Old Ford pics

[gasman826]

I've done the Ford and the Rouge Plant Tour several times.  Very enjoyable and well worth the effort!

[rmk57]

I always wanted to see the quarter panel stamping process on something like a 1958 Lincoln. It would be interesting to see how many steps it would take to get it to a finished piece.

[gasman826]

The first time on the Rouge Plant tour, I was a little disappointed because I had preconceived ideas of blast furnaces and the bowls of the Rouge from the '50s.  The tour is really good and worth the time and money but it is the modern F-series assembly plant part of the Rouge.  It is accessible, clean, and at your own pace above the assembly floor.  I've spent the morning at the Rouge, catch a shuttle back to the Ford for lunch and then wander around the Ford and/or Greenfield Village with the proving ground right next door.

[FiveSevenLiter]

I was surprised when I toured the Rouge how all the staff was wearing street clothes, no coveralls or uniforms.
Touring the Kenworth factory they told us that if they had a 100 truck order of identical trucks they would always put a few odd ones in between so the assemblers did not get complacent.
I also missed the blast furnaces and the monster presses, I expected noise, smell, chest thumping, floor shaking excitment.
T

[jviera]

gasman, I also found the Model T plant on Piquette Ave. to be inspiring, there is something about being in that place, you can feel the history that went on there, and it's mostly all original, like Henry's office and desk plus everything else. A must see if in that area for a Ford fan. JViera 

[CobraJoe]

Freddie Meier team car to South FL driver Marty Handshaw - 1958

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[CobraJoe]

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[rmk57]

  What's the story on the Mustang? Looks a little customized.

[CobraJoe]

  What's the story on the Mustang? Looks a little customized.

July 1968 - Al Grillo (left) poses with Playmate, Michelle Hamilton and Ed Casey, Shelby's regional representative. Grillo was always well dressed and rarely wore the same clothes twice. He often chomped on a big cigar, but rarely smoked.

Grillo Ford was located at 220 South Common Street in Lynn, Massachusetts. It's hard to believe that Grillo was in business for less than two years. Grillo purchased Nel-Nick Motors in early 1967. The dealership was always full of high performance vehicles. They sold 427 Cobra roadsters, a street GT40 and dozens of Shelbys. A handful of Shelbys were sold during the summer of 1967. They also did some customization work. It was rumored they would build anything for anyone. Several of Grillo's custom jobs found their way to North Carolina, reportedly to be used by "moonshiners".

[CobraJoe]

Carroll Shelby, Grillo and Casey pose for a picture beside a new 1968 Shelby. Grillo was the consumate salesman. He was very well read and liked to strike up a conversation.

In 1969, the dealership was closed by Ford. Grillo owed the Ford Motor Company a considerable sum of money. Records indicate Grillo never sold a single 1969 Shelby. Most of Grillo's stock was transfered to Lynn Ford and the assets of the business were sold to Yaz Ford. Yaz Ford was owned by Boston Red Sox baseball player, Carl Yastrzemski. The remaining cars in inventory were transfered to other dealerships

[CobraJoe]

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