It was announced today that Ford has placed a freeze on 350 production jobs at its manufacturing plant in Oakville, Ontario. The Oakville plant, like so many of Ford’s North American production facilites, is responsible for the production of cast-iron components used in the Ford F-Series pick-up trucks, E-Series cargo vans, Expedition, and the Lincoln Navigator. As of today, the hold on Oakville is scheduled to last an indefinite length of time while Ford scrambles to save it’s rapidly sinking ship.

With Ford aggressively shifting focus to small-car production, and currently eyeball-deep in their “Way Forward” plan, someone had to see this coming down the pike. The plan, which was initially introduced in 2007 along with a posted $2.7 billion loss, was Ford’s preemptive

According to the story, this bitchin’ Barbie car began its life in 1931 as a Ford Model A. The first modification was made by its original owner for use as a farm tractor by replacing the rear half of the car with a pick-up truck bed. In the mid-50’s, the Model A received almost a total overhaul.

The Model A’s pick-up truck bed, engine, transmission, and dashboard were all replaced with parts from a 1952 Cadillac (thereby earning its new name of “Fordillac”). The headlights were free-formed from scrap metal and the taillights were created using 4-inch aluminum irrigation pipes frenched into the trunk - lenses for both were from a Mercury Comet (photos below are of completed project).

People forget. The Ford Taurus never gets the credit it deserves. People forget what a gamble it was for Ford, and what a huge payoff it’s success was. There would literally be no Ford Motor company today if the Taurus was a failure. They would have filed for bankruptcy and that would have been that. Imagine the effect on the American Auto Industry as a whole if that would have happened. But the Taurus wasn’t a failure, it sold over 200,000 units in it’s first year, over 1 million units in its first 3 years. It was Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1986 for Pete’s sake. This is the Taurus I’m talking about. It’s such a common car, it’s easy to forget this stuff.

Following in Ford’s footsteps, General Motors announced on Monday its public alliance with the Electric Power Research Institute (an organization collectively representing utility industries in the United States), becoming the second automotive manufacturer to do so. According to execs, the purpose of the alliance is to ready the consuming population “for the widespread sale of electric plug-in cars…” (here’s to looking at you, Chevrolet Volt).

Of everything GM and EPRI are hoping to accomplish together, the most noteworthy item on their agenda is their aim to implement “an infrastructure for public charging stations.”Ah yes, public charging “infrastructures.”

According to an article published today in the New York Times, Ford Motors is going to be shifting their production focus dramatically.

Although official statements aren’t scheduled to be released until Thursday (in conjunction with second quarter financial reports), unidentified sources within the company prematurely revealed that Ford’s top priority will become smaller, more fuel efficient cars.

The folks over at Cracked.com have put together a list of the Top 6 gas-saving schemes created by “companies” of dubious distinction looking to cash in on the ever-increasing gas prices. The products all claim to produce better gas mileage, and almost all of them require some kind of mechanical alteration to you car.

In 2006, Ford made the executive decision to cancel production of both the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey. It was a dark day for the suburban soccer mom, indeed…

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

It’s the 2009 Ford Flex, the vehicle created with the Single-Dad/MILF-hunter in mind. Although believed by some to be filling the hole the Freestar left behind, the Ford Flex is quick to distinguish itself as a new breed entirely. Roughly the same size as its would-be brethren the Ford Explorer, the Ford Flex is a monster piece of machinery that rides like a luxury sedan. True to its “Crossover Utility Vehicle” label, the Ford Flex sits on a Taurus chassis and boasts a V6 engine, 262-horsepower, and 248 lb-ft of torque - masterfully combining the raw performance of a powerful SUV with the fluid ride of a full-size sedan.

But the performance and versatility doesn’t stop under the hood.

There have been, and always will be, cars that are legendary for the impact they left on the automotive industry or society in general. The following is a list of the Top 5 cars that have left their own, unique impression - an impression that probably won’t soon be rewarded by the Power Circle.

1. 1976 AMC Pacer

There is a piece of legislation currently trying to push its way through Congress known as the Right to Repair Act. According to the explanation on the bill’s website, the Right to Repair Act “…would develop regulations requiring car companies to share the same information and tools that they make available to their franchised dealers with the independent service industry and car owners.”

Ford has announced a milestone as they have now built their 9 millionth Ford Mustang. It is a tremendous achievement for the once smaller pony car that was built to target a market that was eager for an some affordable sporty coupe. The record setting car was a GT Convertible that is on its way to a dealership in Iowa.

The Ford Mustang was introduced at the World’s Fair on April 17th, 1964. Just a week ago Ford quietly celebrated the Mustangs 44th Anniversary. In its first day of sales Ford sold 22,000 Mustangs nationwide; 419,000 in the first 12 months. By its second year of production there had been 2 million of the famous Pony car sold. After those record setting years things slowed down just a bit as it took another 42 years to make it to 9 million cars built.

The retro-influenced redesign that was released to showrooms in 2005 has also helped to revitalizes the Mustangs sales figures, as it has been the most popular selling model since those glory days in the 60’s. This years 2008 models will come with a couple firsts as far as features go for the Ford Mustang. An optional Glass Roof will be available for the first time ever in a Mustang, and the Warriors in Pink Package will be used to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organizations search for a cure to breast cancer.

The Mustang is Ford’s longest running nameplate and in part due to strategic designs and market savvy pricing the only Pony car not to cease production is sure to continue for many years to come.

Source[Ford]