Ford wishes GM a happy 100th birthday
Credit Ford with a classy move yesterday when it strategically left the blinds open in certain offices at its World Headquarters in Dearborn. The effect was a building-sized birthday card congratulating its cross-town competitor, General Motors, on making it 100 years in the automotive business. Ford celebrated its centennial a few years back, so knows how much fun the big 1-0-0 can be. And though they’re technically competitors in this grueling business, both Ford and GM often find themselves in the same boat when it comes to battling imports for market share, appealing to the federal government for loans and generally doing their best not to make Detroit an embarrassment. Did you know that GM almost bought Ford back in the day? The man responsible for making GM what it is today, Billy Durant, made Henry Ford an offer of $8 million to buy his six-year-old car company on October 5, 1909… and Ford accepted. Unfortunately, Ford demanded $2 million up front, preferably in gold, and Durant couldn’t get the loan approved by New York banks. The two automakers’ paths verged from there, but obviously never completely separated.
[Source: Ford]
Comment by Bruce McIntire on 16 September 2008:
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I?ve spent most of my time here just lurking and reading, but today for some reason I just felt compelled to say this.
Comment by Anonymous on 17 September 2008:
thank you.
Comment by Matt on 24 October 2008:
That was cool
Comment by Anonymous on 30 November 2008:
you know as a former technician for chevrolet when i went to work with ford there wasnt as much inner compatition as i thought it would be
Comment by Anonymous on 10 December 2008:
im a new member to fsc… and i must say.. reading this just put a big smile on my face… and had to tell my buddy over here (who is a ford lover) and he just was speechess….. p.s. me and him always go back and foward about gm and ford….