The very first automotive produced by the Ford Motor Firm was the 1903 Mannequin A. 100 years later, Ford determined to construct some particular Centennial Version automobiles and vans. Ford buyers may get 5 Centennial Version fashions for 2003: the Taurus, Mustang, Explorer, F-250/F-350 and Focus. All have been painted black, the one coloration obtainable for the 1914-1925 Mannequin T. I have been trying to find a Centennial Version Ford over a few years of junkyard exploration and eventually discovered this Focus in a Denver-area yard.
Some junkyard customer earlier than me pried off the particular fender and decklid badges, however the “two-tone signature Centennial Leather-based” seats have been nonetheless there.
Sadly, the particular Centennial Version key chain, hardcover version of “The Ford Century” e book, wristwatch and letter from Invoice Ford weren’t contained in the automotive.
This Junkyard Gem is in tough form, so here is what it appeared like within the gross sales brochure. The one earlier Focus on this collection was an ’02 Mach Audio, so we have been overdue.
Whereas the Centennial Version Mustang was obtainable in both coupe or convertible type, all of the Centennial Version Foci have been ZTS sedans.
4,000 every of the Centennial Version Taurus and Explorer have been constructed, with solely 3,000 apiece for the Focus, Mustang and F-Collection.
100 years is kind of a milestone for a automotive firm, however loads of special-edition automobiles for different manufacturing anniversaries have been constructed and I’ve documented a lot of them in automotive graveyards. There’s the fiftieth Anniversary Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight (commemorating a half-century of the 88 mannequin), the XC Version Oldsmobile Ciera (commemorating 90 years of Oldsmobile), the fortieth Anniversary Pontiac Grand Prix, the thirtieth Anniversary Pontiac Grand Am, the tenth Anniversary Black Pink Version Datsun 280ZX, the fiftieth Anniversary Nissan 300ZX (commemorating 50 years of Nissan), the twenty fifth Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro, the thirtieth Anniversary Mercury Cougar and plenty of extra. It is too dangerous Studebaker is not round anymore, as a result of 2040 would be the three hundredth anniversary of the primary horse-drawn wagon constructed by Peter Stutenbecker within the British Province of Maryland.
This being a ZTS, the top-grade 2003 Focus sedan obtainable in the USA, it has the 130-horsepower DOHC Zetec engine.
Its 1903 predecessor had a clutchless two-speed planetary transmission to go along with its two-cylinder pushrod boxer engine, however this automotive has a extra trendy five-speed guide.
The Focus remained in American Ford showrooms by means of 2018, then obtained the axe as a result of “silhouettes are altering.” You possibly can nonetheless purchase a brand new Focus elsewhere on the planet, although; it is constructed on the identical platform as the present Maverick.
When some hooptie early-Nineteen Eighties GM sedan tries to spray your new black Focus with no-doubt-contaminated washer fluid, you realize what to do.
