This film from 1980 takes a look at Ford’s attempt (beginning in 1974) to produce an economical “world war” — a car that can be sold in both Europe and North America. The model vehicle unveiled at the start of the film is the Ford “Escort” and Mercury “Lynx”.
The film opens with headlights moving down a foggy highway (:16). A Ford Escort takes slow smooth bends on the road (:53) and moves through flooded roads with ease. This film will show the automobile company, Ford and how they sought to create a car which would appeal to consumers across the globe (1:01). The Ford Test Track in Michigan is visited by American and Canadian reporters (1:33). Notable racecar driver, Jackie Stewart is mentioned on a sign above “Fuel Economy Gran Prix” (1:46). Test drivers and reporters sit within the front seat of the 1980’s Ford Escort (1:54). Civilians and pedestrians move throughout the grounds of the car show (2:00). Images follow of Ford’s product development building (2:14). During the 1980’s a fuel shortage began which added an extra challenge to vehicle manufacturers as mileage became key. The Ford Design Center is pointed to (2:57). Designers are seen hard at work within the building (3:37). The Fiesta is depicted as having been one of the most successful cars to hit the European market (3:52). The Cyber 176 is a massive time-sharing computer system (4:51). Ford used technologies discovered during the NASA era for their own purposes. Ford’s top executives meet over a ‘worldwide engine’ (5:50). In the late 1970’s a Dearborn Mission Plant was gutted and rebuilt (7:10). The outer expanse of this building follows (7:18). Ford was beginning to seek new methods to burn fuel (7:32). The engine block is zoomed in on to show where the valves fit in (8:14). ‘Erika’ was used as a code name for the World Car Project (9:26). Engineers work with fresh clay model car parts (9:48). Wind tunnel tests are conducted (11:39). On an older vehicle, the wider fin is noted (13:02). Road tests were conducted in the summer of 1980 (13:41). The Escort wins the test (13:59). The vehicles are then shown being test driven through the Arizona desert (14:16). Winter tests are conducted in Northern Finland (14:26). Even though the car was frozen overnight, the engines still manage to kick on when prompted in the morning (14:43). More testing was conducted at the Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium (16:43), the Dearborn in Michigan (16:47) and at Palm Beach, Florida (16:49). Ford top executives touch down from a passenger plane (16:52). They had arrived to inspect the progress of the Ford Escort (16:52). The famed racecar driver, Jackie Stewart (17:07) appears whom had later become one of Ford’s top advisors. Jackie test drives the Ford Escort (15:47). In May of 1980, the Dearborn and Bridgend became the most sufficient engine manufacturing systems in the world (20:06). The film turns to Atavia, Ohio (21:25) as Ford’s newest plant is viewed. In June of 1980, the assembly is seen in operation (21:38). The red Ford Mercury is seen (22:46). Test drivers step out from test runs (22:59). Vehicles move down the assembly line towards completion (24:49). The ‘World Car’ is then seen moving through a tunnel carved into a mountain (25:02). This film had been produced for the Ford Motor Company by MCA Corporate Films (25:17).
The Escort was produced from 1980 through 2003. The first generation was Ford’s first “world car”, designed as Ford of Europe transitioned the Escort Mk III to front-wheel drive. In North America, the model line was also sold as the Mercury Lynx and the two-seat Ford EXP/Mercury LN7. In the end the “world car” concept didn’t fully pan out. The only directly interchangeable elements were the CVH engine and the ATX automatic transmission. Although the cars looked similar, the North American version was larger in every dimension and in the end there were no interchangeable elements of the bodyshell.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
