RPO83

In the spirit of their founder who put the world on wheels, Ford Motor Company executives are fanning out this spring to 100 North American cities as part of Ford’s 100th anniversary celebration. Ford will visit Austin this weekend as one of the final tour stops before a national celebration next week at Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.
“Austin has been an important part of Ford Motor Company’s past and present, we believe that will continue into the future,” says Susan Pacheco, director of Mercury engineering programs. “There are many Ford fans with classic vehicles in Austin, that speaks a lot about our longstanding relationship. The people of Austin also helped establish Texas as Ford Truck Country. When the all-new 2004 F-150 goes on sale this summer, we believe this relationship will only get stronger.”

Pacheco will visit Austin June 6-7 to receive a 100-year Anniversary proclamation from Mayor Garcia on behalf of local Austin Ford dealers. Pacheco will then visit with customers and classic Ford vehicle owners to help celebrate Ford’s milestone. The backdrop of the visit will be a classic Model T and an all-new 2004 Ford F-150 – America’s best-selling truck – to demonstrate how Ford’s celebration honors the past while casting a light into the future.

“Ford is the number one truck brand in Austin, as well in the entire state of Texas – that’s why we call it Ford Truck Country,” says Greg Wood, Ford District Manager of South Texas. “This success is due to the strength of the Austin-area dealers who have been an integral part of the community.”

During this 100-city Centennial tour, Ford executives are taking part in community events and classic car shows and visiting Ford dealerships celebrating their own anniversaries of 90 years and up. In 15 cities, they are hosting a mobile centennial experience with historical and vehicle displays, including new Ford F-Series pickups and ride-and-drives in hand-made Model T replicas. In other cities, they are hooking up with Ford enthusiasts on a 3,000-mile cross-country rally with more than original Model Ts.

“These road trips are a fitting way to mark the 100th year of Ford, and they give us a chance to get out of Detroit to share our enthusiasm about our past and future,” said Pacheco.

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*Retired.