7 of the best Ford cars ever made

What are the best Ford cars ever made?

Offering some of the very best cars on the market, Ford is very much about ticking all the boxes. From technical innovation to practicality, comfort and performance, Ford is the ultimate car company

As car manufacturers go, there are arguably few bigger than Ford. They are a company that have shaped the car industry today as we know it, and such is their strong reputation within the industry, our wide range of Ford lease deals are always a popular choice among motorists.

There is a good chance we’ve all driven, or spent a considerable amount of time in a Ford, but what are some of the best cars that they have ever produced?

With so many classics passing us by through the years, we’ve looked back through Ford’s illustrious history to pick out some of the best Ford cars ever made. 

Ford Model T 

Let’s start where it all began for the Ford Motor Company, with the Model T. First produced in the United States between 1908 and 1927, Ford built the Model T to be a car that was accessible to the mass American market. 

At this point, the car market was dominated by German inventor Karl Benz and they weren’t exactly accessible to most. During this time, the car market nowhere near as vast as it is in the modern day and the majority of cars produced by Benz were simply out of reach for the everyday driver. This is where the Ford Model T comes in – it was a car that was years in the making and, after finally launching in 1908, it was hugely popular. 

Each car was reportedly sold for a price of around $825, roughly double the average annual salary of an American at the time. For context, The Independent report that cars of this era would typically cost upwards of $2000, which highlights just why the Ford Model T was so popular, with its prices only going down, rather than up. 

History claim that 15 million Ford Model T cars were produced between 1913 and 1927 as Ford began to make a real name for itself as an affordable option for motorists. 

If you do know of anyone who is lucky enough to have an old Ford Model T in their garage - they could be sitting on a goldmine. They can fetch anything between £10,000 to £25,000 on the classic car market.

Ford GT40

The Ford GT40 is one of the most famous cars that the American manufacturer has ever produced, thanks to its historic achievement at Le Mans.

The GT40 became the first American car to win the race. Driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, the Ford GT40 Mk II won and starred at the 1966 Le Mans with a 1-2-3 finish, ending a run of five consecutive wins for Ferrari. A victory that was a sweet moment for Henry Ford after a brewing rivalry with Enzo Ferrari. A rivalry that some of you will have seen played out by Matt Damon and Christian Bale in the 2019 film, simply named Ford v Ferrari. 

Such was the success of the Ford GT40 and its 7.0-litre V8 engine, the car went on to win the next four Le Mans up until 1970, with former British Formula One driver Jackie Oliver racing during the 1969 win. Belgian driver Jacky Ickx, the second-most successful driver in Le Mans history, secured the first of his six wins in a Ford GT40.

Ford Escort

The Ford Escort has been synonymous with the modern-day Ford brand after launching in the late 1960s before eventually being discontinued in 2004.

What made the Ford Escort so special and sought after was its versatility. It was a car often hailed for being, well, whatever you needed it to be.

A family car? Tick. Your first run around car? Tick. It could do it all. 

Such was the popularity of the Ford Escort at the time, it was named as the best-selling vehicle in the United Kingdom throughout the 1980s, selling 1.6 million cars across the decade. It long held the record of being Britain’s best seller, before being overtaken by another from the Ford brand, the Ford Fiesta.

Ford Focus

When sales started to slow down with the Escort in the late 1990s, Ford introduced the Focus which rose to prominence and to this day, reigns supreme as a mainstay on British roads. 

Like those who have come before it, it is incredibly versatile. The Ford Focus can be the family car you need it to be or the turbocharged hot hatch for those wanting a bit more oomph. 

Now in its fourth generation, the Ford Focus is still going strong and remains a popular choice for Ford lease deals. 

Not only has the Ford Focus been a huge success on the road, but on the track as a sports car too, starring in various Rally Car and Touring Car series. 

Browse our special offers on Ford Focus lease deals

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang, in many people’s eyes is the best Ford car ever produced. So quintessentially American, it has power, muscle and holds such an iconic look.

It was designed by Ford to make high performance muscle cars slightly smaller and more affordable for younger drivers and that is exactly what it did.

They were so popular and relatively affordable, it created a whole new class that branched out of the term 'muscle cars', with the Ford Mustang creating the class of a 'pony car'. Yes, this is a car so good, it created its own class... which tells you everything. 

Glamourised in films such as James Bond and the Fast and Furious series, the Ford Mustang is a car that will resonate with the biggest of petrol heads, but it also stands out from the crowd among more casual car lovers.

The Ford Mustang first went on sale way back in 1965 and is now in its sixth generation of models. Ford only started producing UK-spec editions of the Mustang in 2015 and unsurprisingly they have proved to be extremely popular since crossing the pond. 

Browse our special offers on Ford Mustang lease deals

Ford Thunderbird 

A car that is named the ‘Thunderbird’ is always going to be cool, right? Well, we think so anyway. 

First introduced as a two-seater convertible in the early 1950s, it was designed to meet the growing demand for luxury cars.

Like the Ford Mustang, the Ford Thunderbird found fame on the big screen and was famously the car driven by Thelma and Louise. Throughout its peak years, the Thunderbird was often used in adverts and even on postage stamps, it was very much a car that enjoyed success off the road as well as on it. 

Ford Mustang Mach-E

It is still early days for the Ford Mustang Mach-E, but we’re including it here because of the potential impact that it could have on the manufacturer in the years to come.

As the world pushes for more economical driving, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is their first fully electric SUV and it could transform Ford into the next generation.

Setting their sights firmly on Tesla and their stranglehold on the world of EVs, the Ford Mustang Mach-E offers a rewarding drive, impressive mile range and a luxurious interior. 

Expectations are high with the Ford Mustang Mach-E and as such, Tesla have a right to be fearful. It has been dubbed as a rival for both the Tesla Model 3 and also the Tesla Model Y.

It is a Mustang by name but not as we know it. The Mach-E does share a few visual similarities with the traditional Ford Mustang, but this is a car that is built to perform for the next generation without the famous V8 engine. 

Will it be the best electric car that Ford ever produce? We can’t say that yet for sure. However, it could play a huge role in affecting how they produce EVs going forward. 

Browse our best offers on Ford Mustang Mach-E lease deals

We could go on forever and a day about some of the best cars that Ford have ever produced, because there are simply so many. 

Many cars haven’t quite made our list, but are worthy mentions none the less, so below, we have provided an overview of some of our favourites, including those that we didn’t quite touch on either. 

It speaks of the quality and popularity of the Ford brand over the years that we have been so inundated with options to choose from. As the Ford Mustang Mach-E has shown, they’re not done innovating and will continue to be a big player in the years to come. 

Some of the best cars Ford have ever made

• Ford Model T
• Ford GT
• Ford Escort
• Ford GT40
• Ford Shelby
• Ford Lincoln Continental
• Ford Focus
• Ford Mustang
• Ford Thunderbird
• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Ford Cortina
• Ford Sierra