120 years of history with great models and many innovations

June 16, 1903, is a date marked in red on the calendar of the automotive industry. On that day, Henry Ford founded the company that bears his name in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, and wrote some of the major chapters in the history of four-wheel vehicles: a protagonist of significant economic, financial, commercial, and sporting achievements, Ford has reached the peak of success, albeit with some significant setbacks along the way.

The successes. The Blue Oval will be remembered for adopting innovative production processes centred around the assembly line and a work organization that has since shaped a large part of the modern Western industry: Fordism. It is on these foundations that the Model T was born, the car that initiated the democratization of automobiles and the subsequent mass motorization. However, it is the post-World War II period that brings the greatest glory to the Blue Oval: we are talking about the time when Dearborn, after the failed collaboration agreement with Ferrari, decided to challenge Enzo in the World Endurance Championship and defeat him in the legendary 1966 Le Mans race, which saw the triumphant arrival of three GT40s. The event marked an era, just like what happened a few years earlier with the launch of the Mustang: the phenomenon of American muscle cars was born.

The setbacks. The Mustang is just one of the many models that have conquered markets and the hearts of car enthusiasts. It is impossible not to mention names like Capri, Bronco, Granada, Taurus, or, in more recent times, Escort, Fiesta, and F-150. Not to mention engines like the V8 Flathead. However, in the history of the Blue Oval, there are also dark chapters, starting with the unsuccessful acquisition campaigns: after the failed attempt to acquire Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Volvo, and Mazda were acquired, all companies that have since moved out of Dearborn's perimeter since 2005. Today, Ford essentially identifies with its eponymous brand and aims to ride the wave of transition. The obstacles are certainly not a few. This is evident in the progressive downsizing of industrial presence in Europe. The road ahead is still long, with many chapters yet to be written, and Henry Ford's creation intends to stay in the saddle for (at least) another 120 years.