Ford Motor Company Timeline | Ford.com 1896 Henry Ford builds the Quadricycle. Henry Ford's first vehicle rode on four bicycle wheels and was powered by a four-horsepower engine. Instead of a steering wheel, the Quadricycle had a tiller. The gearbox had only two forward gears with no reverse. 1899 Henry Ford joins a group that founds the Detroit Automobile Company. Ford leaves company within one year. 1901 Henry Ford defeats the top racecar driver of the era. Ford designed the 26-horsepower Sweepstakes and defeated Alexander Winton's 70-horsepower Bullet in 10 laps around the one-mile oval of the Detroit Driving Club. The victory lead to Henry Ford's second short-lived attempt at auto manufacture, the Henry Ford Company. 1903 The Ford Motor Company is incorporated. With 12 investors and 1,000 shares, the company had spent almost all of its $28,000 cash investment by the time it sold the first Ford Model A on July 23, 1903.

But by October 1, 1903 Ford Motor Company had turned a profit of $37,000. 1904 Ford Motor Company of Canada is founded. Ford’s first international plant was built in Walkerville (now Windsor), Ontario, right across the Detroit River from Ford’s existing facilities. The company was a separate organization with its own set of shareholders. It was created to sell vehicles not just in Canada, but also all across the then-current British Empire. 1907 Ford introduces the scripted typeface of its trademark. Childe Harold Wills designed the Ford logo. He used his grandfather’s stencil set, which was based on the style of writing taught in schools when Ford and Wills were children. However, the Ford oval would not be featured on a car until the 1927 Model A. 1908 Ford Introduces the Model T. Henry Ford’s Model T put the world on wheels with a simple, affordable, durable automobile. Ford sold 15 million Model Ts before ceasing production in May 1927, making it one of the best-selling vehicles of all time, and arguably the most famous car in the world.

In 1908, there were only about 18,000 miles of paved roads in the US. To deal with the primitive roads, Ford used light and strong vanadium steel alloy for critical parts. At the time, most of the automobiles in existence were luxurious novelties rather than affordable transport. But to appeal to the mass market, Ford’s vehicle also had to be reliable and easy to maintain. Fortunately for millions of new drivers, it was. 1908 Ford opens its first overseas sales branch in Paris. 1913 Ford introduces the integrated moving assembly line to auto production. Ford's innovation eventually reduced the Model T's chassis assembly line from 12.5 to 1.5 hours, and in doing so precipitated a revolution in manufacturing. The accelerating speed with which Ford could produce cars helped him continue to lower the price of the Model T. 1914 Ford institutes the famous "$5 Day". In 1914, $5 per day was double the existing pay rate for factory workers, and on top of that, Ford reduced the workday from nine to eight hours.

The day after the “$5 Day” was announced, an estimated 10,000 people lined up outside Ford’s employment office hoping to be hired. Ford’s increased pay greatly improved employee retention since the monotonous and strenuous work of the moving assembly line was causing high turnover. The increased wage had the added effect of allowing many of Ford’s employees to purchase the cars they produced, and the eight hour workday allowed Ford to run 3 shifts a day instead of 2. The increased pay, increased leisure time, and even increased the personal mobility of car ownership were all critical factors in the creation of an American middle class. 1917 Ford begins construction of the River Rouge Complex. It would become the largest integrated factory in the world by the following decade. Throughout its history, the self-contained Rouge Complex has contained a wide array of industries necessary to produce cars, including steel mills, a tire factory, a glass factory, a power plant and a reception depot for coal, iron ore, rubber and lumber. In the 1930s the complex employed over 100,000 workers. Today the River Rouge Complex continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern manufacturing processes.

1917 Ford Motor Company produces its first ever truck. The Ford Model TT was a truck based on the Model T car, but with a reinforced chassis and rear axle. This early pickup was rated at one ton. 1918 Ford’s River Rouge Complex begins manufacturing antisubmarine patrol boats. These 42 Eagle-class boats were the first product manufactured at the Rouge. In its efforts to aid the Allies in WWI, Ford also produced more than 38,000 Model T cars, ambulances, and trucks, 7,000 Fordson tractors, two types of armored tanks, and 4,000 Liberty airplane engines for the Allies. Afterward, Ford hired disabled veterans returning from the war, making the automaker one of the first companies to hire people with disabilities and to adapt work environments to their specific needs. 1919 Edsel Ford succeeds Henry Ford as president of the company. On the same day, Henry Ford put a plan in place to buy out his investors and make himself, Clara Ford, and Edsel the sole owners of the business.

Edsel’s interest in aesthetic automotive design brought a new dimension to Ford Motor Company, pushing the company to begin producing cars that were beautiful as well as practical. Edsel was also an extremely important art benefactor in Detroit, and one of the best-known paintings he commissioned was Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry mural. His aesthetic legacy lives on in the original Lincoln Continental. 1922 Ford acquires the Lincoln Motor Company. Ford purchased Lincoln from Henry Leland, his former business associate from the Detroit Automobile Company. Since then, Lincoln has produced many luxury cars of historical and aesthetic note, including the 1931-1939 K-Series, 1936 Zephyr, Edsel Ford’s original Continental, the ensuing first-generation Lincoln Continental and the classic 1956-1957 Continental Mk. II. 1925 Ford begins production of Ford Tri-Motor airplanes. Ford’s plane was nicknamed the “Tin Goose,” a reference to the Model T’s nickname as the “Tin Lizzie.” The Tin Goose was one of the first airplanes used by America’s early commercial airlines.

Combined with Ford’s reputation, application of assembly-line techniques and investment in Ford Airlines, the plane helped spur the creation of the commercial airline industry. And to further accelerate the industry’s development, Ford offered the plane’s 35 patents free of royalties, including his patent for the navigational radio beam. 1927 Ford begins selling the 1928 Model A. While the Model T dominated the auto industry from 1908 to the early 1920s, by the middle of the decade there was fierce competition from other automakers. After the 15 millionth Model T drove off the assembly line on May 26, 1927, Ford closed plants all over the world to spend six months retooling factories and perfecting the design of a new car. Ford called the new car the Model A, commemorating Ford Motor Company’s first car, the 1903 Model A. The car was the first vehicle to sport the iconic Blue Oval logo, and it included innovative features like a Safety Glass windshield. By 1931 Ford had sold over five million Model As despite the difficulties of the Great Depression. 1932 Ford introduces the flathead V8 engine.

As with the new Model A, Henry Ford shut down all other production operations to work on this innovative project. At great effort and expense, the company engineered a way to cast the first commercially successful V8 engine. The flathead was a hit. It was affordable, versatile, and introduced just as the American market was becoming fascinated with ever-more powerful engines. It remained in production for over 22 years. To this day the flathead remains extremely popular with hot rodders. 1936 Ford begins selling the Lincoln Zephyr line. Much like the Mercury brand, Lincoln-Zephyr was designed to sell at a price point between the Ford V8 De Luxe and the high-end luxury cars offered by Lincoln. Lincoln-Zephyr’s sleek, aerodynamic shapes helped make the brand a sales success, but when auto production ceased during WWII, the Zephyr name was dropped as well. 1938 Ford unveils the medium-priced Mercury brand. Edsel Ford created Mercury cars to bridge the gap between affordable Fords and luxurious Lincoln cars. The first Mercury was the 1939 Mercury 8, which had a V8 engine and a stylish body characteristic of Edsel Ford's design sense.

1941 Ford begins producing Jeeps for the U.S. military. The vehicles were nicknamed for their "GP," or general-purpose designation. 1941 Ford signs its first contract with the UAW-CIO. After years of struggle between management and labor at Detroit's major automakers, Ford signed a contract guaranteeing better pay, benefits and working conditions for employees. 1942 Ford halts civilian auto production in the United States to produce military equipment. Through its manufacturing expertise, Ford facilities built a staggering number of automobiles, planes, tanks, aircraft engines and other materiel for the war effort. By the end of WWII, Ford had produced more than 8,000 B-24 Liberator bombers. Charles Lindbergh, the famous trans-Atlantic pilot, worked as an advisor for the construction of bombers at Ford’s Willow Run plant. In 1944, Rose Will Monroe was working at Willow Run as a rivet gun operator when she was chosen to appear in a promotional film for war bonds. Rose became the personification of the fictional “Rosie the Riveter” character as depicted in the iconic “We Can Do It!” posters. 1943 Edsel Ford dies.

Edsel was the only child of Henry and Clara Ford. After his death, Henry Ford returned to his former position as president of Ford Motor Company. Today, Edsel's legacy lives on in his contributions to the design of Lincoln cars and his generous backing of art in Detroit. 1945 Henry Ford II becomes president of Ford Motor Company. The son of Edsel and the grandson of Henry Ford, Henry Ford II, served as president from 1945 to 1960 and as chairman and CEO from 1960 to 1979. When Henry II took over, the company and its bookkeeping practices were in disarray. With the help of ten former U.S. Army Air Force officers nicknamed the “Whiz Kids,” Henry II transformed the organization into a disciplined company with modern management systems – prepared for the global challenges of the post-war world. 1948 Ford introduces the F-Series line of trucks. With its first postwar truck design, Ford ceased building trucks on car platforms and used a purpose-built truck platform instead. The truck was available in eight sizes and weight ratings, from the ½ ton capacity F-1 to the three-ton capacity F-8.

In 1953, Ford replaced the F-1 with the ½ ton F-100, along with the F-250 ¾ ton trucks and the F-350 one-ton trucks. In 1984, the F-100 was replaced by the F-150 line of trucks. Since 1982, F-series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. View slideshow 1948 Ford introduces the 1949 Ford. The 1949 Ford was the first all-new American car design to come out of Detroit after WWII. With its wind tunnel-tested aerodynamic shape, integrated pontoon fenders, airplane-inspired spinner grille and an updated V8, the new car was as radical a change as the 1928 Model A. 1954 Ford introduces the Thunderbird. The T-Bird emphasized comfort and convenience over sportiness. With its performance, design and distinctive porthole windows, the car would become a classic. 1954 Ford begins crash testing its vehicles. In the 60 years since then, Ford has performed more than 31,000 crash tests around the world.

In recent years Ford has also used virtual crash testing to maximize the quantity and availability of crash data. In tandem with physical testing, the crash simulations help Ford gather more data than ever before. 1956 Ford becomes a publicly traded company. At the time, Ford's initial public offering (IPO) of common stock shares was the largest IPO in history. 1956 The Continental Division of the Ford Motor Company introduces the Continental Mk II. Under Henry Ford's grandson, William Clay Ford, the 1956 Mk. II was a revival of the 1941 Continental that grew out of a custom car designed for Edsel Ford's private use. Edsel and designer E.T. Gregorie named these stylish and elegant cars for the inspiration they drew from the "continental" cars they saw in Europe. 1957 Ford introduces the Edsel. Introduced as a recession was beginning in the United States, the Edsel was simply the wrong car for the wrong time. However, the car's highly unique styling makes it a valuable collector's car to this day. 1959 Ford Credit is founded.

The full name of Ford's financial services arm is Ford Motor Credit Company LLC, and today the company offers loans and leases to car buyers, in addition to loans and lines of credit for Ford and other dealerships. 1964 The Ford Mustang goes on sale. The Mustang came to define the pony car class with its combination of a long hood, short deck, affordable price and customization options. The Mustang was a huge success, and today it remains one of the fastest-selling vehicles in history. With its role in movies like Bullitt and songs like "Mustang Sally," the car quickly became a cultural icon as well. 1965 Ford-Philco engineers unveil the Mission Control Center used to put a man on the moon. Ford owned Philco from 1961 to 1974, during which the company produced consumer electronics, computer systems, and military projects. In addition to designing, building, equipping and staffing Mission Control, Ford’s Philco electronics subsidiary performed support work for NASA’s Apollo and Gemini space programs thanks to Philco’s capabilities in transistors, solid-state devices, and microelectronics. Later, Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation evolved out of Philco.

In 1976 the company built seven INTELSAT V satellites for the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. These satellites are still used today to send television transmissions and telephone calls between continents. 1965 Ford Germany and Ford U.K. collaborate to release the Transit in Europe. 1966 Three Ford GT40 Mk. IIs sweep the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford broke Ferrari's six-year winning streak at Le Mans to become the first American manufacturer to ever win the race. 1966 was the first of four consecutive victories for Ford, which won the 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans with various generations of the GT40. 1970 Ford introduces three-point, self-adjusting and retracting front outboard lap and shoulder belts. 1976 Ford of Europe introduces the Ford Fiesta. The subcompact hatchback became the company’s first internationally successful front-wheel drive model. At $870 million, its development budget was also the largest in Ford’s history.

Moreover, Ford built a massive plant in Almusafes, Spain, near Valencia, to manufacture the car. The investments paid off, and the Fiesta broke the one-year sales record of the 1965 Mustang. From 1978 to 1981, Ford also sold the European Fiesta in North America. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that Ford would begin selling the Fiesta in the U.S. again. 1978 Ford introduces the downsized Panther platform. The smaller platform debuted in response to rising oil prices and new fuel economy regulations. 1980 Phillip Caldwell succeeds Henry Ford II. Caldwell was the first non Ford-family member to become chairman and CEO of Ford. 1981 Ford begins selling the fifth-generation Escort world car. When the Ford Escort was first sold in North America, the car was designed to share components with the European Escort. As such, in its first year the North American car featured a badge with the name “Escort” superimposed over a globe instead of a blue oval. The car was one of Ford’s best-selling vehicles in the ‘80s. 1985 Ford revolutionizes automotive design with the Taurus.

The Taurus’ aerodynamic “jelly bean” body style broke tradition with the boxy sedan shapes of the time, helping the car become one of Ford’s most popular vehicles ever. The car was an important part of a worldwide shift in automotive design. Within Ford, the car represented a shift toward increased quality standards and front-wheel drive designs. 1986 Ford introduces the modular assembly line at its St. Louis assembly plant. The modular assembly line made use of automated ancillary assembly lines to produce vehicle sub-assemblies. The sub-assemblies were then added into the main assembly line. The trial run at St. Louis was a success, and today most Ford plants use modular assembly lines. 1990 Ford introduces the Explorer. In doing so, Ford helped launch the domestic SUV market. As SUVs became popular substitutes for family sedans, station wagons and vans, the Explorer became one of Ford’s most successful vehicles. The Explorer was a more comfortable and better-handling replacement for the Ford Bronco, which was discontinued in 1996. 1993 Ford introduces the Mondeo as its new global sedan.

Though it was first introduced in Europe, the Mondeo was sold as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique in the United States until 2000. Today the Mondeo is known as the Fusion in the United States. 1996 Ford produces the Ford Ranger Electric Vehicle. With lead acid batteries, regenerative braking, and a 700 lb. payload rating, the Ranger EV was a forerunner to today’s electric vehicles and hybrid energy systems. 1998 The introduction of the Lincoln Navigator spurs rapid growth in the luxury SUV segment. 2001 Ford's board of directors names Bill Ford to replace Jacques Nasser as CEO. The change helped the company return its focus to its core operations -- building cars -- and it realigned the company's values to emphasize its employees and the quality of its products. 2003 Ford celebrates its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the centennial of the company that put the world on wheels, Ford offered limited production centennial editions of five of the vehicles in its lineup at the time. Like the early Model T, the vehicles were offered in “any color so long as it is black.” 2004 Ford introduces the GT as its premium sports car.

The mid-engine, 550 horsepower Ford GT was inspired by the legendary GT40 race cars that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 to 1969. 2006 Alan Mullaly becomes Ford's President and CEO. Under Mullaly, Ford didn’t just weather the financial crisis of 2008 as the only American auto manufacturer to avoid receiving a government bailout loan. Instead of waiting out the crisis, Ford continued to aggressively invest in product development so that when the economy recovered Ford products would be some of the best vehicles on the market. A key part of Mullaly’s leadership was the One Ford plan. One Ford envisioned every person in every part of the global enterprise as part of a single team united by a common culture and a shared goal to deliver outstanding products. 2007 Ford begins offering SYNC in vehicles sold as 2008 models. Created from a partnership between Ford and Microsoft, SYNC offers a hands-free, voice-activated connectivity system with mobile phone integration, navigation and voice-activated access to entertainment. Ford has continuously updated SYNC since its introduction in order to help drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road while remaining connected to their technology.

2009 Ford begins offering its turbocharged EcoBoost line of engines. Delivering better fuel economy and more power than a naturally aspirated engine of the same size, Ford’s EcoBoost engines quickly became a popular choice in the U.S. and abroad. 2011 Ford Motor Company incorporated - Jun 16, 1903 - HISTORY.com Ford Motor Company incorporated Publisher A+E Networks At 9:30 in the morning on this day in 1903, Henry Ford and other prospective stockholders in the Ford Motor Company meet in Detroit to sign the official paperwork required to create a new corporation. Twelve stockholders were listed on the forms, which were signed, notarized and sent to the office of Michigan’s secretary of state. The company was officially incorporated the following day, when the secretary of state’s office received the articles of association. Ford had built his first gasoline-powered vehicle–which he called the Quadricycle–in a workshop behind his home in 1896, while he was working as the chief engineer for the main plant of the Edison Illuminating Company in Detroit. He made two unsuccessful attempts to start a company to manufacture automobiles before 1903.

A month after the Ford Motor Company was established, the first Ford car was assembled at a plant on Mack Avenue in Detroit . In the early days of Ford, only a few cars were assembled per day, and they were built by hand by small groups of workers from parts made to order by other companies. With the introduction of the Model T in 1908, Ford succeeded in his mission to produce an affordable, efficient and reliable automobile for everyone: within a decade, nearly half the cars in America were Model Ts. The sensational demand for the “Tin Lizzie” led Ford to develop mass-production methods, including large production plants, the use of standardized, interchangeable parts and, in 1913, the world’s first moving assembly line for cars. In 1914, to further improve productivity, Ford introduced the $5 daily wage for an eight-hour day for his workers (up from $2.34 for nine hours), setting a standard for the industry. During the late 1910s and early 1920s, Ford began construction of a massive industrial complex along the banks of the River Rouge in Dearborn, Michigan.

The plant combined all the components necessary for auto production, including a glass factory, steel mill and assembly line. When Ford Motor’s other stockholders resisted the idea of building the River Rouge plant due to its enormous costs, Henry Ford (who as early as 1906 owned 58.5 percent of the company) bought them out, installing his son Edsel as president of the company in 1919. The elder Ford retained full control of the company’s operations, however, and returned to the presidency briefly after Edsel died in 1943, before handing it over to his grandson, Henry Ford II, in 1945. Two years later, the legendary automaker died at his Dearborn home at the age of 83. Related Videos Henry Ford - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Google Henry Ford: Early Life & Engineering Career Born in 1863, Henry Ford was the first surviving son of William and Mary Ford, who owned a prosperous farm in Dearborn, Michigan . At 16, he left home for the nearby city of Detroit, where he found apprentice work as a machinist.

He returned to Dearborn and work on the family farm after three years, but continued to operate and service steam engines and work occasional stints in Detroit factories. In 1888, he married Clara Bryant, who had grown up on a nearby farm. Did You Know? The mass production techniques Henry Ford championed eventually allowed Ford Motor Company to turn out one Model T every 24 seconds. In the first several years of their marriage, Ford supported himself and his new wife by running a sawmill. In 1891, he returned with Clara to Detroit, where he was hired as an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company. Rising quickly through the ranks, he was promoted to chief engineer two years later. Around the same time, Clara gave birth to the couple’s only son, Edsel Bryant Ford. On call 24 hours a day for his job at Edison, Ford spent his irregular hours on his efforts to build a gasoline-powered horseless carriage, or automobile. In 1896, he completed what he called the “Quadricycle,” which consisted of a light metal frame fitted with four bicycle wheels and powered by a two-cylinder, four-horsepower gasoline engine.

Henry Ford: Birth of Ford Motor Company and the Model T Determined to improve upon his prototype, Ford sold the Quadricycle in order to continue building other vehicles. He received backing from various investors over the next seven years, some of whom formed the Detroit Automobile Company (later the Henry Ford Company) in 1899. His partners, eager to put a passenger car on the market, grew frustrated with Ford’s constant need to improve, and Ford left his namesake company in 1902. (After his departure, it was reorganized as the Cadillac Motor Car Company.) The following year, Ford established the Ford Motor Company. A month after the Ford Motor Company was established, the first Ford car—the two-cylinder, eight-horsepower Model A—was assembled at a plant on Mack Avenue in Detroit. At the time, only a few cars were assembled per day, and groups of two or three workers built them by hand from parts that were ordered from other companies. Ford was dedicated to the production of an efficient and reliable automobile that would be affordable for everyone; the result was the Model T , which made its debut in October 1908.

Henry Ford: Production & Labor Innovations The “Tin Lizzie,” as the Model T was known, was an immediate success, and Ford soon had more orders than the company could satisfy. As a result, he put into practice techniques of mass production that would revolutionize American industry, including the use of large production plants; standardized, interchangeable parts; and the moving assembly line. Mass production significantly cut down on the time required to produce an automobile, which allowed costs to stay low. In 1914, Ford also increased the daily wage for an eight-hour day for his workers to $5 (up from $2.34 for nine hours), setting a standard for the industry. Even as production went up, demand for the Tin Lizzie remained high, and by 1918, half of all cars in America were Model Ts. In 1919, Ford named his son Edsel as president of Ford Motor Company, but he retained full control of the company’s operations. After a court battle with his stockholders, led by brothers Horace and John Dodge, Henry Ford bought out all minority stockholders by 1920.

In 1927, Ford moved production to a massive industrial complex he had built along the banks of the River Rouge in Dearborn, Michigan. The plant included a glass factory, steel mill, assembly line and all other necessary components of automotive production. That same year, Ford ceased production of the Model T, and introduced the new Model A, which featured better horsepower and brakes, among other improvements. By that time, the company had produced some 15 million Model Ts, and Ford Motor Company was the largest automotive manufacturer in the world. Ford opened plants and operations throughout the world. Henry Ford: Later Career & Controversial Views The Model A proved to be a relative disappointment, and was outsold by both Chevrolet (made by General Motors) and Plymouth (made by Chrysler); it was discontinued in 1931. In 1932, Ford introduced the first V-8 engine, but by 1936 the company had dropped to number three in sales in the automotive industry. Despite his progressive policies regarding the minimum wage, Ford waged a long battle against unionization of labor, refusing to come to terms with the United Automobile Workers (UAW) even after his competitors did so.

In 1937, Ford security staff clashed with UAW organizers in the so-called “Battle of the Overpass,” at the Rouge plant, after which the National Labor Relations Board ordered Ford to stop interfering with union organization. Ford Motor Company signed its first contract with UAW in 1941, but not before Henry Ford considered shutting down the company to avoid it. Ford’s political views earned him widespread criticism over the years, beginning with his campaign against U.S. involvement in World War I . He made a failed bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 1918, narrowly losing in a campaign marked by personal attacks from his opponent. In the Dearborn Independent, a local newspaper he bought in 1918, Ford published a number of anti-Semitic writings that were collected and published as a four volume set called The International Jew. Though he later renounced the writings and sold the paper, he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and Germany, and in 1938 accepted the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, the Nazi regime’s highest medal for a foreigner.

Edsel Ford died in 1943, and Henry Ford returned to the presidency of Ford Motor Company briefly before handing it over to his grandson, Henry Ford II, in 1945. He died two years later at his Dearborn home, at the age of 83. Tags Ford Motor Co. | AdAge Encyclopedia of Advertising - AdAge Adage Aleady a member? Sign in Get More From Ad Age Register to become a member today. You'll get the essential information you need to do your job better, including 7 free articles per month on Ad Age and Creativity Ability to comment on articles and creative work Access to 9 custom e-newsletters like Ad Age Daily, Ad Age Digital and CMO Strategy To get unlimited content and more benefits, check out our Membership page Register Now Want more Access, Content & Connections? We are glad you are enjoying Advertising Age. To get uninterrupted access and additional benefits, become a member today. Already a member? Log in or go back to the homepage . Hey, there. It looks like you're using an ad blocker. The news and features are funded in part by our advertisers.

To support Ad Age and the industry we cover please either: SUBSCRIBE or WHITELIST US IMPORTANT CHANGES TO YOUR DIGITAL ACCESS As we work to bring even more value to our audience, we’ve made important changes for those who receive Ad Age with our compliments. As of November 15, 2016 we will no longer be offering full digital access to AdAge.com. However, we will continue to send you our industry-leading print issues focused on providing you with what you need to know to succeed. If you’d like to continue your unlimited access to AdAge.com, we invite you to become a paid subscriber. Get the news, insights and tools that help you stay on top of what’s next. . Most Popular In 1903, Henry Ford established the Ford Motor Co. and five weeks later, in June, introduced the Model A. At that time, Ford had two advertising agencies: Chas. H. Fuller and O.J. Mulfurd Advertising Co.

In 1904, however, the fledgling automaker moved its advertising in-house, producing, in 1905, the slogan, "Don't experiment: Just buy a Ford." Ford's first circulars announcing the seminal Model T—"Model T touring car. $850.00. High-priced quality in a low-priced car"—were mailed to dealerships in March 1908, and the first vehicles were sold in October. In 1913, Ford introduced the moving assembly line to speed Model T production. By 1920, the automaker was producing a car a minute, and the "Tin Lizzie," as the Model T was known, became the most popular car in the world in the decade of the '20s. Ford's use of mass production resulted in ripples throughout U.S. business, as manufacturers of materials used in new automobiles—such as steel, rubber and gasoline—ramped up to meet increased demand for their products. That effect was reflected in employment, as more workers were able to find jobs, most of them in cities, which grew to house the new workers and created new urban social issues.

After 1908, Ford's account bounced around from agency to agency for two more years, until the account settled at J. Walter Thompson Co.; that relationship, however, was not long-lasting, and in 1912, Glen Buck took over the Ford account for two years until the account moved to MacManus Co. During the decade between 1910 and 1919, Ford expanded beyond the U.S., opening a plant in Manchester, England, in 1911 and another in Bordeaux, France, in 1913. In 1914, Henry Ford announced his famous profit-sharing promotion. An ad for the Ford Coupelet read, "Buyers of this car will share in profits if we sell at retail 300,000 new Ford cars between August 1914 and August 1915." Edsel Ford takes over In 1916, Powers, Alexander & Jenkins took over the Ford account.

But from 1917 to 1923, Ford discontinued advertising, except for its tractors and its Lincoln marque (acquired in January 1922, less than two years after its introduction by Henry Leland and its subsequent, swift fall into bankruptcy). During this period, individual dealers provided their own advertising. In 1918, Henry Ford stepped aside as president of Ford in favor of his son, Edsel. But in 1923, the company signed on with two new agencies: Long-Costello won Ford and Brotherton Co. got Lincoln. One 1923 ad for Ford depicted a doctor making a house call under the headline "Dependable as the doctor himself." In 1925, McKinney, Marsh & Cushing took over the Lincoln account. Two years later, N.W. Ayer & Son won both Ford and Lincoln, and held the consolidated account until 1939. In 1940, McCann-Erickson became the agency of record for Ford cars and Maxon Inc.

was named agency for Lincoln and Mercury, which had been introduced in November 1938 and championed by Edsel Ford as a rival to General Motors Corp.'s Buick marque. In 1941, McCann also took on Ford's institutional advertising, but in March 1942, Ford relieved McCann of ad responsibilities. In July, Maxon lost the Lincoln account. JWT took over both accounts and has remained one of Ford's chief agencies since then, although but the relationship has periodically been rocky. By the time the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, Ford had converted a plant to produce the B-24 Liberator bomber. The company ceased civilian car production the following year and did not resume auto manufacturing until July 1945. When Maxon lost the Mercury account in February 1943, JWT took over all Ford advertising. It held that position for two years, until Ford named Kenyon & Eckhardt as agency for its institutional advertising. In 1943, Edsel Ford died and his father, despite several serious strokes, once again assumed the presidency of the company.

Henry Ford's eccentricities and debility exacerbated an internal struggle for power at the automaker that was not resolved until Edsel's son, Henry Ford II, convinced his grandfather to resign in September 1945. That year, the company, which had manufactured 60% of the cars purchased in the U.S. in 1917, saw its share slip to 20%. Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947. Aggressive moves The death of Henry Ford and the end of World War II positioned the company to move aggressively to re-establish its influence in the automotive market. Ford became a significant presence on radio, with JWT putting the company into sponsorship of contemporary shows such as "Philip Marlowe" and star vehicles for Bob Crosby, Dinah Shore and, most famously, Fred Allen. In March 1948, K&E, which had earlier won Ford's institutional account, opened offices in Kansas City, Mo.; San Francisco; and Washington to better manage Lincoln-Mercury dealer accounts it handled in those areas. It also put Lincoln-Mercury on TV in "Toast of the Town," a variety show hosted by columnist Ed Sullivan.

JWT and K&E shared Ford's ad work until 1954, when the automaker signed Young & Rubicam for its Lincoln division. (In 1958, the business returned to K&E.) When Lincoln announced the addition of the Hydramatic automatic transmission to Lincolns and Lincoln Cosmopolitans in July 1949, it launched an intensive campaign of ads in The New Yorker, Newsweek, The Saturday Evening Post and Time. Ads also appeared in 1,300 newspapers, and radio spots were used extensively. To introduce its 1952 cars and trucks, Ford used spread ads in 54 newspapers, page ads in 6,050 newspapers, spots on more than 1,128 radio and 30 TV stations, a live presentation on Ford's NBC TV show "Ford Festival" and 13,000 outdoor posters. The campaign that followed up the Feb. 1 introduction of the new models included color magazine ads, Sunday comic sections and ads in 5,250 newspapers. Ford dealers supported the introduction with ads in 6,100 newspapers.

As Ford began to prepare for its 50th anniversary, however, the company realized it needed an image makeover. Sidney Olson, a copywriter at K&E, developed an institutional campaign for the automaker dubbed "The American Road," and by the end of 1953, Ford surpassed Chrysler in sales. Ford celebrated 1955 by introducing its legendary Thunderbird marque via JWT as a direct rival to Chevrolet's Corvette. The car sold well in its first three years, but Ford began to wonder if a growing number of American families would continue to buy the two-seater. Ford's Edsel While credited with some of the greatest campaigns in U.S. advertising history, Ford also was responsible for one of the most fantastic marketing catastrophes-the Edsel. In the 1950s, Ford decided to introduce a new division that would market mid-priced vehicles; that division would allow Ford to compete with longtime rival GM in the mid-priced category. To develop a brand for its "E" division—the "E" stood for experimental—Ford enlisted Foote, Cone & Belding. The new division's first product was scheduled for release in 1956, the year the company went public.

In 1957, after a $250 million expenditure for development, the first Edsels—with their instantly recognizable horse-collar grilles and push-button gear selectors—rolled off the production lines. Plans called for sales of 200,000 Edsels in 1957, but only 63,107 were driven off showroom floors. In December 1958, Ford moved Edsel from FCB to K&E, while shifting the Lincoln and Continental accounts from K&E to FCB. In October 1959, after dismal sales, the automaker dropped the Edsel completely. Explanations for the car's poor sales ranged from design problems to the choice of the vehicle's name. Following the Edsel disaster, Ford consolidated its ad business at two shops: JWT had the Ford division and K&E handled the newly merged Lincoln-Mercury (formerly Lincoln-Edsel-Mercury) and institutional advertising. In 1959, Ford was the U.S.' No. 4 advertiser, with advertising expenditures of $92.2 million, an increase of almost 5% over the previous year.

Despite its Edsel problems, Ford sales in 1959 climbed to $5.4 billion, a 30% increase over 1958. Ford introduced its new Falcon marque in 1959 via a 20-page advertising section in The New York Times. The supplement was handled by Ford and Sawyer-Ferguson-Walker Co., Detroit. To introduce Ford's new economy car, the Comet, in 1961, K&E developed a campaign themed, "Fine car styling at a compact car price," which emphasized the Comet's price, styling and features. Despite the campaign, however, it took three years before Comet sales turned the corner for Mercury. In spring 1961, Ford acquired a business that was the basis of its Autolite division. Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn won the account and retained it until 1968. Autolite was introduced with a color page in Life in September. An eight-page color insert also broke that September in automotive trade books.

A point-of-sale program supplemented the fall ads, offering a $2 model racecar kit that encouraged car owners to visit service stations for an "Autolite performance checkup." After its introduction of the flashy T-Bird in 1955, Ford's subsequent products developed a reputation for the automaker as a seller of sturdy, economical but unexciting cars. That changed in 1964 when, under the prodding of Ford VP-General Manager Lee Iacocca, Ford Division introduced the Mustang. The Mustang was, by at least one estimate, the car that made Ford young again. JWT handled the account, which began with a focus on price. Several months after the rollout, an engine change that added more power to the car led to the creation of one of the best-remembered commercials of 1964. "Have you heard about Henry Foster?" asked a gossipy old lady in the spot, as a quiet Henry emerges from his antique shop with his lunch bag. "Something's happened to Henry," voice-over intoned, as Henry ditched his derby for a sporty plaid hat and his glasses for racing goggles.

"A Mustang's happened to Henry," said a younger, more seductive voice, as Henry drove off in his new Mustang. In a closing shot, a herd of wild horses galloped across the screen. Agency realignments In February 1966, Ford again changed its agency assignments, relieving K&E of Ford's $20 million corporate account and awarding it to Grey Advertising. Ford executives explained that they wanted to keep corporate advertising with an agency that did not manage any of its individual products. K&E retained the Lincoln-Mercury business, along with 19 dealer accounts, the British Ford line and Ford Motor Credit Co. The appointment gave Grey a foothold in the automobile market, along with $10 million in billings. One advantage Grey had was a strong overseas presence, and Ford was preparing to expand internationally. Ford also intensified its use of TV advertising, which was handled by Grey. Ford doubled the number of network TV spots it purchased in fall 1968 in support of the 1969 model year. That year Ford spent $90.3 million in advertising, making it the No. 9 advertiser in the U.S.

However, the success of the automaker's compact cars slowed Ford profits, as the margin on the smaller cars was less. The automaker's slogan was, "We listen better." In July 1971 Ford pulled its small-car advertising from JWT and gave the account, with spending of about $18 million, to Grey. Also in 1971, Ford introduced the Pinto, a model that created significant image problems for the automaker later in the decade. The 1970s were a difficult time for U.S. carmakers, faced with an energy crisis and inroads made by foreign carmakers. Ford and the other U.S. automakers shifted their ad emphasis to smaller cars, which got better gas mileage, and went head-to-head with their overseas rivals. Mavericks and Mustangs were among the chief beneficiaries of an ad strategy that called for doubling the number of small cars built from 1972 to 1974, to 2 million. In fall 1974, Ford (along with rival Volkswagen) gave in to demands by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and began to include fuel-efficiency claims in advertising.

Overseas expansion At the same time, Ford embarked on a program of expansion overseas. It established Ford Lio Ho Motor Co. in 1972 as a joint venture in Taiwan, five years after it set up Ford of Europe. In 1973, the automaker opened Ford Espana, with a sales office in Madrid, and three years later opened an assembly and manufacturing complex near Valencia. In June 1975, Ford set out to promote three new small cars that could get 34 miles per gallon. Rather than wait until the traditional beginning of the model year, Ford advertised the subcompact Pinto, Mustang II and Mercury Bobcat via a $15 million campaign with heavy emphasis on fuel-efficiency. That same year, Ford ended its association with Grey, which closed its Detroit office following the account loss. Ford ran into serious image problems when it was forced to recall more than 1 million Pintos from the 1971 to 1976 model years because of fuel-tank problems.

The Pinto jinx persisted in Brazil—the word means "tiny male genitals" in Portuguese slang—and the automaker was forced to replace all Brazilian Pinto nameplates with new ones that read "Corcel." The success of Ford's Mustang made Mr. Iacocca an auto industry star, but nonetheless in 1978 Mr. Ford fired him, reportedly because their two strong personalities clashed. Mr. Iacocca's celebrity enabled him to quickly move to Chrysler Corp., where he set about changing the struggling automaker's advertising. In March 1979, K&E, a longtime Ford agency, unceremoniously resigned the $75 million Lincoln-Mercury account in order to take on Mr. Iacocca and Chrysler. Ford moved Lincoln-Mercury back to Y&R . That same year, Ford acquired a 25% stake in Toyo Kogyo, the Japan-based marketer of Mazda vehicles. In March 1980, Ford, in a major departure from tradition, tapped a non-family member to run the company for the first time. President-CEO Philip Caldwell was named chairman and Henry Ford II retired as a company officer, though he remained on the board of directors.

(He died in September 1987.) During the 1980s and 1990s, Ford continued to expand internationally. In 1986, the company acquired a share of Korean automaker Kia Motors Corp. The following year Ford bought 75% of Aston Martin Lagonda, purchasing the remaining shares in 1994. In February 1989, Ford bought the U.K.'s venerable Jaguar, and in March 1999, it acquired Volvo Cars. As its international business grew, Ford began to whittle its agency roster down to three primary shops worldwide: Ogilvy & Mather , Y&R and JWT. In July 1987, O&M picked up the Ford parts and services division from Y&R, the first U.S. account it handled for the automaker. O&M earlier succeeded JWT on Ford cars in nine European countries. By 1988, O&M had $150 million in Ford billings in the U.S.

and Europe, JWT had more than $300 million in billings in 12 countries and Y&R had more than $200 million in billings, with advertising in four countries and direct marketing in nine. Also in 1986, Ford introduced its Taurus and Mercury Sable models with designs that proved popular with car buyers. Another image crisis The mid-1990s was a time of global marketing focus for Ford. The Ford Division's major vehicle launches included introductions of the newly designed 1996 Taurus in a blitz estimated at $100 million. In January 1996, the division launched its 1997 F-150 pickup during Super Bowl XXX with what it said was the most expensive truck campaign in its history, estimated at $70 million. In 1997, Ford moved U.S. media buying for all its lines and corporate advertising to a new subsidiary of JWT, Ford Motor Media. Based in Detroit, Ford Motor Media handled $1.1 billion in media buying for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Mazda, in which it holds a controlling stake, as well as Ford customer service.

In January 1999, for the first time since Henry Ford II retired, a member of the Ford family again held a top leadership position at the company. William Clay Ford Jr., a great-grandson of Henry Ford, was elected chairman. At the same time, the board elected Ford Automotive Operations President Jacques Nasser president-CEO. The changes coincided with the retirement of Alexander Trotman, who had served as chairman, CEO and president during his 43 years at Ford. In 2000, Ford acquired the U.K. automaker Land Rover. Ford consolidated the account with WPP's Y&R, Irvine, Calif., in summer 2002 without a review, moving it from Omnicom Group's GSD&M , Austin, which had won the account just months before. Y&R already handled Lincoln, Mercury and Jaguar. William Clay Ford Jr. soon found himself dealing with Ford's worst image crisis since its Pinto woes. Tires manufactured by Bridgestone/Firestone for Ford's popular Explorer sports-utility vehicle began to disintegrate in use, resulting in some fatalities for which the vehicle was blamed. Ford began a massive recall of the tires and ran commercials in which Mr.

Nasser sought to reassure Ford customers. In May 2001, however, Bridgestone ended its nearly century-old relationship with Ford amid the automaker's continuing criticism of the company's tires. In late October 2001, Mr. Ford added the title of CEO following the retirement of Mr. Nasser, who had been criticized for his handling of the Bridgestone/Firestone situation and from straying too far from Ford's core auto business. Ford celebrated its centennial in 2003. It also dialed up its product placement and sponsorship deals with TV broadcast networks, including the popular "American Idol" and "24." Bolstered by the successful crucial launch of the newest-generation F-150 pickup in fall 2003, the automaker was getting back on track with improved quality and more stylish new vehicles. In 2003, Ford was the No. 6 U.S. national advertiser, spending $2.2 billion, down almost 1% from 2002, according to Advertising Age. In this article:

Question: In the first decade of the 1900s, Henry Ford established the Ford Motor Company in which city of the USA?
Answer: Detroit