Mulally wants Ford to Cut Company-wide Lineup Down to Around 20 vehicles

Alan Mulally, President and CEO of FoMoCo, told an audience of business leaders at the Confederation of British Industry in London today that Ford is looking to downsize its current lineup to 20-25 models in an attempt to "simplify" and build better cars.

It seems to make sense; instead of spreading yourself too thin and trying to be everything to everyone at the cost of quality, spend more of your resources on fewer models to ensure a well put-together product.

Clearly addressing the euthanization of Mercury and its badge-engineered wonders (as well as parting out Ford's Premier Automotive Group), Ford CEO Alan Mulally said:

"When I arrived, it was absolutely clear that we had to simplify Ford dramatically...Fewer brands means you can put more focus into improving the quality of engineering."

For the record, Mulally came into a FoMoCo that had ninety-seven (97!) models in 2006. Thanks to cutting back models and standardizing components, Ford has helped bring down the cost of multi-market cars like the Fiesta (65% of which is standardized parts).

With Volvo's sale - at a huge loss - to Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ford's golden child already is now making sure those wasted Mercury funds are allocated properly (i.e. to Lincoln and its non-cohesiveproduct range). What's next?

Mulally says, "The key thing now is to keep the economy going. All the fundamentals say that we are moving in the right direction."

I'll believe that when Lincoln is a true-blue luxury brand once more.

By Phil Alex

Source: Bloomberg

VIDEO: Happy-Go-Lucky Driver Rams into Train with Mercury Woody

What does it take for someone to take notice of a train passing through a railway crossing? Judging by the lack of any type of reaction from this 50-year old man behind the steering wheel of this 1980's Mercury Corony Station Wagon, more than you can ever possibly imagine. I mean, it's broad daylight, you're going no faster than 10mph, there's a massive train slowly passing through the railway crossing right in front of your eyes, the warning bells are frantically ringing like a fire alarm and yet you still "manage" to ignore everything signal and ram into the train! Unbelievable...

Here's a twofer, the COE Mercury truck

In Canada, Mercury made trucks as well as cars... unlike the US where Mercury isn't known for trucks.

http://www.mercurypickup.com/ there's a lot of info here.

I have an affinity for the COE, Cab Over Engine,( truck ) most were haulers, and few survive from any manufacturer. So coming across this pic of the Mercury COE amazed me, and I think I should show you guys the strange thing that is a 1) Canadian vehicle 2) A Mercury truck, 3) A COE.

Canadian divisions of the big 3 had strange names and some unusual combinations of american parts on models you wouldn't find those parts on with US models of the same year. Wierd and interesting stuff.

Here's a bit of Ford truck info... most of this is obsolete info, but still neat to learn.

In 1948 Ford introduced a restyled Pickup which continued through 1952. During this period Ford introduced the "F" prefix. The 1/2 ton was called an F-1. The medium duty 3/4 ton trucks were referred to as an F-2. The F-3 designation meant a one ton truck. The "F" series continued through F-8 for big trucks.
Between 1948 and 1968 Ford of Canada used the "F" prefix for Ford and "M" for Mercury. In 1948-49-50 nominal tonnage ratings have been replaced by a series designation, the code numbers indicates the G. V. W. when equipped with tires of appropriate capacity rating. Each code number is arrived at by dividing the rated G. V. W. of the series by 100. Thus F-47 (M-47) indicates a G. V. W. of 4700 lbs., F-135 (M-135) indicates 13500 lbs., etc. Each truck series is rated to its G. V. W. In 1951-52 Ford got back in step with Ford of USA with F-1 (M-1), F-2 (M-2) and so forth. (G. V. W. - Gross Vehicle Weight - weight of chassis, cab and body, plus payload)
The next Pickup style covered the years 1953-1956. The cabs were totally restyled. The front windshield was now smartly slanted, increasing the windshield area tremendously. The "F" series numbers were modified to F-100, F-250, F-350, and so on.

Build it yourself, the Jack Karleskind way. 1970 Cyclone Cobra Jet Spoiler Ranchero

This is also in the article in Hemmings Muscle Machines Apr 2008 isue with the yellow Cyclone Spoiler convertible you'll see following this post.

Or click here : http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2441742 for a great gallery and specs

Trivia bit: These 429CJs came from the Ford assembly line with GM carbs. According to the Hemmings article, page 35.

Some more ads

I've never heard that Mercury was the "Man's Car"...
I guess that didn't work out.

These adverts are from the late 60's Road and Track, I found a lot of great adverts in that mag.

The coolest cars that Pace Pirate has posted

Don't know what it is, but they did a great job with it ( Volvo!)

I think this Tempo has an awesome look, sorta VW micro bus lowered, but that split windshield is very reminiscent of the Santa Fe locomotive for a gallery of it: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/08/this-is-cool-little-van-thing-i-dont.html

That is just the greatest thing you can do to a street racer!

Above Cougar is just a computer drawing, but an incredible design anyway

Has to be a mocked up photo

This would be fantastic in a 2 door

Wow!

Don't know what it is, want it.

The Reventon Scarabs and transporter

via: http://pacepirate.tumblr.com/

1970 Mercury El Gato concept car

Images from http://www.carstyling.ru/en/cars.1970_Mercury_El%20Gato.html and http://losboulevardos.blogspot.com/

Crusin' Main in Escondido, July 10 2009

1925 Dodge