On June 16 the Ford Motor Company celebrates its 100th Anniversary. There is a lot of pride in this testament to longevity, and the Company has a number of events and activities leading up to June 16 celebration on the World Headquarters grounds . (examples: a vintage Ford car show with 3000 vehicles registered to date; a weekend of concerts: Earth Wind & Fire, Beyonce Knowles, Toby Keith, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, etc).

Anyhow, one of the activities has been a series of vintage vehicle displays. Each display has had a theme, starting with the Model T in December. Since then, we've had displays for T-Bird, Model A, Mustang, other Ford vehicles, trucks, Mercury, and Lincoln. Generally all the vehicles are owned by employees or retirees. All very cool!

Well, this week is the final display: the "other" brands. You know, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Volvo, and Mazda! As a employee of Ford Credit -- and as an owner of a 1st Gen RX-7 -- I decided to particpate. So my SE is now sitting in the Ford WHQ lobby area.

The turnout for this display wasn't as well organized as the prior displays, so the turnout was low. No Jags at all. However, a Rotary pickup, some Astons, and some Ford powered stuff (Sunbean Tiger, Pantera) made the display.

When I was hanging around, I was amazed by the number of people who walked by the 1st gen and commented "nice car," "I remember these," or "hey I always liked these cars." They weren't blowing smoke up my *** either, 'cause I was just in earshot and not ID'd as the owner.

Anyhow, here's some pics for the curious. Password to view is lobby.

FordWHQ Pics

 

sounds sweet, but dont have user name for that pw. must, see, more fb pics......

 

I've changed the password to lobby. Let's see if that works. I think the password is case sensitive.

 

Gamble - the user name for it is "pjr".

I just guessed 'cause that's his name on here that it would be on there, and it works

 

OOPS! Sorry, you're right. I forgot the user name... which is pjr .

 

Looks good man! That's a very clean 7

 

yessir lookin good, the car that is

 

thats a nice *** 7

but i want the repu!

 

i have thoes rims but there no where near as clean

 

Pat, that is awesome! Your car looks amazing. I can't wait to take a look at it in person some day. And to get into the Ford anniversary celebration is phenominal.

Aaron

 

very nice.........lol

 

Thanks for the compliments. The car isn't perfect (some stone chips, the infamous driver seat tear, and I need some new wheels too). But it's nice...

The response of people walking by really surprised me. It drew more smiles than the Astons and the Pantera (but not that Sunbeam... it was sweet).

I purchased the car from the original owner last year. It's rarely seen rain, and surely now snow or salt. Of course, taking from winter storage to WHQ this week it picked up tar from road construction. Crap!

The actual event should be cool. I hope to see some 2nd and 3rd gens in the Mazda area. Aaron, maybe I'll see ya there!!!

 

WOW!!

Amazing 1st gen.

 

Very nice man! I thin k i want onw of those!

 

I've had a few people e-mail me about the Ford Centenntial Celebration. Here's some info from a corporate communication:

"Again, this display is a terrific example of some of the cars and trucks you can expect to see during THE ROAD IS OURS 100th Anniversary Celebration, June 12-16. To purchase tickets to the celebration log on to www.celebrateFord100.com or call 1-866-410-0367.

"If you purchase your tickets online or via phone before Sunday, May 25th, your credential, parking pass, commemorative coin and event passport will be mailed to you. After May 25th, all tickets must be picked up at the will call and ticket center inside the Lifestyle Cafe at the Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn."

 

Very, very clean car!


I'd sell everything I had for that Tiger - my dad used to have 2 Sunbeams, and I still hate that he sold 'em!

 

I was thinking oh great you swapped in a ford v8 or something and they were displaying it. Good to see a clean SE the same color as mine instead though.

 

rx7 Nut - I'm assuming you know that Mazda was bought out by Ford? I'm assuming that's why his 7 is there

 

Sweet GSL SE..

Heres my opinon,Yes FORD does own MAZDA BUT FORD had no design say so on the RX7s so I feel that car should not be there,

I am one who do NOT like to be classifed with Fords..sorry...

BTW whos that old man by your car?




















J/K

 

Here's some Ford-Mazda history. Ford purchased 25% of Mazda in 1979. They increased their share to 33% in the mid-90s and took greater operational control. To be frank, Mazda was floundering big time in product design, especialy after the failure of their proposed new division that would have competed with Lexus and Acura. That effort died just prior to launch, wasting over $1 bil. Anyhow, the RX-8 and the Mazda 6 are a part of some improved controls and product development controls from Ford's assist. Ford has benefitted from the relationship, as the Escape SUV, the Focus, and the new 2005 Futura compact will have been based on Mazda platforms.

I agree that Ford had no input on the RX-7... but it's a celebration of Mazda's heritage as part of the centennial.

Anyone remember Ford's respnse to the RX-7? It was something based o nthe escprt, a two seater which I think was called the EXP. Absolutely horrible.

Under Jac Nassar, there was a strong effort to tie all the "Ford Motor Company brands" together. These days, anything Nassar did is being dismantled, and that incluges banding the brands together.

And, um... the old man? Ummmm.... not THAT old!!

 

The EXP is garbage,Its an Escort with a spoiler kit.

 

The EXP was beyond garbage. From the exterior hip-line panels down it was an 1981 escort, as were the mechanicals. They made it a fastback, deleted the back seat and called it a sports car, "just like the RX-7 and 300Z." And that styling? The front was so butt ugly; Road & Track wrote that the front end "looked like a frog at the point of castration."

 

Don't discount the EXP just yet - it is a wonderful source for nice, cheap, junkyard seats - they are sweet!