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Ford made plenty of surprising cars over the years, unfortunately, not all of them were pleasant surprises.
Since 1903, Ford has hammered out some truly exceptional and reliable cars. Their quality and affordability have made them a staple in America and worldwide, from the sturdy and dependable Model T that ran from 1908 to 1927 to the F-Series trucks.
In the same breath, the giant company has produced some dreadful vehicles that may have left the public scratching their heads. Some cost Ford millions of dollars in lawsuits due to avoidable mistakes, while others were shunned due to their strange looks.
Here, we indulge in some exciting cars Ford made that surprised everyone and others that we'd rather forget.
In the early '60s, it's said that Henry Ford II wanted a Ford in the 24 Hour of Le Mans race. Based on the Lola Mk6, the GT40 was conceived, engineered, and built by Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, United Kingdom. It was built to compete against Ferrari, but the engineering department was transferred to Dearborn, Michigan, following disappointing results.
In 1966, to everyone's shock, the GT40 broke Ferrari's winning record and went on to win the next three consecutive races. The high-performance car featured a 4.7-liter Ford V8 engine whose displacement was later increased to 4.9 liters, equipped with Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads.
An affordable Ford performance car that's not a Mustang? When Ford asked Cosworth to build engines for Sierra, Cosworth didn't disappoint because these motors brought Ford victories. Intended for racing, this Group A monster was curvy and sleeker contrary to boxy styling adopted by several carmakers of the era. But, before we digress, let's focus on Cosworth's exemplary work.
To begin with, Cosworth worked with an existing engine, SOHC T88 Pinto, and devised an aluminum head operating 16 valves. Cosworth added a Garret T3 into the mix to add more power, resulting in increased power rated at 201 hp and 205 lb.-ft of torque. A 5-speed Borg –Warner gearbox sent the juice to the back axle. With that, the car accelerated from 0-62 mph in 6.2 seconds and attained a top speed of 150 mph.
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Arguably, the best-selling pick-up truck in the F-series, the SVT Raptor was as aggressive and exciting as its looks. Built and optimized for off-road terrains, the Raptor can take you to every corner of the earth. The power plant features a 6.2L V8 engine pumping out 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, yoked to a 6-speed automatic transmission. To that, add the rugged suspension, the monster BFGoodrich KO tires, and the Fox Racing shocks- the beast can hammer down any challenging terrain.
First Ford to feature hill descent control, the SVT Raptor also uses an anti-lock braking system(ABS) to increase steering control in off-road settings. And, when it comes to the looks, the beast is a delight to look at. To distinguish the Raptor from the rest in the pack, "FORD" lettering replaced Ford Blue Oval.
Initially, the Taurus SHO was produced between 1989 and stopped in 1999. After the hiatus, the production began in 2009 for the 2010 model with fantastic goodies. Under the hood, the Taurus SHO features a 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine that combines turbocharging and fuel injection, thus delivering optimum V8 performance, with 365 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque.
Set the throttle for highway cruising, and the 2015 Taurus SHO can set the speed while maintaining the distance behind the other vehicle in front of you. And when it comes to lane keeping, the Taurus SHO uses electric-power assisted steering that gently steers the car back to the lane. Turns out, Ford can make quite an impressive sports sedan. Too bad the Taurus is no longer here.
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It's affordable, pleasant to look at, has good fuel economy, and excellent handling, not to mention its sporty dynamics. Offered in six trims: S, SE, SEL, Titanium, ST, and RS, all of which come with innovative features, the Focus is undeniably an exciting car to drive. Offered in the Ford Focus S is a 2.0L inline-4 with 160 hp.
To maximize fuel economy, shoppers have the SE trim option with a 1.3L turbocharged inline-3 engine rated at 30/40mpg city/highway. Standard on SEL is a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Titanium is loaded with luxury plus much more, while the ST with sport-tuned front suspension gives you a sportier ride. Upscale to the powerhouse is the RS with 350 hp equipped with Ford Performance all-wheel drive.
Marketed by Ford Motor Company, Edsel was a product of Edsel Ford, the company's founder son's weirdest dream. Well, that dream came true but cost Ford $350 million. Introduced in 1958, Edsel was developed to compete against Buick, Oldsmobile, and Desoto. It was offered in seven trims and shared body styling with Ford's sedans and station wagons.
The 1958 Edsel featured speed warning, warning lights for overheating engines, low oil levels, and engaged parking brake. The speedometer offered a rotating dome along the lines of an aircraft design. But, someone "lied" in their questionnaires or didn't quite understand the American market. The front end was an eyesore, particularly the infamous center grille, "the horse collar" that has been said to have a close resemblance to a lady's intimate bits or a toilet seat. Edsel's production was discontinued in late 1959.
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Produced between 1971 and 1980, the Ford Pinto received a decent reception. However, its reputation was permanently damaged by negative media coverage. The car tended to catch fire in case of a rear-end collision due to a defective fuel tank. Allegedly, Ford knew of the unsafe fuel tank placement but decided to forgo the design changes.
According to the infamous "Pinto Memo," Ford reportedly calculated the cost of paying lawsuits was cheaper than that of redesigning the car. This resulted in lawsuits and criminal prosecution, not to mention the public controversy. Indeed, it's hard to hear the name Pinto without our minds conjuring up images of a burning car. The Americans would rather forget the questionable vehicle.
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The unimpressive fifth-generation Ford Escort was the least convincing car to be launched by Ford. Despite the new design, the Escort shared the same underpinnings as its predecessor.
It was uninspiring to look at, had a terrible ride and handling, and carried over the same old low-performance engines from the previous Escorts. However, Ford did an emergency make-over due to the lousy reception- the 1992 models featured 16-valve fuel-injected Zetec engines.
Sold in North America between 1993 and 1997, the Ford Aspire was a replacement for the Festiva. Built by three carmakers- Mazda, Kia, and Ford, the Aspire was painfully slow with the uninspiring 63 horsepower. The cheap car offered a cassette player, rear defrost, wiper, and automatic transmission, as an option in the base model. Ooh! And the alloy wheels.
In 1995, Ford stripped the Aspire of the optional rear wiper and the alloy wheels. Did anyone aspire to drive the Aspire after that? Ford discontinued the production of the Aspire in 1997 due to slow sales. Let's say Ford's attempt to venture into the world of small cars was a bad idea when it comes to the Aspire.
“ The sound of a good engine revving up leaves nothing to the imagination,” she says. “You expect nothing else other than great performance.” Charity is an automobile pundit and a versatile writer. Her interest in automobiles was born while working at an international airport where engines rang the air 24/7.