Ford stops UK production

[Graham]

Today the last Ford car comes off the producton line in the U.K.

Ford have ceased all car production in the UK (Ford cars that is), with the transfer of Fiesta production From Dagenham to Germany, this ends a story that started in 1931.

The dagenham factory will now make diesel engines (yuk).

Ford will continue to make other vehicles, trucks, and the non-Ford Ford lines like Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin? etc.


G

[RustyGT]

No more Sh*tty Cortinas, Escorts, et al, to torture the worlds motorists! Hooray!

Graham, while I sympathsise with the job cuts etc, that closing a plant like that will cause.
Dagenham [And Ford UK] turned out some the worst cars, in the history of the Auto industry.

This is not a flame job!

Actually, you would not bother putting a flame job on a 'pommi ford!'

I gather here as evidence:
Anglia, [owned one]
Cortina, 60's ok, 70's dreadful, 80's dont ask
Escort, How did they sell it on that reputation for so long?

Probably others, I dont know, But Ford Aust gave up bringing them here after early 80's, they were the nastiest pieces of rubbish, you could buy.

And that's saying something, cos Ford Aust was good at building "Good Cars" cheaper and nastier.

Still got the key from my '62 105E Anglia, kept it because it says, Dagenham England.

Reminds us colonials of home. Long grey days, coal strikes, cars that wont start. LOL! ChrsR.

Wonder what'll happen to Jaguar now that Ford is involved. And Volvo.

My prediction: These cars will evolve into Fiesta/Taurus/Cortina/Ikon/Escort quality in next 3-5 years.

[RustyGT]

Jag's build quality could only improve under Ford.

Those who know 'Joe Lucas' the "Prince of Darkness" will understand.
70's 80's Jags, Triumphs, Rovers, Land Rovers, et al were absolute heart breakers.

Useful concept, confused engineering, dreadful build quality.

But now the best race engineering is to be found in England.

F1 is the UK.

And the late Jags are horn!

R.

[Gibbo]

Nought wrong with an Escort.
Great cars to have fun in
'specially on the country roads

[Cruez]

They are stopping Escorts production everywhere....and a few other models as well..

Jag's build quality could only improve under Ford.

Are you saying Jaguar quality is atrocius or that Ford quality is excellent?

My impression is that Ford/GM/Chrysler cars are much lower quality than say Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infinity, Suzuki, Isuzu, .......

I'd say these big 3 make cars about as good as Kia/Daewoo/Hyundai if that.

One indicator is the resale value of these cars and another is the selling price/discounts. An Acura, for example has a 3 month waiting period while the big 3 are offering discounts and incentives.

This is my impression and I may be mistaken.

[caddmannq]

The Focus has taken over for the Escort here. Best move Ford has made recently.

As for Brit cars in general, my '64 MG had Lucas electricals. Need I say more?

The only other Brit car I ever rode in was a mid-60's Consul, which seemed like a very solid little car. Solid like a brick, and accelerated just as well as a brick too. Might have been nice with a 302 stuffed in it

[Toadman]

Ford may have stopped UK production, but yesterday announced they will put the GT40 concept supercar into production. Here.

[Jonty]

Well said Gibbo! Nothing wrong with Escorts, especially the MkII. Escorts were (are?) made in Halewood, Liverpool.

At least Ford are still going to make something at Dagenham even if it's only engines and spare parts. That's where most of the money is made - spare parts, not just cars either.

No disrespect but during the 60's and probably 70's Ford's from Dagenham were known as 'Dagenham Dustbins'.

I have always found Ford cars to be good.