 FORD
CENTENNIAL-EDITION VEHICLES MARK
COMPANY’S FIRST 100 YEARS
More info on 100th Centennial Celebration:
www.Ford.com
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Ford Centennial Edition Vehicles with a Model T-100 in front
of the Highland Park Assembly Plant.
WASHINGTON,
Dec. 19, 2002 – Five new limited-edition vehicles, designed to
mark Ford Motor Company’s 100th year of building automobiles,
will be displayed for the first time ever at the 2002
Washington Auto Show.
The three comprehensively-equipped
Centennial-edition cars – the 2003 Ford Mustang, Focus and
Taurus – and two trucks – the 2003 Ford F-Series Super Duty
and Explorer – will be on display at the Washington Convention
Center from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, 2003.
In honor of Henry Ford, who
established Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903 and invented
the moving assembly line, the Centennial-editions will be
available in “any color so long as it is black.”
In 1914, Ford famously ordered his
Highland Park (Mich.) Model T factory to use black paint
exclusively. The move was borne out of Ford’s zeal for
simplicity, efficiency and affordability: black enamel paint
dried faster than other colors, which meant more cars could be
built each day at a lower cost. The same year, Ford slashed
the workday from 10 to eight hours and introduced the $5 per
day minimum wage – more than double the prevailing rate.
The combination of low production
costs, affordable prices and generous wages helped mobilize
society: Model T prices dropped from $850 at introduction to
less than $300 by the early 1920s, and annual sales soared
from roughly 300,000 units to a peak of more than 1.8 million.
“Henry Ford’s vision was to offer
honest, reliable and affordable transportation for the masses.
That’s exactly what Ford stands for today,” said Jim O’Connor,
Ford Motor Company group vice president for North America
Marketing, Sales and Service.
In addition to black clearcoat
exterior paint, all Ford Centennial-edition vehicles
include:
- Premium Verona-grain Imola
leather seating surfaces in two-tone parchment.
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- Ford 100th Anniversary deck
lid and side badges.
- A copy of the limited edition,
lavishly illustrated coffee table book, “The Ford
Century.”
- A commemorative key chain and
watch.
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Each vehicle also includes a black
leather owner’s guide portfolio with the embossed
signatures of Henry Ford, his son Edsel Ford (company
president from 1919 – 1943), Edsel’s son Henry Ford II
(company president from 1945 – 1960 and chairman from 1960
– 1980) and Henry Ford’s great grandson, William Clay
Ford, Jr. (chairman 1999 – 2001; chairman and chief
executive office, 2001– present). Standard equipment for
each Centennial model is extensive: |
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Ford Mustang Centennial
coupe and convertible:
17-inch premium alloy wheels; anti-lock brakes and
traction control; dual exhaust; power driver’s seat with
power lumbar support; leather-wrapped steering wheel; and
Mach 460 AM/FM Stereo with six-disc CD changer.
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Ford F-Series Super Duty Crew Cab
Centennial Edition: leather-wrapped steering wheel and
center console; overhead storage console; sliding rear
window; power driver’s seat; power windows; privacy glass;
and a color-keyed rear bumper.
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Ford Explorer Centennial
Edition four-door SUV:
17-inch chrome wheels; chrome roof rack and grille; power
driver and front passenger seats; fog lamps; AM/FM Stereo
with in-dash six-disc CD changer; and leather-wrapped
steering and center console.
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Ford Focus Centennial
Edition sedan:
16-inch aluminum wheels; rear spoiler; fog lamps;
leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescoping
column; AM/FM Stereo with CD and MP3 player; and driver’s
seat lumbar support.
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Ford Taurus Centennial
Edition sedan:
16-inch machined aluminum wheels; AM/FM Stereo with
six-disc CD changer; power driver’s seat; anti-lock
brakes; power-adjustable pedals; automatic headlamps;
leather-wrapped steering wheel and center armrest;
simulated wood door and instrument panel trim; and
anti-theft alarm system.
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The Centennial editions will be available in Ford dealer
showrooms in spring 2003. Production will be limited to
3,000 units each for Mustang, Focus, and Super Duty and
4,000 units for Explorer and Taurus. Pricing will be
announced closer to introduction. |
Source: Ford.Com
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