Vintage Ford

Ford Around the World in the 1940s is a fascinating documentary showing the Ford factories around the world. 100 minutes of great footage on this double DVD. A must for any Ford enthusiast.

This film is a first hand look at making the 1935 and 1936 Fords. Henry Ford discusses prospects for 1935 V-8 sales while top men Charles Sorensen and Peter Martin discuss production, and Chief Engineer Lawrence Sheldrick explains new chassis improvements. Ride along as Ford engineers road test cars on the back lots of the Rouge plant. Be there with Henry and Edsel Ford as they watch their 2-millionth V-8 come off the line. Then Henry and Edsel drive the first '36 Ford off the line, and stroll through the engineering lab.

At the peak of Model A production, Ford had assembly plants in many countries around the world in operations that were the same as the U.S. This enlightening film gives you an up-close look at the brand new Yokohama Ford plant built near Tokyo, Japan in 1931. Take a tour of the modern facilities and operations including car and truck assembly, from engine and chassis build-up to painting bodies. Fascinating close-ups include body buffing, striping, and upholstering.

A fascinating edit of The Rouge, narrated by Lowell Thomas, shows how raw materials were miraculously transformed into finished 1937-39 trucks at Ford's colossal plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Follow the progress of parts from molten steel to engine blocks, stamped wheels, frames, and other parts. See bodies built and painted, cars assembled, and then completed vehicles shipped to dealers. You'll see rare film showing Edsel Ford as he welcomes his dealers to Detroit for the presentation of the new '37 models. Later, Henry and Edsel introduce the cars and the new economy 60hp V-8 at a press preview.

For many Americans in the early days of motoring, Henry Ford's amazing Model T was the first car they had every seen, ridden in, driven or owned. Each generation has had its own love affair with Ford cars-from the legendary Model A to the fast and famous "flathead" V-8s and all the beautiful Fords, Lincolns, Mercurys, Thunderbirds. . . the incomparable Mustangs. . . and so many other great models. Along the way they have been the family joy, polished, paraded, raced, hot-rodded, customized and collected.

The experts said it couldn't be done but Henry Ford would build the auto industry's first low-price V-8 engine. Then he gave the job of designing it to his talented son Edsel. The result was a masterpiece of speed and beauty-a car that would become one of the most enduring American automobile legends of all time. With edits from the Ford film Source of the Ford Car, the story includes all the trials and tribulations of creating the car. The difficult work casting the first engine blocks in one piece, tooling up for manufacture, and how producing the new cars nearly broke the company is clearly detailed.