(Posted on Jun 15, 2019 at 01:59PM by Michelle Bogle)
Contrary to popular belief, the Ford Mustang is not named after the free-roaming, wild horses of the American West. Rather, historians believe that the iconic pony car was christened the Mustang in honor of a famed P-51 World War II fighter plane.
Other names were also considered for the sports coupe, including Allegro, Aventura, Cougar, Thunderbird and Torino – all of which didn’t make the cut for the eventual Mustang, but later on, some became nameplates for other popular Ford models. However, before deciding on the name Mustang, the Blue Oval tested the various monikers with a Cougar emblem appearing on one of the early design models and the name Torino in promotional materials. In the end, the name Mustang won. According to Frank Thomas, an account executive who had been a part of the research team, the Mustang name was chosen because “it had the excitement of wide, open spaces and was American as all hell.”
And, truth be told, there is little-to-no documentation to support the actual inspiration behind the pony car’s name. But, one thing is certain – whether named after wild horses or a warplane, the Mustang sports car shares many similarities with both, including the free-spirit of the mare and the fierce performance of the jet.
To learn more about the Mustang’s illustrious past, contact Sound Ford in Renton, Washington.
(Posted on Jun 8, 2019 at 01:22AM by Michelle Bogle)
While Henry Ford is best-known for the creation of the Model T, this wasn’t his first vehicular innovation. Unbeknownst to most people, Ford’s first gas-powered automobile was called the Quadricycle Runabout, which he fashioned out of unusual materials, including a buggy seat and a transmission crafted from a leather belt and chain.
Running on four big bicycle wheels, the Quadricycle Runabout was powered by a two-cylinder engine, located at the rear of the vehicle. Ford followed a Kane-Pennington design described in a January 1896 issue of American Machinist magazine; however, the details of the engine were incomplete – yet that didn’t deter the inventor. Instead, he created his own ignition system that included water jackets in the cylinders so it wouldn’t overheat.
In 1896, Ford sold the Quadricycle Runabout to Charles Ainsley for a cool $200. He later built two more Quadricycles – one in 1899, followed by another in 1901. He eventually bought his first model back for approximately $65 in 1904. Today, the original Quadricycle resides at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Fascinating, right? For more interesting brand facts, including tales about Henry Ford, contact our dealership in Renton, Washington, to discuss.
(Posted on May 31, 2019 at 01:42PM by Michelle Bogle)
As a young man, Henry Ford had many interests before setting his sights on revolutionizing transportation as we know it today. Prior to working on vehicles, like the Model T, he experimented with other hobbies that became a solid foundation for his future as an innovator.
One of his early fascinations was the power of steam and Ford became voraciously eager to learn everything he possibly could about this phenomenon. In 1873, as a young student at Miller School near Dearborn Township, he conducted his first experiment by tying down the lid of an earthen pot filled with water and placing it over a fire. While awaiting the results of his test, the pot exploded and subsequently burned him with boiling hot water.
From there, Ford went on to understand watches and their intricate mechanisms – a much safer hobby, we must admit. However, with few tools to his name, the young man had to get creative by using found items around his house, like a filed shingle nail or knitting needles. He would work away for hours at a time at a small workbench in his bedroom by fixing timepieces of friends and family without charging a single dime for his services – the opportunity was rewarding enough.
For more interesting Henry Ford facts, contact our Renton, Washington, dealership today.
(Posted on May 21, 2019 at 11:18PM by Michelle Bogle)
A common myth or misconception is that Ford’s iconic Blue Oval logo features Henry Ford’s signature. But, in actuality, that’s not the case. The lettering was designed by Childe Harold Wills in 1907, who was a close friend of the inventor. Wills used a calligraphy stencil from his grandfather’s set to create his own stylized letters to represent the Ford brand.
Over the years, the logo has evolved and changed. What began as the black-on-white signature-based emblem morphed into an official oval shape with the symbolic autograph in 1927. There have also been variations with the coloring of the logo, including navy and white and gray and white – the latter was more prominent on Ford Motor Company Limited of Great Britain vehicles.
In 1976, a new 3D Ford badge was unveiled with a silver font and edging. It remained in place until 2003, when the automaker was celebrating its 100th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a "Centennial Blue Oval" was released and featured a special "Centennial Blue" background with white accents. This is the logo that remains in place today.
To learn more about our history and iconic branding, contact our dealership in Renton, Washington. We love chatting about all things Ford!
(Posted on May 20, 2019 at 02:47PM by Michelle Bogle)
If one were to look back on Henry Ford’s resume, it would appear that he was a Jack of a Trades. Over the years, he gathered experience in various industries and vocations, which would later shape his career and the world of transportation as we know it today.
As a young lad of only 12 years old, Ford spent most of his spare time in a small machine shop. By the time he was 15, he had constructed his first steam engine, then a year later he left Detroit to work as an apprentice machinist. His apprenticeship went on for three years, after which he returned home to Dearborn. Ford furthered his career by operating and repairing steam engines, finding occasional work in a Detroit factory and refurbishing his father's farm equipment. In 1888, Ford went on to support his new bride, Clara Bryant, by running a sawmill.
However, that job didn’t last long – in 1891, Henry Ford went on to become an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company. Two years into the position, he was promoted to Chief Engineer, which allowed him the funds and time to devote to his personal experiments – most notably, internal combustion engines, which was the foundation that led to the creation of the Ford Motor Company.
Fascinating, right? To learn more about our brand’s early beginnings and Henry Ford’s incredible history, contact our dealership in Renton, Washington.
(Posted on May 3, 2019 at 03:05PM by Michelle Bogle)
One of Henry Ford’s most popular sayings was, “You can have any color as long as it's black.” This was purportedly his classic response to any customer inquiring about the color choices for the Model T. And, indeed, the Model T was only available in black from 1914 through to 1925 – after that, the hues expanded to include green, bright red, dark blue, brown, maroon and gray to keep pace with the competition.
Some question if Ford only offered black due to his personal style preferences; however, the real reasoning for the singular paint color was due to economics. Black paint dried quicker, which allowed the automaker to maintain swift manufacturing speeds to support customer demand and growing volume. The Model T specifically used a paint process called japanning, which is similar to baked enamel. It made for a shiny black surface that was very hard and durable – and, funnily enough, the only pigment that was suitable for japanning was black.
If Ford was alive today, he’d be pleased to know that black is ranked in the top three most popular paint colors and is the second most popular hue for convertibles and coupes, like the Mustang. Black certainly is a classic choice!
To learn more interesting Blue Oval facts, contact Sound Ford in Renton, Washington.
Ford helped democratize the automobile in the early 1900s, bringing it to many Americans of all different stripes. A big part of this was the popularization of the Model T, but that wasn’t the only contributor to the overall trend—instead, to better understand what went on, we should look to the Model N.
The Model N was actually a successor to the Model C and, before that, the Model A (the first gasoline auto from the brand). The N was specifically built as an entry-level machine. Manufactured at Ford’s Piquette Avenue Plant, it came with a 149-cubic-inch four-cylinder engine with L-head valves and the ability to produce 15 horsepower. This was paired to a two-speed manual transmission, all sitting atop an 84-inch wheelbase. Also notable was the fact it was the first machine in the U.S. to be built with vanadium steel.
In part, because the Model N only cost $500, it quickly became America’s best-selling vehicle. Sold only in maroon, seven thousand were produced and sold by 1908.
(Posted on Apr 26, 2019 at 04:38PM by Darby Riales)
As America’s favorite muscle car, the Ford Mustang might just be the most recognizable vehicle in the world. In its first two years of production, the company sold over one million models. Even with its pony logo on the front, how it got its name is still unclear.
It has been debated for a long time whether this robust ride was titled after the wild horses of the western region or the P-51 Fighter plane. Cougar and Torino were also thrown into the hat for consideration, but Mustang was ultimately decided on for unknown reasons.
Recently, a 1967 Shelby GT Super Snake sold at auction for a whopping $2.2 million in Kissimmee, Florida. This one-of-a-kind prototype can reach a top speed of 170 mph and was initially sold for only $5,000.
The new 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 350 is a high-performance four-seater that will have heads turning everywhere you go. Growling under the hood is a 5.2L V8 engine that pushes out 526 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. Equipped with RWD and a six-speed manual transmission, you can burn some serious rubber with this beast.
The 1965 Ford Mustang is a cool car with an even greater story.
Through 1964, the Mustang was America’s hottest-selling vehicle. As such, the general manager at the Empire State Building got it into his head that it would be neat to feature the all-new 1965 pony car in a display at the building. As you might anticipate, Ford Motor Company agreed… however, it turned out that the process behind making it happen is likely far more complex than you may think.
First, the folks at Ford had to measure all the hallways, elevators, and doors in the Empire State Building that may be involved in setting up the Mustang. They then cut a 1965 pony car convertible into four separate primary parts (plus several additional pieces) and made three separate dry runs in an environment they created to sim the event right within their Dearborn headquarters. Once this was done, it was time to head to New York.
On October 20, 1965, at 10:30 p.m., the Mustang convertible was disassembled at the ground level of the Empire State Building and then brought up its elevator. It was then lifted onto the observation deck before undergoing a reassembly process on the 86th floor that lasted six hours. Once complete, it was photographed by a helicopter.
The 1965 Mustang would spend five months at the Empire State Building before being removed. Call us at Sound Ford to learn more fun facts!
(Posted on Apr 19, 2019 at 03:00PM by Darby Riales)
Despite Henry Ford’s pacifist stance, he quickly jumped into aiding the United States during WWII due to lucrative business opportunities. Being openly opposed to the nation getting involved in another war, he took on a different view after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
During this time period, the American automaker produced 390,000 armored tanks and trucks, 86,000 aircraft, 57,000 airplane engines, 4,000 gliders, and thousands of generators and superchargers for military use. Engineers even developed the B-24 Liberator bomber, which could carry a crew of 10 and had gunners situated on two flexible ball-mounts on the sides.
Even though Ford no longer participates in building war machines, you can still find the toughest vehicles in the country. Anything from the F-Series will not disappoint. This includes the new 2019 SuperDuty F-350 Lariat. Powered by a 6.7L V8 diesel engine, this beast delivers 450 hp and 935 lb-ft of torque.
The Lariat trim level includes a two-bar style chrome grille and quad-dual beam halogen headlights for an aggressive exterior look. You can also listen to satellite radio through the premium Bang & Olufsen sound system.