Ford Day. I couldn’t believe my ears when a friend who’s in the automotive media invited me to Ford Day. Actually, it wasn’t much of an invite but I needed a ride and that was my payment – attending the Ford event. It’s hard to imagine myself in such an event since I couldn’t tell one car model from another if it weren’t for those tiny metallic signs at the back of the car. But my friend was determined that I finally learn about cars. Poor me…
Actually, he didn’t have to drag me kicking, screaming, and clawing. I went willingly. It was high time that I take action against my “car ignorance.” I needed to augment my basic knowledge of cars as a metallic carcass with four wheels, windows, and an engine. Besides, I consoled myself; it would be an educational experience.
I didn’t know until that fateful day that those boxy cars driven by gangsters like in the movie, Road to Perdition, were Ford classic models. These cars are perfect for them — box shape, elevated, small windows, thick metal chassis and enough space to carry extra ‘security paraphernalia’ just-in-case. Just watch the climax of Road to Perdition where **warning spoiler ** Tom Hanks, armed to the teeth like Rambo, single-handedly took all of the mob boss Paul Newman’s bodyguards. Only Paul Newman escaped the rain of bullets by hiding in the car. Weren’t the police cars of this era of similar type? Watch Dick Tracy. Even the notorious legendary criminal romeo-and-juliet, Bonnie and Clyde, made some of their getaways in a 1932 Ford Vicky B400 model. The 1934 Ford Fordor Deluxe Sedan has been immortalized in history as the last car the couple was in.
So, imagine my delight, during Ford Day, when these types of cars rolled in for display – actual legacies from the Depression (pseudo-violent) era. I remember calling them ‘cute’ and got dagger looks from car affecionados. Well, I do still find them cute…
After the ‘gangster type’ cars, glided in the Thunderbird and Mustangs. Of course, I just had to have my picture taken with one of them. I remember movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood where the bad boy image reigned supreme. James Dean’s movie, Rebel Without a Cause, was the battle cry of the youth. Visions of these rebellious rogues float in my mind – the mysterious brooding James Dean in his infamous 1955 Porsche Spyder, the wicked devil-may-care smile on Elvis while driving his 1956 purple Cadillac convertible, and bad-boy John Travolta in a convertible hitting on good-girl Olivia Newton-John in the drive-in movie theater. Top-down or convertible defined cool. Cars were no longer purely functional but have become somewhat ‘personal.’ Car customization is what network gaming is to us today.
Every guy dreamt of owning a convertible. While the Porsche and the Cadillac are destined for the Hollywood gods, the Ford Thunderbird and Mustang are for the lesser mortals. One proud owner of the Mustang in the Ford Day said, “When I was a boy, I dreamt of owning a Mustang. Now, I have one. I’m living my dream. ”
Classy, stylish, and elegant 2-door sedan models entered after the flashy vehicles. Remember the Ford Escort? Prince Charles’ engagement present to Diana? Ahhh… That car… The silver 1981 Ford Escort Ghia… This era saw the rise and domination of MTV among the youth. Musicians/Singers were the new silver screen royalty. “Baby, you can drive my car… beep beep’m beep beep yeah…” belted out The Beatles along with their millions of Beatle-mania fans. Each Beatle had his own “car” love – Paul McCartney had the Lamborghini 400GT 2+2, John Lennon loved his 1956 Bentley, George Harrison publicly posed with his famous Ford Roadster, and Ringo Starr zoomed around in his Radford Mini.
After this age, it was now all about how cars fit into one’s lifestyle. Choices. Diversity. Individuality. These are the key words of today. “How does the car suit me?” asks the everyday man. For the sport buffs who want style and the image, there’s the Ford Escape. The sensible practical guy always has the Ford Lynx to choose. There’s the Ford Expedition as family car. The ma-porma yuppie can drive the Ford F-150. These are the new additions to the Ford family.
Strolling past the gleaming lovingly cared Ford vehicles from the past to the present models, I saw how a Ford stood proudly in every decade. A Ford for every generation. A Ford for everyone –from the gangsters to movie legends to music stars to royalty to the “common” man.
The Ford Day was a walk in history. It wasn’t just about the cars… it was about the people who owned the cars. It was about how culture defined the cars or was it the other way around? You be the judge.
By Tiffany Blanche Go | Photos by Jason Ang
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