MY father and I have the same birthday and we always celebrated it together. I remember that I had just turned seven in October 1969, when my dad got himself a birthday present—a new car. He was an absolute fanatic of automobiles and I saw how he always showered unconditional love upon the vehicles that he owned, but there was something different about this particular one, which also became my favorite among all the cars in our garage.
That night my dad asked me if I wanted to go for a ride in his new set of wheels. Without hesitation, I nodded my head. When we stepped out of the house, I was in awe. It was the first time that I ever laid my eyes on a sports car which, in this case, was a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback known as the “The Pony.”
I still remember the gleam in his eyes that seemed like those of a kid staring at his new toy. He sat me on his lap, put my hands on the steering wheel and allowed me to “drive” the car with him.
I can still recall it very clearly. We were going at what seemed like a high speed (I was only a little girl and didn’t know what “fast” really felt like) and I can still hear the red Mustang’s engine humming loudly under its hood. The sound developed from a purr into a roar as we made it to the open road. It was truly an unforgettable joyride!
“Do you want a car like this when you grow up?” my dad asked. I said, “Yes.” It was the only reply I could give as I had utterly fallen in love with the Pony.
“This is a very expensive and one-of-a-kind car, but if I get another one, I’ll give this to you on your 18th birthday,” he intimated. “Thank you, Papa,” I said, while rolling my eyes and wondering how I could ever possibly be worthy and capable of driving such a magnificent machine.
It was the first of many journeys we would take together over the next four years. One day, while my dad was cleaning the horse emblem on the front grille of the Mustang, which was parked outside the street, a drunk driver lost control of his car, hit my dad and pinned him against the radiator. The Mustang’s hood, front grille and headlights sustained extensive damage. Papa spent the next two weeks in the hospital where he was treated for his broken legs and other injuries. When he was released, he couldn’t walk for a month. I learned later on that he had sold the Mustang, which I never saw again. Although I was glad that my dad survived the accident, I was brokenhearted over the loss of the Pony and kept wondering if my dad would ever buy another one again.
Those memories all came back to me when I recently visited Detroit, Michigan, also known as the “Motor City.” Detroit wouldn’t be called the Motor City if not for the Ford Motor Co. which started it all in 1903. It was an uplifting experience to visit Ford’s Piquette Plant, the Ford River Rouge Complex or “The Rouge,” for short, and the Flat Rock Assembly Plant, formerly known as Ford’s Michigan Casting Center, which are all in Detroit.
The trip felt like I was sent back in time. The city simply reeked of history and lore.
Without a doubt, the story of Henry Ford is one of the most inspiring in the world of automobiles, which is why I was enthralled when I entered the main facility and watched all the videos about Ford’s chronicles from past to present. I had goose bumps when I touched the walls and stepped on the very same surface and planks of wood, which stand as silent witnesses to the hundreds of workers and thousands of cars that have gone through the place.
The Ford Piquette Plant is known as the birthplace of the Ford Model T, which was first built in 1908 and played the most critical role in accomplishing Henry Ford’s dream of making an affordable car for the common people. A surviving example of the vehicle, which was on display at the venue, looks ancient by today’s standards. Back in its day, however, the Model T was a revolutionary piece of engineering and proved to be of great value to many ordinary families. It was very affordable, lightweight, durable, easy to drive and repair, which is why it became the most popular car on the planet. It not only changed the norms of mobility, but it also set the trend for how we would live our lives today and in the future—something that many of us take for granted in this day and age. And it was conceived, developed and built right there—exactly where I was.
The Rouge, for one thing, is a must-see for everyone who is visiting Detroit, which is the center of America’s sheer manufacturing might. It is where the new military grade, aluminum-alloy bodied Ford F-150 is being built. I took a tour that included the Manufacturing Innovation Theater—a multisensory exploration of the assembling experience, from concept to highway filled with jaw-dropping special effects, from floating 3D laser projection mapping and high-energy audio to a breathtaking behind-the-wheel finale.
But, of course, the highlight of my visit was the home of my dad’s former sweetheart at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant, where Ponies are now being produced. I couldn’t help but drool and admire the beautiful Mustangs of today. The sixth-generation ‘Stangs’ are loaded with innovative technologies—delivering high levels of performance and style, but that’s another story worth telling at some other time.
Ford’s brilliance left a legacy that changed the motoring world and will always be the stuff that motoring legends are made of. The lives of generations of people all over the world have been touched by the products made by the company he founded.
My dad passed away in 2009. Although I can no longer celebrate my birthdays with him, he still lives on in my memories. He always loved to drive and he used to go out on the road until he couldn’t do it anymore. Now that I get to drive and test cars, which I count as one of the many blessings in life, I can only reminisce on how much my dad loved that Mustang. How I wish that he was still around so that I could share this story with him. I wish I could tell him how beautiful his favorite car has become, and how even more delightful it drives and sounds. How I wish that it was my turn to offer him a joyride.
As they say, memories linger long after a loved one is gone, which is why I will forever treasure the thoughts and flashbacks of my dad. For whatever it’s worth, I’d like to say, thank you, Henry, for the red Pony that brought happiness into our lives.
Image credits: Tet Andolong