This Month In Ford's History

March 1911 - Ford Motor Company (England) Limited incorporated March 1945 - Fordson Major tractor goes into production at Dagenha March 1957 - Launch of Thames Trader truck range March 1960 - Jim Clark driving a Lotus-Ford wins a 10 lap Formula Junior race at Goodwood, the first victory for the Cosworth-modified Ford Anglia 105E engine March 1965 - Launch of the Ford D-Series truck range March 1975 - Launch of the Escort MkII van March 1978 - Launch of the Fiesta van range - Launch of the Capri MkIII March 1979 - Fiesta 'Million' special edition produced at Dagenham March 1988 - Alex Trotman becomes Chairman, Ford of Europe March 1993 - Debut of the new Ford Mondeo March 1911 - Ford Motor Company (England) incorporated

Sales of American-built Fords began in Britain in 1904 with sales of the legendary Model T starting in 1908. Ford established the Ford Motor Company (England) business at Trafford Park in Manchester in 1911 to assemble Model T cars and commercial vehicles. Modern assembly innovations there eventually included the use of a moving assembly line years before this was copied by any other British rival.

Although the Model T's four-cylinder engine was severely penalised by British motor taxation rules, the "Tin Lizzie", as it was affectionately called, still offered remarkable value and soon became Britain's best-selling motor car. It held that title until the mid-1920s. Between 1911 and 1927, no fewer than 301,980 Model Ts were assembled at Trafford Park.