Van Lease Contracts | Ford vans and cars

Introduction

In 1903, the same year Henry Ford founded Ford Motor Company in the United States, two Ford Model A cars were shipped from Detroit to Britain – the very first Ford cars to arrive on our shores. Even Henry Ford could not have imagined what the next hundred years would bring for his company, or just how far reaching its impact would be on the social, cultural and economic framework of Britain.

1900 to World War II

The first Ford Agent

The two cars were shown at the Cordingley Automobile show in Islington London, and inspire Aubrey Blakiston to set up a sales agency in Long Acre, London. The agency took on a young "motor expert" named Percival Perry who subsequently took over the agency. All Ford cars had to be imported from America and paid for in advance. With money scarce, Perry successfully advertised for more capital and the new company "Perry, Thornton & Schreiber" acquired the Central Motor Company and moved to larger premises in Westminster Bridge Road, London.

Marketing initiative

In 1905, the traditional Hackney horse-drawn cab was joined by three Model Bs in a bid to boost sales. The Model T had its world debut at the 1908 Olympia Motor Exhibition and boosted sales of Ford vehicles in Britain. With results like these, Perry persuaded Henry Ford to open a London Branch of the Ford Motor Company. Premises were acquired in Shaftesbury Avenue, London and 400 cars were sold within the year. Perry soon began building a dealer organisation – very much like the one used today. Percy Hendy of Southampton became the first appointed dealer on November 7, 1910.

Ford of Britain is formed

It soon became apparent that larger premises were needed and Henry Ford decided to establish the first Ford factory outside of North America. In 1911, Perry acquired and converted a disused tram works just south of Manchester at Trafford Park and production began on October 11, 1911. Shaftesbury Avenue became the company showroom and the Ford Motor Company (England) Limited came into being.

Assembly in the north

In 1911, The moving production line had not been perfected by Henry Ford so the Trafford Park workmen completed the products on static workbenches. The revolutionary mass production methods were adopted in 1913 when the plant boasted Britain’s first moving production line. Up to 21 chassis per hour could now be produced by just 60 men. Output doubled in the first year and the Model T was the best-selling car in Britain taking 30 per cent of the market.

War-time production

During the First World War, Trafford Park also produced light tanks and one-ton commercial vehicles alongside the Model Ts. Double shifts increased the Model T output to 100 per day to accommodate the ever-increasing demand.

Post-war demand soars

The Trafford Park site was extended as demand soared after the war and into the early 1920s but it was obvious that a modern factory designed for operations on a vast scale was desperately needed. Searching the country, the Ford management finally decided on a 500-acre site on the banks of the River Thames near the small village of Dagenham in Essex.

They just keep on rolling

By the end of 1924 Trafford Park had produced Britain’s 300,000th Ford and it continued to produce Ford vehicles until the opening of the Dagenham factory in 1931. And the Trafford Park workers were not left twiddling their thumbs – Ford moved their work teams to the south. Special trains carried 2,000 workers, their families and possessions to their new homes and workplace. Many more were hired from local areas.

'Mr & Mrs Robinson'

Henry and Clara Ford, travelling as 'Mr & Mrs Robinson' visited Britain in 1928. They inspected the British operation, met the King and Queen and leading political leaders. Henry appointed Sir Percival Perry to relaunch Ford Britain as the hub of a new European Ford organisation. In December 1929, Ford Motor Company Limited (UK) is floated with a capital of �7 million.

World War II to 1970

Tanks and trucks

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 brought new challenges for the Dagenham factory. Employment increased from 12,000 to 35,000 as Ford met the demand of 360,000 military vehicles including light vans, army trucks, mobile canteens and Bren Gun carriers. During the war, more than a quarter of a million Ford V8 engines were produced and 95 per cent of Britain’s wartime tractors were produced at the Dagenham plant. Ford also returned to Manchester during these war years to establish a factory to build 34,000 Rolls Royce engines that would power the Hurricanes, Lancasters and Mosquitos. It is mark of their quality that not one failed the RAF standard.

Peacetime

The end of the war saw a huge rise in demand for Ford vehicles at home and abroad. 1947 was the first full year of peacetime production and Dagenham manufactured 115,000 vehicles. In February 1948 Henry Ford arrived in England aboard the Queen Mary to visit the European Ford companies.

By 1950 Ford had designed an all-new saloon range, the Consul and Zephyr, and they were shown at the Olympia Motor Show in October. By 1953, despite post-war shortages of materials, production had risen to more than 300,000 units each year.

Let’s grow

To cope with increased demand, Ford not only increased the Dagenham site, it also took over existing premises such as the Kelsey Hayes Wheel Company. Subsidiary factories were established at Woolwich, London and at Langley. Floor space at Dagenham increased by 4 million square feet and employee numbers rose from 14,000 to an incredible 40,000. Car bodies had been supplied by Briggs Motor Bodies since 1931 and in 1953, Ford acquired not only the Briggs Dagenham facility but also the satellite plants at Doncaster, Southampton, Croydon and Romford. Yet still there was not enough room – the commercial vehicle production needs had steadily increased so Dagenham was extended … again!

Spreading our wings

Multi-million pound investments continued throughout the 1950s and further sites were acquired at Aveley and Basildon in Essex. In 1956, Ford was the first British motor company to use a computer. The first research and development centre is opened in an old glass works in Birmingham and the new Aveley Parts Centre (UK) ships its first order. By September 1959 the first in-house computer is in place at the Aveley plant.

Back to the North

With demand still increasing for Ford cars, Ford of Britain looked North in 1960 to set up a second car-producing factory. Halewood on Merseyside was chosen for its port facilities and adequate supply of labour. The �40 million factory produced its first car on March 8, 1963. Ford was now in a position to extend their range of vehicles to include an inexpensive, compact, family car.

Cortina

The first-ever rear wheel drive car to be built by Ford was the Cortina. The Chairman of Ford Britain, Sir Patrick Hennessy saw an early prototype at the Detroit facility and immediately ordered the British product development team to proceed with all haste in developing a competitor to a rival Ford Germany design. The team were successful and the first Cortina went on sale in 1962. By the time the Mark II was introduced, more than 1 million Cortinas had been sold. Dagenham was able to concentrate on the new Cortina model while Halewood took over the production of the ever-popular Anglia 105E. Halewood also produced the Corsair from 1963 until it was eventually replaced by the Capri series in the late 1960s. But it was the Cortina that broke all records and was destined to become the first in a series of best-selling British Ford cars. Ford also established a plant at Enfield, north of London, to produce its own spark plugs.

Tractor finds a home of its own

With Halewood up and running, a �20 million tractor plant at Basildon, Essex was completed in 1964. Virtually all tractor activities could now be under one roof in its own dedicated unit.

Go West

The Swansea plant in South Wales was acquired in 1965 for �10 million. Ford modernised and converted the premises and set the plant to work manufacturing rear axles and chassis components. Within four years, a further �10 million was invested to expand the Swansea factory. Belfast plant, established in 1965, was a supply factory of distributors and later, carburettors.

Network Britain

This mass expansion programme continued in 1966 when Ford purchased a further 20-acres near the commercial vehicle plant at Langley and 130 acres at Daventry in Northamptonshire as a site for a parts distribution centre. Work finished on the �10.5 million Research and Engineering Centre at Dunton, Essex in 1966. A transatlantic computer link with Dearborn is established and the motor industry’s first computer drafting system is in use.

Sporting dreams

Henry Ford II, grandson of Henry Ford, commissioned a design team to produce the ultimate mid-engined sports-racing car. The result was the Ford GT, later known as the GT40 because it stood just 40 inches high. Following a spectacular 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966, the GT40 stayed in the number one slot for a further three successive wins. Primarily a track car, many of the 134 chassis were built to road specification for enthusiasts.

Ford of Europe

The first new Ford to appear after the formation of Ford of Europe in 1967 was the Ford Escort. It was the first pan-European Ford car since the 1930s and was built at both Saarlouis in Germany and Ford Britain’s Halewood plant.

1970 to present day

Successful seventies

The Cortina, Capri and Escort ranges proved very popular with the British public and in 1976, Ford introduced the Fiesta – the company’s first front wheel drive small car. The Cortina, Escort and Fiesta continued to lead the bestsellers' list throughout the decade.

Expansion … Expansion …

A dedicated engine plant at Bridgend, South Wales, was completed in 1980. The Escort MkIII is named car of the year in 1981 and the XR designation makes its debut on the infamous XR3. Sales of the Escort reached 1 million after 13 months – the fastest ever first million.

Sierra days

The radically different Ford Sierra replaced the Cortina in 1982. It was a bold design move and at the time, its aerodynamic styling was unique. Sierra soon became the benchmark for hatchback family sized saloons and paved the way for the 1993 Mondeo. The technological lead established by the Sierra enabled Ford to develop the Scorpio/Granada ranges in 1985.

The Ford Family expands

Iveco Ford Truck was formed, with Ford Britain owning 48 per cent in 1986 and the following year Ford New Holland was formed. The prestige marque, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd was acquired the following year and by 1989 Jaguar Cars had also joined the Ford family.

Mondeo sweeps the board

The Nineties saw the launch of the Ford Mondeo in Britain, and it received numerous accolades to underline its sales success. In April, 1995, Dagenham engine plant built its 28 millionth engine and the following year, it builds its 10 millionth vehicle since production began in 1931.

Expansion continues

Cosworth Racing joined the Ford family in 1998 and was followed by the acquisition of AB Volvo in January 1999. The Automotive Premier Group, covering Jaguar Cars, Volvo Cars, Aston Martin and Lincoln was created in March.

Halewood concentrates on Jaguars

In 2000, Escort production ceased at the Halewood plant on Merseyside as they prepared to build the new Jaguar X-Type in 2001. The Ford Focus becomes the world’s best-selling car.

Dagenham looks to the future

Car production at the Dagenham plants finally came to an end in February 2002. The plant’s transition to a global centre of excellence for Ford diesel engine design and manufacture heralds the start of a new era in manufacturing quality.

Celebrating a century of success

Ford Britain celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Ford Motor Company in 2003, our centenary year. With 27 consecutive years at the top of Britain's best-selling chart for new cars and four Ford cars in the top ten - Ka, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo. We are on target to reach our "45 in 5" - a commitment we made to launch 45 new product actions in just five years and will be investing over �2.1 billion in UK facilities.

Courtesy of Ford Motor Company.