From the fateful step, consisting in setting to koveyer subkompaktnogo European sedan Taunus, Ford Motor rescued 36-year-old mid-level manager of Lee Yakokka. His study showed that fast pomolodevshaya as a result of post-war demographic appealing to a nation or what does not in terms of economic recovery yet another «German» - «bug», with its almost half the volume of sales for the missing eye. Rather obviously a failure Yakokka proposed project to build a small car production sportivogo wing components for the «Falcon», but in addition to the V8 engines in the 164 and 210 hp cost around 2500 dollars «base».

He agreed and in 1964 came the great Mustang, one of the main icons of America, in the first year brought the company 1.1 billion dollars profit and the title «Manufacturer years». And while the program constituted the basis of production «road dreadnought» with mnogolitrovymi motors, the debut is not utilitarian «hawk», pizhonistogo a 4-seat «æåðåáöà» began to call them to the cemetery.

The reformers on the board of directors potihonku protolknuli on conveyor small SUV Bronco (1966), and 70-m-105 has a strong 5 - Local hatchback Maverick, immediately found 579 000 customers. Henry Ford II, most recently claiming that «the small car - small profit», not only did not object - the chief apologist «minimization», Yakokka, got the presidency.

In 1971, it was his second finest hour in Ford Motor - on the market appeared Pinto entire length of 4.1 m with 4-cylinder engines of German and British production in the 75 and 100 forces stoivshy no more than 2000 dollars, ie 20% of the annual average çàðîáîòêà American. In the face broke out in the 73 th the energy crisis Pinto was the only trump card company to deal with sverhekonomichnymi «Japanese», however, is not an ace.

In order to confront the Asian invasion was necessary interpretation peredneprivodnaya platform, which is found in Europe - from the establishment with the direct involvement of ubiquitous Yakokki «Fiesta». He managed to dogovritsya «Honda» to supply at very favorable terms 300 000 suitable power units - for their self-production would require investment of half a billion dollars.

Ford Motor has had all chances to become a pioneer in the globalization process motor, but it is Henry Ford II has proved to be worthy of the grandson of his grandfather, saying: «No such machine with my name on the bonnet does not come down the conveyor»! And when in 1976 his mother died, in the world do not have anyone who might have the right to boss brains. The fact that the tabloid newspapers have become the heritage of his amorous adventures, it was bad, though - Yankee, when the adventures with the girls involved are not elected the person looking at them through my fingers.

But the fact that Henry, first just jealous Yakokku, deservedly considered the primary figure of the company, and then vozomnil that «this italyashka intend to leave my heirs without a piece of bread, making the Ford Motor in Iasossa Motor», it was extremely painful for the cause. In summer 1978, the king sacked the best manager in the country, but the pre-collapse situation does not repeat itself - whether debug and production design that orphaned the company continued to operate successfully.

Models for the second half of 70 - x was quite good - it was composed of compact and Pinto, Mustag II and Faimont, and the classic full-Torino, Thunderbird, and Crown Victoria, and the American analogue of «Mercedes» Granada, let alone stay out of competition pick-ups and given at their off-base. Ford Motor has not been spared the entire U.S. economy hit a systemic crisis, but came out of it remarkably well, in 1986, the first time since 1924 on avoiding the amount of net profit for General Motors. After becoming too old Henry, grandson of founding father not only not fallen into stagnation, and even as the enlightened mind, agreeing with the need recently anathematize globalization.

He began to Americanize her Escort, then came the turn of Tempo 55-strong diesel engine, created in collaboration with specialists controlled by «Mazda», and 86-m debuted landmark Taurus. At full development peredneprivodnogo «Taurus» with 3.0 - liter V6 power of 140 hp spent $ 3 billion, but it was worth - under his head handed their leader Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Taurus was the Requiem, Henry Ford II, who died aged 70 in 1987. Along with it went an entire era, when business refueled is not always sensible, but always imaginative «sharks capital».

«Heir», without ambitions

Henry Ford II away with it act in the style of grandfather through chicanery of lawyers, provernuvshih in 1956, during a joint-stock companies, as govarival Malchish-plohish, «very cunning trick». Family Ford has received just 12% of securities, but the package was privileged and allowed to be on the board of directors 40% of the vote.

And since the boss's opinion is always someone shares went that he possessed in the company not just a controlling stake, and absolute power. By the way, so the accusations in an attempt to Yakokki «usurp the throne» were totally unfounded. It is now nothing has changed, except for one - the current Ford, members of the board of directors, did not suffer from delusions of grandeur.

The overall position remains some 10 years ago, Bill Ford announced, the nephew of Henry Ford II, stated: «We have a huge investment in this company. And if our influence is reduced (which is possible when splitting a controlling stake in razrostayuschegosya family - approx. The author), it is not so and it is important that it ruled hereditary Ford ».

The most significant members of the legendary names are well aware that time has passed irrevocably autocrats and their strategy is a reasonable intervention itself fully justified. Last year, the company has produced 5.55 million passenger cars (again excluding pickups), and it belongs to such famous brands as Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin. But all this does not mean that the modern history of Ford Motor - a continuous celebration.

Ford Motor - the flesh of the flesh transoceanic car, and the diseases it the same as that of the other members of the Big Three, become a very present «Chronicles». Home attack exporters, mainly Japanese, many of which America was the land of promise. In 1970, he prenadlezhalo 11% of the market in the 80 th - 27% in 92-m - 35.4%, and in 2002-m - 56.5%, and the threat of loss during the current year, another 3% is real.

However, these figures do not differentiate directly zksport and production of foreign brands in the United States directly, but changes places summands sad outcome will not change. Export «rake» Yankee runs with regularity maniac - a get out Science strategists did not noticed the problem. Currently, the primary concern was the straightening roll with the release of the so-called SUV, vehicles for active lifestyles, which fordovtsy overdo it more than others.

For the Yankees, after the morning breakfast scamper a two hamburgers, mean daily activity travel with maximum comfort and the opportunity to go on a picnic or fishing on the well-groomed primers on weekend. To do so, and a decent «parquet» jeep, but the thirst for gigantomanii at the genetic level is predetermined setsificheskie features.

To date, the production program of the company is five jeeps, including the world's largest Excursion, and Lincoln / Mercury, too, not passive. Add to that there is a full minivan Windstar, for transoceanic classification is also related to the SUV. The fact that Americans did not think to abandon the usual sedans, hatchback and universal was in Dirborne revelation.

When it came, it was found that along with the water spilled, and the child - a seven-passenger models, two were European. And in the «dry balance» were Crown Victoria, Mustang and Tunderbird, an exclusive one another. If it had not been modernized in the 99 th Taurus, it would be very ill - Focus, he, of course «Automobile of the Year» on both sides of the Atlantic, but still not «original product».

Now here announced revival of «traditional». Within five years, all three offices must run in the production of at least 10 new models, the total circulation of which close to a million. First program will be Futura sedan at a very good «global» Mazda6 platform with a 2.3-liter 160-strong motor with changing phases of gas distribution and âàðèàòîðîì instead «machine», pozitsioniruemym between the «focal point» and «Taurus».

A prototype of new items 2005 model year, has already called «Year sedans», was shown in New York in April, with the addition of conventional internal combustion engine and it was equipped with a hybrid power plant. In America, comes the next revaluation of values: first staged at the forefront of miles per hour, and then miles driven per gallon of gasoline, but now - «green» Miles. And Ford Motor intends to play in this process for the first fiddle.