Ford celebrates a century
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 4 April 2025
Today is a special day as Ford celebrates 100 years of cars on the road and race track in Australia.
The Australian subsidiary of the US based Ford Motor Company was founded in 1925 in Geelong with its first assembled cars Model Ts.
Over the last 100 years the “Blue Oval” has become one of the most famous brands in Australia through racing and manufacturing.
Ford has made an enormous impact on Australian motorsport winning a record 27 Supercars/ATCC championships in addition to 20 Bathurst 1000 victories with the likes of Allan Moffat, Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose and Scott McLaughlin and more leading the way.
The brand will not be going anywhere either with Triple Eight returning as the new homologation team next year and the Mustang a key part of Gen3.
To celebrate the occasion, both of the Moffat Ford Dealers XC Falcons that produced the iconic 1977 Bathurst 1000 formation finish have been reunited.
On that famous day 48 years ago, Moffat led Colin Bond and that moment has been replicated at Bathurst’s National Motor Racing Museum.
More recent famous Fords such as Triple Eight’s first Bathurst winner, the BA steered by a tearful Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup in 2006, plus the Pirtek SBR car Ambrose drove to his second and final Supercars title.
The stunning Moffat Coke Mustang and Johnson Tru-Blu Falcon are also present.
A big part of Ford’s following has been its connection to the people with cars made in Australia all the way up to 2016, while the iconic Ford Falcon was fully designed in Australia from 1972.
But a century on from the start, the brand is continuing to look to the future by revealing the all new Ford Ranger Super Duty, which was designed and developed in Australia with a stronger, thicker chassis and suspension and will be on sale next year.
In a nod to the past, Ford’s vice president Jim Baumback said some of the design has Aussie farmers in mind stemming from conversations all the way back in the 1930s.
“We listened to what the hardest working fleet operators told us they needed to be more productive, and we’ve developed a Ranger with heavy-duty hardware and enhanced capability to stay on the job longer and help get it done sooner,” said Baumbick.
“There really is a direct link between the market desire for a vehicle like the Ranger Super Duty and the 1934 Lew Bandt ute.
“Customers told us they wanted something comfortable and safe, that could carry and tow more and go further off-road. And just look at it. It looks like it means business.”
Ford has also announced the Ford Pro Convertor program will be launched in Australia in the second half of 2025.
“Connecting customers through our dealer network with a wide range of Ford Pro Convertors will give them peace of mind that their new Ford will be ready to meet their unique needs from day one – from offering specialised trays and secure storage to full conversions that’ll help fire crews, emergency services and other essential providers,” said Andrew Birkic, president and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.
“Every business is different, but they all require their vehicles to be tailored to their unique needs, with the quality, professionalism, and peace of mind that allows them to get on with the job – knowing they’ve been able to customise their truck to their needs.
“Ranger Super Duty is a heavy-duty vehicle designed to work hard in remote locations. That’s also why, in partnership with our dealers, over the next year we’re looking to expand our service points and build a presence in new locations, supporting key industries and ensuring our customers have the support they need, wherever they are.
“We’re building an entire eco-system of support to ensure those who do the tough jobs will be able to do them a little easier.”
In addition to the brand’s milestone, Ford has also recognised the longest sporting sponsorship in the world with the Geelong Football Club, which also started a century ago and has remained unbroken.
Ford will also support Red Cross Australia in a new three-year partnership, which rekindles a relationship that started when Henry Ford supplied converted Model Ts to serve as battlefield ambulances during World War One.
Ford will carry on racing in Supercars with the next event the Taupo Super440 next weekend, while the new Mustang GT4 will be on show at Phillip Island today.
Image: Auto Action Archives
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