23 of the Most Iconic Vehicles in Ford History

Ever since Henry Ford entered the automotive industry, guns blazing, in 1903, the American brand has disrupted the status quo by introducing affordable cars for everyone.

Now, Ford is one of the world’s oldest carmakers, with a long list of excellent cars in its portfolio. Some were so groundbreaking that they effectively created an entirely new segment. Sure, there have been some flops as well (cough, Edsel, cough), but Ford’s story is mostly a success story.

Today, we’ll examine 24 of the greatest Fords ever made. Remember, not all Fords were available in North America. Some of the best models were exclusive to Europe.

Ford Model T

Contrary to popular belief, Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, nor was the Model T the first Ford. However, in 1908, the Ford Model T did change the automotive world as it was the first affordable vehicle built on an assembly line.

Without the Model T, the automotive landscape would’ve been very different. It remained in production until 1927; by then, a whopping 15 million cars had been sold. That record stood until 1972, when the VW Beetle beat it, but the Model T was still named the most influential car of the 20th century, ahead of the Beetle and Mini, among others.

1961 Lincoln Continental

Lincoln is Ford’s luxury division. The first Lincoln arrived in 1939. By the late 1950s, the Lincoln Continental had taken a turn for the worse, and its design can best be described as questionable.

In 1961, the new and improved Lincoln Continental arrived. It’s one of the best-looking American cars ever and single-handedly saved the Lincoln brand. It may not be beautiful in the traditional sense, but its flat panels and muscular looks inspired many of the cars from the ’60s.

Ford Mustang

Ford introduced the first Mustang in 1964, and today, 60 years later, it’s still one of the best-selling sports cars ever. Ford designed it to fit the needs of the Baby Boomer generation, who wanted a sporty yet affordable and practical car.

Since then, the Mustang has been in continuous production, and there have been countless special editions and high-performance versions. Whether you want an economical Mustang for everyday driving, a thoroughbred racehorse for track use, or anything in between, the Ford Mustang has you covered.

Ford GT40

Ford created the GT40 to teach Ferrari a lesson after the Italian carmaker backed out of a partnership deal at the very last minute. A small team with some of the most prominent names in racing at the time developed and drove the GT40 to a 1-2-3 victory at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Lola, a UK-based company, built the Ford GT40’s chassis, and then the American team perfected the legendary dream car at their facility in Michigan.

2005 Ford GT

In 2005, Ford launched the GT40’s spiritual successor. The Ford GT was the first Ford supercar since the original GT40 (not counting the GT90 concept car). Styling-wise, it looked very much like its race car predecessor, but underneath the retro styling, it was a cutting-edge supercar.

The Ford GT was more than capable of going up against the best European models, such as the Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari Enzo. However, it wasn’t a Le Mans winner like the models before and after it.

Ford Thunderbird

The Chevy Corvette dominated the American sports car market in the early 1950s, and Ford wanted in on the action. Two years after the ‘Vette first saw the light of day, the Thunderbird emerged and outsold the Chevy 23-to-one in its first year.

The Thunderbird then went in a different direction than the Corvette and eventually turned into a more luxury-focused model rather than a sports car. Production ended in 1997, but Ford brought it back for one last generation in the 2000s before retiring the iconic nameplate.

1965 Ford Galaxie / LTD

The Ford Galaxie was a full-size sedan that got its name from the excitement surrounding the space race. Speaking of racing, the Galaxie was a popular choice for both drag racing and NASCAR.

Part of its success was down to the suspension, as Ford had ditched the regular leaf springs in favor of coil springs in the rear, which improved both handling and comfort. The fact that it was available with a massive 7.0-liter engine also helped it gain some fans.

Ford Transit

Moving from the States to Europe, the Ford Transit van was an absolute game changer, which earned it its nickname “The Backbone of Britain.” The first Transit van hit the market in the mid-1960s, offering decent performance and excellent driving dynamics.

Because it drove like a regular car but could fit a whole crew in the back, the Transit immediately became the getaway vehicle of choice for British bank robbers. It has been in continuous production since 1965, and while it’s no longer the go-to vehicle for criminals, Ford has built some quick versions over the years.

Ford Capri

With the Capri, Ford utilized the Mustang formula on a European platform, and it worked like a charm. Ford sold nearly 2 million Capris from 1968 to 1986, and like its American cousin, it was an affordable performance car that was perfect for some upgrades and modifications.

Ford built the Capri on the Cortina platform, and engines ranged from a 1.3-liter to a 3.0-liter V6. The Capri Perana even had a 5.0-liter V8, making it an absolute monster, but that was only available on the South African market.

Shelby 427 Cobra

Okay, we may be cheating a bit here, but not much. If the GT40 made it onto the list, so should the 427 Cobra. The original Shelby Cobra was based on the British AC Ace, but Shelby and Ford co-developed the Mk3 chassis for the 427 Cobra.

It then received a 427 Ford engine with 425 to 485 horsepower, depending on the version. It showed the world what an American sports car could do and has since inspired modern sports cars, like the Dodge Viper and various kit cars.

1953 Ford F-100

Ford’s F-Series of pickup trucks has been the best-selling vehicle in the States for several decades. The F-100 wasn’t the brand’s first venture into the truck market, but it was the first proper attempt at a lifestyle truck rather than just a work truck.

The F-100 offered creature comforts and amenities usually reserved for cars, and that trend has continued right up until today. Good luck finding one for sensible money today, though, as most are getting bought by collectors with deep pockets.

Ford Explorer

Nowadays, the car market is flooded with SUVs, and the Ford Explorer is one of the vehicles that started the shift from sedans to SUVs. Introduced in 1991, the Explorer has been in continuous production since, placing it firmly among the best-selling SUVs in the States.

While it’s been modernized as trends and requirements changed, the basic formula has always remained the same: boxy styling, plenty of space, and many available trims to suit every wallet.

Ford Focus

Ford initially launched the Focus in Europe to attract younger buyers looking for an affordable and practical car. It was a raving success, so Ford decided to sell it globally.

The Blue Oval then decided to make some high-performance versions that weren’t particularly cheap, but still attainable for regular people. The ST version was a decent machine, but the RS was a scorching hot hatch – and it could be modified to churn out supercar-beating power.

Ford RS200

Ford has competed in rallying for as long as we (and our grandparents) can remember. The RS200 was specifically designed from the ground up to race in Group B rallying, but after its first season, FIA shut down the whole class due to accidents and deaths.

While it was never successful as a rally car, the RS200 still garnered a cult-like following, and it’s one of the most famous cars from the Group B era. Ford built 200 road cars for homologation purposes, and those sell for a fortune whenever they pop up at an auction.

1962 Ford Cortina

The Escort wasn’t the only cool European Ford in the 1960s. In 1962, Ford launched the excellent Cortina. One little-known fact is that it was designed by Roy Brown Jr., the same guy who designed the Edsel. However, whereas the Edsel flopped spectacularly, the Cortina became the UK’s best-selling car in the 1970s.

The Cortina eventually morphed into the Taunus, which the Sierra later replaced, but the Mk1 Cortina is the one we want to discuss. Ford built a 1.5-liter Cortina GT with 78 horsepower, and Lotus even built one with a unique 1.6-liter twin-cam engine that proved to be an excellent performance car.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

In the mid-80s, Ford Europe built the legendary Sierra RS Cosworth. With a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that sent over 200 horses to the rear wheels, it was a hoot to drive, and the engine was also highly tunable. Ford then took it even further and created the limited edition RS500 with even more power.

For years, the Sierra RS500 Cosworth dominated various racing series worldwide. It is statistically the most successful road-derived racecar ever, winning 84.6% of the races it entered.

Ford Escort RS Cosworth

The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was introduced in 1992 and was part of a long line of high-performance RS Escorts, such as the RS1600, RS2000, and RS Turbo. However, the Escort Cossie wasn’t actually based on the Escort platform; Ford built it on a modified 4×4 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth platform.

While the RWD Sierra Cosworth destroyed the opposition on racetracks, the Escort took to the rally stages. It never won any rally championships, but it secured some event victories over the years, including a 1994 Monte Carlo Rally win.

Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco is one of the most revered 4×4 off-roaders ever. First introduced in 1965, production lasted until 1995, and Ford then revived the Bronco for the 2021 model year.

The Bronco was one of the original SUVs, and since it was specifically designed to be an affordable off-roader, its on-road abilities suffered. However, the new Bronco gives you all the retro-tastic design you’ll ever want, with all the modern amenities today’s drivers yearn for.

Ford Crown Victoria

Thousands of American drivers have had the bejeezuz scared out of them when noticing a Ford Crown Vic in the mirror or parked next to the road. The Crown Vic served as a police interceptor from 1991 to 2011.

It’s practically bulletproof – as in unbreakable, not in the pew pew sense – and parts are plentiful and cheap. Just don’t buy a black and white car to scare people!

Ford Fiesta ST

The Fiesta was introduced in Europe in 1976, and over the following decades, Ford built some interesting performance versions, such as the XR2, XR2i, RS Turbo, and RS1800. However, the Fiesta ST was the best of the bunch, powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with plenty of tuning potential.

In fact, the Fiesta ST was so good, Ford even decided to sell it on the North American market. For a few years, Americans got to enjoy one of the world’s best hot hatches until Ford discontinued it to focus on trucks and SUVs. At least it’s guaranteed to become a classic in the future.

Ford F-150 Raptor

Ford has been making performance trucks for decades already. While the old Lightning trucks were more road-focused, Ford designed the F-150 Raptor to be a Trophy Truck you can drive daily. It may say F-150 on the tin, but only the cab is the same as on the regular F-150.

There are three generations of F-150 Raptors to choose from, and depending on the version, you can have a naturally aspirated V8, a twin-turbocharged V6, or a supercharged V8. The Raptor was a massive success, eventually spawning a new segment of off-road performance trucks.

Ford Ranger Raptor

If the Ford F-150 Raptor is too much truck, the Ford Ranger Raptor is an excellent mid-size option. The Ranger Raptor has been available overseas for years already, and now the second generation is finally available in the US.

Americans missed out on the 3.2-liter bi-turbo diesel version with 210 horsepower. However, since the new model has the twin-turbo 3.0-liter gasoline engine from the Bronco Raptor, Ford is forgiven for their past mistake.

Ford Maverick

We are, of course, talking about the new Maverick pickup truck, not the horrible little economy car from the 1970s. The compact pickup truck may just prove to be a game changer as sales have increased drastically.

Thanks to its small size and hybrid powertrain, the Ford Maverick doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to run, which is a welcome trait in today’s economic climate. It’s also the perfect base for customizations, and Ford even introduced a Tremor package for the AWD models, which makes it a great little off-roader.