A Great Read - Highly Recommended! - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Aussie Pete · 05-30-2001, 04:25

I've had this book for quite a while now. It's awesome if you're a Ford nut.

Car - A Drama of the American Workplace
Mary Walton
(An internal look at the development of the 1996 Ford Taurus)

It may be about Taurus but it gives a good view of how Ford does their thing. Ford say they will never again allow the access Walton was given, however in my view it is a great insight into how a company comes to develop such a complex beast.

For the real nuts I cannot recommend the following enough:

The Machine That Changed the World
(can't remember authors - MIT professors)

and sequel by same authors:

Lean Thinking

I couldn't put TMTCTW down - it is fantastic. I've read Car three times!

FM · 05-30-2001, 04:30

Where from??.. How much?? :confused: :confused:

Donut King · 05-30-2001, 04:32

Damn, here was me hoping to try the same thing and see how the build the Barra :D

Aussie Pete · 05-30-2001, 04:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Ford Man
Where from??.. How much?? :confused: :confused:

Been a while now - I ordered all three books through a text book shop in Melbourne. From memory they're called The Technical Bookshop, Swanston St Melbourne.

They do mail order so it works real well. You won't be disappointed reading these books I assure you.

Aussie Pete · 05-30-2001, 04:41

Okay - I got up off my lazy butt:

The Machine That Changed the World
and Lean Thinking
J.Womack and D. Jones

also:

available from

Technical Book Shop
295 Swanston St
Melbourne 3000 AU
Ph; 03 96633951
Fax; 03 96632094

If they're expensive here's my recommendation of order to read:

1. CAR
2. TMTCTW
3. lean Thinking

There was actually a book before TMTCTW by the same authors. I have never been able to track down a copy so if you get lucky tell me!

FM · 05-30-2001, 04:50

Cool.. I'll have a look when I'm home next fortnight... :thumbup:

FTEfan · 05-30-2001, 05:30

I remember seeing the first book but dismissing it without reading it. Silly move by the sound of things. I also read the book about the development of the C5 Corvette. Scary when the author quoted a GM manager, I think, as saying that it is the make or break car for GM. Apperently if the Corvette failed GM would go bust. Can't remember the name but it was a interesting book.

Martin · 05-30-2001, 07:52

I think the book your reffering to is "All Corvettes are Red". Very good read! It like the Mustang came soooo close to be canned it isnt funny, and was only saved by a few enthusiasts. Its a pity that the Camaro/Trans Am hasnt been so lucky.

FTEfan · 05-30-2001, 14:19

That's book. Your right about how close all those 'HERO' cars have come to being axed. All I can say is at least Ford now realise their earlier mistake.

Aussie Pete · 06-14-2001, 05:06

Another great book to read, especially if you are interested in the early Ford days ala Mustang etc.

Iacocca: An Autobiography, Lee Iacocca, 1984

There might be a couple of answers for the quiz in this book (hint hint)