With such history behind the name, Ford Motor Company has been around since the early 1900s. After its introduction, Henry Ford and his team quickly grew to be extremely successful. In 1913, he introduced the moving assembly line into auto production, which is still widely used in today manufacturing facilities. Fast forward to today, with a large lineup of vehicles, Ford vehicles are cruising down the street on every street block corner. With such a large volume of vehicles on the road, it’s important to make sure that you make your Ford vehicle unique to you by picking up some Ford auto parts from CJ Pony Parts!

Ford Motor Company : The Beginning

Dating all the way back to 1896, Henry Ford built what he called the “Quadricycle.” Ford’s first vehicle moved under its own power using a four-horsepower engine and four bicycle wheels. The gearbox only had two forward gears, no reverse gears and was steered using a tiller. By 1901, Henry Ford defeated the top racecar driver of that era when he designed a 26 horsepower vehicle, the “999,” defeating Harry Harness’ 70 horsepower Mercedes around a one-mile oval track. This was the victory that ultimately led to what we know today as The Ford Motor Company.

By 1913, Henry Ford had introduced the integrated moving assembly line into auto production. By introducing this unheard of manufacturing process, Ford had reduced the build time for the Model T’s chassis from 12-1/2 hours to just 1-1/2 hours. This allowed Ford Motor Company to lower the price of the Model T and produce cars faster than ever before.

Ford Through the Post-War Decades

After two decades filled with both war and economic despair, the 1950s were somewhat of a Renaissance for the automotive industry, and the Ford Motor Company was at the forefront of it all. Once the Baby Boomer Generation became of age, a whole slew of new customers began to seek out their first cars.

While the 1950s ushered in a time of peace and stability in the United States, the Ford Motor Company experienced plenty of peaks and valleys during the decade. In mid 1950s, Ford introduced the Thunderbird, which became a household name among personal luxury cars. The Ford Thunderbird enjoyed four decades of production, followed by a brief rebirth soon after the turn of the century. Though it completed the ‘50s with over 12.2 million dollars in sales, Ford finished over one million dollars behind first-place Chevrolet during the 10-year period.

Much of Ford’s decline in sales towards the latter half of the decade was due to the failed Ford Edsel project. Named after founder, Henry Ford’s son, the Edsel disappeared only three years after its introduction. Despite being in production for only three years, the Ford Motor Company lost $250 million on developing and marketing the Edsel. Though the Edsel was a tremendous financial burden and embarrassment for Ford, its failure laid the foundation for perhaps the company’s greatest achievement a decade later.

The Birth of the Mustang

On April 17, 1964, Ford became a leader in the field of muscle cars, when company executive, Lee Iacocca introduced the Ford Mustang at the World’s Fair in New York City. The Ford Mustang was met with universal acclaim, it became a pop culture icon soon after. Between 1965 and 1967, Ford unloaded over 1.6 million Mustangs. The three-year stretch marked the first, second, and third most unit totals sold in a single year.

The 1960s made up the bulk of what is known as the Ford Mustang’s First Generation. Though 1965-1967 were considered the peak years, Ford sold at least 300,000 Mustangs in each of the final two years of the decade. First Generation Mustangs, particularly pony cars from the mid-1960s, are looked upon as treasured classics, and CJ’s strives to provide quality Ford parts for First Generation enthusiasts in the present day.

The Struggling Seventies

Following a brief period of stability, the 1970s represented a tumultuous time not only for the Ford Mustang, but for the automotive industry as a whole. The political structure began to tighten emission standards, which would reduce engine efficiency and increase fuel usage at the same time. All of the sudden, the thrills of owning a muscle car with a large engine began to fade away. Horsepower and torque numbers began to dip, and the Ford Mustang brand suffered as a result.

Ford attempted to capitalize off of the Mustang’s popularity, by introducing the Ford Pinto in 1970. Unlike the Mustang, the Pinto was actually named after a horse, and the subcompact car lasted through 10 years of production. After selling 100,000 units in its first year, the Pinto became the subject of safety concerns and large-scale recalls towards the end of the 70s. The year 1980 would mark the end of the Ford Pinto’s 10-year production run.

The 1970s was the only decade to feature three of the Mustang’s six generations. After slipping below 150,000 units sold in each the final two years of the First Generation, Ford began to make some changes in the latter part of 1973. Following a successful run of what is now known as the First Generation, the Mustang entered the Mustang II era, also known as the Second Generation, in 1974.The Second Generation Mustang was met with mixed reviews.

Though the Mustang II won Motor Trend’s coveted Car of the Year award in 1974, the Second Generation could not overcome the emission standards that weighed down the automotive industry in the ‘70s. After unloading 386,000 ponies in ’74, Ford would not sell more than 200,000 units until the Fox Body Generation’s genesis in 1979.

An Eighties Bounce Back

As it has done so often in the past, Ford bounced back once again in the 1980s. In addition to forming lucrative partnerships with other car companies, Ford once more changed the game in the industry by launching the widely-successful Ford Taurus. The aerodynamic sedan hit its peak popularity in the 1990s, and eventually evolved into a full-size car in 2008. The Ford Taurus represented a milestone for Ford and the auto industry as a whole, and its design influenced a number of future American cars.

The Ford Mustang enjoyed 10 of its 14-year run of the Fox Body Generation during the 1980s. After its initial boom in 1979, Ford eclipsed 200,000 units sold four times over the next 10 years. In 1987, the Ford Mustang underwent its final redesign of the Fox Body era, which included a complete overhaul of the exterior and the engine bay. Consumers adapted well to the change, as Ford saw a one-year jump from 170,000 to 211,225 units sold between 1987-1988.

The Roaring Nineties

Ford took advantage of the booming economy in the 1990s, by forging new partnerships and immensely expanding its product line. In 1990, Ford introduced the Ford Explorer, thus thrusting the automotive giant into the field of domestic SUVs. The full-size sport utility vehicle became a popular substitute for family sedans, while also appealing to off-roading enthusiasts. The Explorer became permanent staple in Ford’s product line, and eventually replaced the Ford Bronco, which ended production in 1996.With the introduction of so many new models came the need for an ever wider-assortment of Ford parts, and CJ's adjusted to accommodate to the growing market.

The 1990s also saw the Ford Taurus build off of its strong debut in the previous decade. After receiving a face lift in the early ‘90s, the Taurus became the best-selling vehicle in the United States throughout its entire Second Generation (1992-1995). The popularity of the Ford Taurus never subsided, and the popular Ford car enjoyed several makeovers, including an innovative facelift in 2013.

The Ford Mustang entered its Fourth Generation in 1994, which brought a host of welcomed-changes for muscle car fans. Billed as the ‘SN-95’, the Fourth Generation Mustang, presented a complete body redesign, as well as a more complex interior. In addition to reintroducing the Mustang convertible, the SN-95 featured two choices of engines, as well as five-lug bolt patterns for the wheels. SN-9Ss, particularity the Cobras, still maintain a large fan-base to this day, and CJ's has all of the Ford parts that you need to help your Fourth Generation pony stand the test of time.

The New Millennium and Beyond

The Ford Motor Company had plenty of reasons to rejoice at the turn of the century. In the year 2000, Ford sold roughly 215,000 Mustangs, marking the first time that it broke the 200,000 threshold since 1989. Over the next 15 years, Ford ushered in the Fifth and the Sixth Mustang generations, which included the stunning ‘S197’ body design beginning in 2005.

With monumental breakthroughs such as the TPMS, the IRS system, LED lighting components, and the EcoBoost engine, the Mustang has marched on through the 21st century, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014. Shortly after the 50th anniversary celebration, Ford unveiled the Sixth Generation Mustang, known as the S550 to wide-acclaim. The Sixth Generation 'Stang featured a host of welcomed-changes, including a wider body, a higher passenger volume, and of course, the expansion of the 2.3L EcoBoost engine.

Speaking of the EcoBoost engine, the revolutionary turbo-charged, direct-injection engine became a prominent fixture in select Ford cars beginning in 2009. The EcoBoost technology helped pave the way for the Ford Focus RS, ST, and Fiesta to become popular performance-oriented vehicles for autocross enthusiasts and thrill-seekers that enjoy an extra dose of turbo.

The 2000s also saw the F-150 continue its reign atop the pickup truck universe. The F-150 won three of its four Motor Trend Truck of the Year awards between 2004 and 2012, and continues to be the best-selling pickup truck in North America today. The F-150 has been around for over 40 years, but the powerful pickup became leaner than ever before in 2013, when the truck transitioned into its unprecedented 13th Generation.

Not to be outdone, the Ford Special Vehicle Team saved its finest achievement for last, with the introduction of the SVT Ford Raptor in 2009. The Ford Raptor boasted the rare combination of speed and power, and proved to be a popular model for active off-roaders and thrill seekers alike. The performance-oriented pickup exploded in popularity between 2009-2014, and enjoyed a widely-successful reintroduction in 2017.

The High Demand For OEM Ford Parts

Though the automotive industry has seen numerous technological advancements over the years, many Ford Mustang owners have never abandoned their classic trucks or pony cars. Though the popularity of the First Generation Mustangs has never wavered, the demand for OEM Ford parts has only increased over the years. Many Mustang owners go to great lengths to seek out stockl Ford parts that will help their classic muscle cars return to their original state. These OEM Ford parts can help Mustang enthusiasts recapture the memories that they have from all of those years ago when they drove their Ford Mustangs off of the lot for the first time! Additionally, since these Ford parts are crafted from OEM materials, they will directly-replace any outdated components in the correct-factory location in no-time!

Choose From A Variety Of Ford Auto Parts

Ford Mustang's are not the only vehicles getting attention in the aftermarket. The Focus ST, Fiesta ST, F150, classic F100 trucks and Broncos are all popular among car enthusiasts, and many Ford fans are eager to get their hands on as many aftermarket Ford parts as they can find.

Since 1985, CJ Pony Parts has helped guide Mustang owners through their restoration projects, by supplying quality OEM Ford Parts, and we would love to do the same for your old Bronco, F-100, and other classic Ford vehicles. If you are thinking about rebuilding your Ford car or truck, all of the little pieces matter, and it is important for you to locate as many OEM Ford parts that you can. CJ’s carries a wide assortment of aftermarket Ford replacement parts from a variety of well-respected vendors. In addition to factory-style Ford parts, CJ's also offers a number of hardware options that will replace your original hardware pieces, and help you keep your new components in place for many years to come.

The Ford OEM parts from CJ’s will provide noticeable improvements in both appearance and performance, so you will be ready to tackle any driving condition that the road brings your way! Whether you are rebuilding a classic Mustang, F-100, or Bronco, or if you are looking for the latest bells and whistles for your Focus ST, Fiesta ST, or Ford Raptor, we have all of the Ford parts that you need to accomplish your automotive goals. So what are you waiting for? Check out our vast selection of OEM Ford parts, aftermarket Ford parts, and Ford truck parts today!