever driven or owned a 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria? Some people believe that it should have gained a more popularity than it did. Do you agree? Share your thoughts about this classic car by posting a comment in the section below.

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Spotlight: Henry Ford

A common misconception among beginner automobile lovers is that Henry Ford, the esteemed founder of the Ford Motor Company “invented” the automobile. In fact, this is not the case, and when delving into the history of the automotive industry, it can be difficult to pinpoint any one person as having invented the automobile. That said, it is fair to say that Ford revolutionized the industry and contributed to a large chunk of the economy which revolved around the auto industry for decades. His innovation with regard to the assembly line as a manner of stream-lining the production process, certainly changed the game. In combination with the assembly line, his use of interchangeable parts made the production process more efficient, not to mention  much less stressful to car buyers.

As the oldest of six children, Ford was born in 1863 in Dearborn, Michigan. In his youth, he worked for Westinghouse Engine Company. Later, while working for Edison Illuminating Company, he created the Quadricycle, which was described as a “horseless carriage.” It was built on bicycle tires and ran off of gasoline. The Quadricycle became the basis of his work, and he founded the Ford Motorcycle Company, not long after, in 1903.

The Model T was first produced in 1908, and a legend was effectively born. Once demand increased for the car, Ford moved quickly to improve the interchangeable parts and assembly line. In time, a new Ford factory was able to build a new car in just 93 minutes, which in time produced one car every 24 seconds. After the market changed and competing car companies began offering options and color choices, Ford Motor Company suffered a set back and shut down for a short time.

Henry Ford died in 1947 and the company was passed down to his grandson. In Michigan especially, Ford’s legacy remains strong. The Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village remains among the top history attractions in the United States.

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Fun Ford Weekend At Bristol Dragway

Now that we are looking at the cold winter months in our rear-view mirrors it is time to start looking around for events to attend during the spring and summer.

Luckily we have the Internet to keep us busy as classic Ford fans during the down part of the year, but the thaw is now upon us and there are countless events on tap that would be of interest to people who are into old cars in general and classic Fords in particular.

There is nothing like getting together with a bunch of people who like vintage cars as much as you do, and when the event in question revolves around classic Fords we are talking about hog heaven.

Fans of auto racing are well aware of Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee. Southern hospitality is legendary, and the folks down in this region are well known for their love of classic motor vehicles as well. With this in mind there’s a great event taking place at the Bristol Dragway this year on June 29 and 30th called the Fun Ford Weekend.

As the name implies, this is a gathering of people who have a passion for classic Ford motor vehicles as well as today’s favorite engineering marvels. There will be competitions galore and you’re welcome to enter your vehicle or simply sit back and enjoy the show.

In addition, there are going to be vendors on-site offering one-of-a-kind merchandise and hard-to-find classic Ford parts and accessories. And of course, there will be food, beverages, and all sorts of fun for the entire family.

It has just been announced that Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil is going be one of the sponsors, and this year’s event is really shaping up to be a dandy.

To learn more about the Fun Ford Weekend, simply visit the Bristol Dragway’s Fun Ford Weekend page.

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1964 1/2 Mustang Made Quite A Splash

The Ford Motor Company has been around for a long time, and over the years they have manufactured some of the most important American cars ever built. It all started with the Ford Model T which came out in 1908 and was ultimately voted the most influential vehicle of the 20th century.

But if you fast-forward to 1964 you will see the birth of another Ford that was one of the most influential motor vehicles of the century: the quintessential pony car we know as the Ford Mustang.

The Mustang made its debut on April 17 of 1964 at the World’s Fair in New York, and they were officially 1965 models. However, true Mustang aficionados refer to the earliest wave of Mustangs the “1964 1/2” models.

During the Mustang’s first model year the car was available as either a coupe or a convertible. The engine options that were available in the 1965 Mustang initially were a tame 170 cubic inch 101 hp six-cylinder; a 260 cubic inch V-8 that would put out 164 hp; and a 289 cubic inch 210 hp V-8. Starting in June of 1964 they added a 289 cubic inch V-8 with a four barrel that packed a wallop at 271 hp.

The Mustang was incredibly successful from the start and the success led to other companies rushing to put out a competitor. Although the Mustang is the quintessential pony car, an interesting historical fact is that the Plymouth Barracuda, a car that also became known as a pony car, was introduced to the buying public a couple of weeks before the Mustang on April Fools’ Day of 1964.

How successful was the Mustang early on? In all there were 559,451 1965 Mustangs produced including the so-called 1964 1/2 models. The one millionth Mustang rolled off the assembly line just a year and a half after the first one left the factory.

 

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Looking For A Particular Classic Ford?

If you are a classic Ford fan you are probably always on the lookout for your next purchase, and this is part of what it is all about.

The trick is in finding the right resources, because it can be hard to find classic cars for sale right in your backyard. There are only so many collectible Fords in any one area and few of us have the time to drive around the country looking for a certain vehicle.

This is where the Internet comes in. Now that we are firmly embedded in the age of information you can buy just about anything that you want while you’re sitting in front of your computer screen and have it delivered to your door.

This doesn’t work for classic cars you say? If you think this you probably have never stumbled upon a website called Fossil Cars.

The brain trust behind this extraordinary resource for people who are interested in buying and selling classic cars really did their homework and we have to give the site a very positive review and recommend it to our visitors. They addressed all of the things that would come to the mind of the typical buyer or seller and they have provided solutions.

Aside from having an enormous selection of classic cars for sale that numbers in the thousands, Fossil Cars can connect you with classic car insurance, classic car transport services, classic car finance options, and certified appraisal resources. They have covered every base and the site has caught on like wildfire among classic car enthusiasts who understand the power of the Internet.

If you are looking for a particular classic Ford FossilCars.com is your one-stop online shopping source. Check out the site and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

 

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The Ford Model T

There are a few events in the history of business in the United States that had extraordinary and lasting effects on the way that we live our lives here in America.

Without question, one of these was the introduction of the Ford Model T and every classic Ford fan should be well aware of just how important these vehicles were.

In the earliest days of auto making in the United States the vehicles were painstakingly crafted by hand. This took a lot of time and it was quite inefficient.

As a result, the cost of this inefficiency had to be passed along to the consumer. This made automobile ownership out of the reach of ordinary American citizens during the end of the 19th century and for the first several years of the 20th century.

Henry Ford wanted to change all that and he achieved his goal when he came out with the Ford Model T in 1908. Because it was the first Ford produced on an assembly line these cars were much less expensive to produce than their predecessors.

Ford was committed to the idea of pricing the vehicles in a range that made them affordable to the people who were working for him making the cars. This was an innovative idea and it was the first step toward virtually everyone in America owning his or her own motor vehicle.

How popular did the Ford Model T become? This is a very stunning statistic to digest, but in 1927 the 15th million Ford Model T left the factory. To put this in perspective, in 1908 Ford manufactured a total of 10,202 vehicles. In 1923 they churned out over 1.8 million cars.

The Ford Model T remained in production through that 1927 model year. It is a car that transformed America in many ways and it was named the most influential car of the 20th century.

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The Henry Ford Museum

Without question Henry Ford was one of the most important historical figures of his day. And in fact, if you look at the big picture Henry Ford was one of the most influential Americans who ever lived.

Henry Ford was born in 1863 right outside of Detroit, Michigan and it is no accident that Detroit became known as the Motor City with Ford’s assistance.

When the company came out with the Ford Model T in 1908 the automotive industry was permanently transformed, and everyday people could afford to take to the roadways in their own motor vehicles.

The Ford Motor Company was founded back in 1903 and it still remains in the family. Henry Ford passed away in 1947, but his legacy lives on in a number of different ways. In fact, there is a museum that bears his name that is a must-see for all classic Ford fans.

The museum houses numerous different exhibits and it is a veritable treasure trove of history. Right now the Henry Ford Museum is abuzz about a new exhibition that is going to be unveiled on January 28 called the Driving America Exhibition. This is an interactive experience that will absolutely catapult your understanding of automotive history into another dimension.

The Henry Ford Museum is located at 20900 Oakwood Boulevard in Dearborn, Michigan. It is open seven days a week from 9:30 am to 5 pm and adults can get into the museum for $17 and the admission price for seniors is $15. The youth admission charge is $12.50.

There is absolutely no doubt that you will have the time of your life if you visit the Henry Ford Museum. If you’re interested in finding out more about this very special place simply visit the Henry Ford Museum website or give them a call at 800.835.5237.

 

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A Look At The Ford Torino

Many of the automotive models that we have come to know and love started out as a sub series within an established model. The Ford Torino is a car that fits this description.

The Torino was an intermediate vehicle that was a part of the Ford Fairlane line originally, and it was considered to be kind of a deluxe Fairlane. The car first made its debut for the 1968 model year and it remained in production through the 1976 model year.

Here in the United States we think of the city of Detroit, Michigan as being the “Motor City.” Of course it got that name because it was the epicenter of auto making in America throughout the dominant heyday of the Big Three.

However, we can sometimes forget that automobile manufacturing played a big role in the development of other countries as well as ours. In Italy, the city of Turin is considered to be the capital of auto making. In the Italian language Turin translates to Torino and this is where the name of the Ford Torino originated.

The Ford Torino hit the ground running when it was introduced in 1968 and sales were strong with a total of 172,083 units being produced. In addition to being popular with the public, the Ford Torino was a hit with the automotive intelligentsia. It was well reviewed in trade publications and in fact the pace car for the 1968 Indianapolis 500 was a Ford Torino GT convertible.

By the time 1971 rolled around the tables were turned. Ford discontinued the Fairlane line and the Ford Torino became the intermediate offering for the company. There was many a Ford Torino tooling around the streets during the 1970s and it is a car that many classic Ford fans who lived through this era truly appreciate today.

 

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Introducing The Ford Galaxie

When you are a classic Ford buff you will inevitably research the history of all of your favorite old school Ford models. Doing this is a lot of fun from a purely automotive perspective, but there are broader lessons that seep into your head whether you’re looking for them or not.

Examining the history of Ford motor vehicles brings you face-to-face with American history as well as automotive history, and this is just how important auto making has been to this country that we call home.

There are countless examples of how automotive trends have reflected the larger picture, and the Ford Galaxie is interesting in this regard. The car was first introduced for the 1959 model year, and this was when the idea of space travel was first entering into the public consciousness.

The so-called “space race” began in  the middle of the 1950s with America and Russia competing, and the possibility of sending a man into space suddenly became more than science fiction.

The Ford Motor Company recognized the way that this futuristic possibility was becoming part of the culture and this is why they named their new full-size offering the Galaxie. A varied selection of Galaxie models were introduced during that initial year including two and four-door sedans, two and four-door hardtops, and a two-door ragtop.

Four different engine options were available with the most powerful among them being the 352 cubic inch FE Series V8. Transmission options included a two or a three-speed automatic as well as a three-speed manual.

When you look at this vehicle today its cool factor is off the charts but it certainly doesn’t look space-age by our current standards. However, the Galaxie was around from 1959 through 1974 and it certainly played a significant role in the history of the Ford Motor Company.