Even Ford lovers agree: not all Fords are built equal, but all are Built Ford Tough. So, what separates the tried-and-true classics from the everyday Fords? Well, a few things actually. The cars that are on this list hit have a few reasons why. Some are historically significant; some have stood the test of time. Then there’s the classics, like pony cars, luxury cars, and cars that tried something new. Then there’s the ones that are the most memorable for several different reasons.
10. Ford Crown Victoria (1992-2012):
The Crown Vic might not be at the top of Ford’s most impressive car, but it’s among the most memorable. Powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine, this full-size sedan was famous in the ‘90s as a police car. If you haven’t seen one of these Fords cruising behind you in the rear-view mirror, you’ll almost certainly recognize them from movies. In 2012, the Crown Vic stepped down to make way for new Ford Police Interceptors based on the Taurus sedan and Explorer SUV.
9. Ford SkyRanger (1991): Yes, there was a convertible Ford pickup Ford. No, this wasn’t a fever dream. Ford is known for its pickup trucks and the 1991 SkyRanger might just be one of the rarest Ford trucks out there. The SkyRanger wasn’t actually built by Ford: it was a third-party conversion, and only 17 were ever produced. The SkyRanger was the result of Ford’s engineers coming up with new truck concepts, but it kept a lot of what made Ford a giant in the pickup world. The truck is based on an early 1990’s Ford Ranger with a convertible soft top and was powered by a 4-liter V6 engine that generated a respectable 115 hp. The SkyRanger was a uniquely cool pickup truck. But good luck getting your hands on one.
8. Ford Fiesta Mk1 (1977-1980):
Ford has sold more than 16 million Fiestas since the first debuted in the 1970’s. Most of those were on the road across Europe. Ford only sold the first and sixth generations in North America and that’s what makes the Mk1 Fiesta such a special Ford. Although Ford stopped selling it in the US due to the increasing popularity of bigger Fords like the F-Series pickup and the Bronco, the Fiesta had respectable performance specs, with a zero to 60 time as short as 9.5 seconds in some trims.
7. Ford Courier (1972-2007):
Ford didn’t have a player in the compact truck game until the Courier. The little truck Ford introduced in 1972 wasn’t the first Ford to be called the Courier...that was a sedan delivery vehicle marketed in the late ‘50s. But the Courier pickup had a longer lifespan, moving along in different parts of the world from 1972 all the way to 2007, when bigger trucks became the trend.
6. Ford Bronco (1966-1996):
The Ford Bronco was the first Ford SUV and only lost popularity because of a HUGE car chase. Anyone have any guesses? SUVs are the norm in today’s industry, and they all have the original Ford Bronco to thank for it. Developed in 1966 as an answer to the first civilian Jeep, the Bronco was built on a boxy chassis that helped define SUV styling. The fifth-generation Bronco was discontinued in 1996, not long after O.J. Simpson’s infamous police chase. The Bronco was brough back in 2021 with rave reviews and has been a fast seller on its revamp.
5. Ford Mustang (1965-present):
The Godfather of Pony cars. The OG. You can’t have a list of classic Ford vehicles and not name the Ford Mustang. It’s a popular car didn't just outsell its greatest expectations; it created a whole new class of car. The original 1965 Mustang was the first pony car: a compact, affordable performance-oriented coupe in answer to mid-century America’s obsession with high-powered muscle cars.
It made Car and Driver’s Editor’s Choice list for the last six years running (and the 10 Best Cars list in 2019!).
4. Ford Ranchero (1957-1979):
The Ford Ranchero was a coupe somewhere between a station wagon and a pickup truck. The Ranchero looked a lot like the Thunderbird sedan, but behind the cab was a cargo bed. Marketed mostly to the Southwest, the Ranchero was the ride for your modern-day cowboy; it sold well enough to inspire a competitor in the Chevrolet El Camino.
3. The Ford Thunderbird (1955-1997):
The GT40 was a performance star, the ‘65 Mustang was the original pony car, the OG Bronco had reigns on the SUV market early on. The Thunderbird, developed as a competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette, was an idea which was also a fashion accessory, status symbol, and an extension of all of the things that being an American encompassed. The successful introduction gave reigns to the concept of a personal luxury car.
2. Ford F-Series (1949-present):
If automotive greatness was based on sales alone, this would be the very clear winner. The Ford F series truck has been the country’s best-selling vehicle for the last 40 years. Power and affordability is what makes the F series truck ever so popular. Currently in its fourteenth generation, the F-Series now includes the fully-electric F-150 Lightning and the off-road-ready Tremor—but the second generation’s F-100 truck remains one of the best old Ford trucks of all time.
1. Ford Model T (1908):
Of course, no other vehicle could top our list of the greatest old Ford cars because this is the one that started it all. Until Henry Ford’s assembly line turned out the first Model T, cars were an unreliable, inaccessible luxury of the rich. But all that changed when Ford started making the affordable and much more practical vehicle. In a short amount of time, cars were a part of daily life for everyone. The Model T didn’t just create a the current auto industry capable of putting every American in a car. It’s still one of the top 10 best-selling cars of all time.
