1985 Ford Motor Company Model Lineup Updates

1985-FOMOCO2

Looking at Ford Motor Company for 1985, we find this was a much different operation than the one that gave us all those bluff-bowed, characterless creations of just a few years prior. Lean, modern, and intensely conscious of quality, Ford replaced its middle-of-the-road product philosophies with a daring bid to take the lead in design among North American manufacturers. This was reflected in the exterior of the company’s new cars of the early to mid 80’s, with a commitment to the future-think aero look that could be attributed, in large measure, to the steady influx of talent cycling through Ford’s highly successful European operations. And it was reflected in the increasing emphasis on good handling and overall performance, which may be traced to Ford’s growing pool of Bob Bondurant graduates in upper management. While Chrysler’s dramatic retreat from the brink of extinction dominated the attention over the previous four years, Ford’s reorganization and redirection during the same period was just a blink or two short of revolutionary.

1985-FOMOCO6

FoMoCo joined the video rangers with the Lincoln Continental Mark VII Comtech limited-edition coupe. The trip computer and heater/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) controls have been replaced with a touch sensor screen. The video display can call up pages from the owner’s manual in addition to the computer and HVAC functions. Also included is a yoke-style control pod attached to the steering column that replaces the light, wiper/washer, and defroster contols normally located on the dash.