Ford Vedette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ford Vedette | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford SAF |
| Also called | Ford Vendôme |
| Production | 1948–1954 |
| Class | Large car |
| Body style(s) | 4-door fastback 4-door saloon 4-door landaulet 5-door estate 2-door coupé 2-door cabriolet |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine(s) | 2.2 L Aquillon V8 3.9 L Mistral V8[1] |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed manual[1] |
| Wheelbase | 2.69 metres (105.9 in)[2] |
| Length | 4.50 metres (177.2 in)[2] |
| Width | 1.72 metres (67.7 in)[2] |
| Height | 1.57 metres (61.8 in)[2] |
| Curb weight | 1180 kg (2601 lb)[2] |
| Related | Ford Comete Simca Vedette Simca Ariane Chrysler Esplanada |
The Ford Vedette was a large car manufactured by Ford France SA in their factory in Poissy from 1948 to 1954. Introduced at the 1948 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris, it was designed entirely in Detroit (resembling contemporary Mercury models), but featured the Poissy-made 2158 cc Aquillon sidevalve V8 engine of Ford's Flathead engine family, the same as in pre-war Matford cars.[1][3] On the other hand, the Vedette was the first car ever to feature the new independent front suspension concept developed by Earl S. MacPherson, known today as MacPherson struts.[4]
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[edit] Uneasy beginnings
Due to the fact that the Poissy factory could not resume complete automobile production immediately after the war, many vital components had still to be made by various subcontractors, which reportedly had an adverse effect on the quality of the car and contributed to its limited popularity.[5] Over the six years in production, the Vedette was available in several body styles, ranging from the original 4-door fastback (with rear "suicide doors") through the later 4-door saloon, a Sunliner 4-door landaulet based on the saloon (with a roll-down roof over the entire cabin), a 2-door Coupé and, based on it, the Cabriolet Décapotable (a 2-door convertible).[3][6]
[edit] Enter Mr. Lehideux
Under the direction of the new company president, Mr. François Lehideux, Ford France refreshed the car for 1950, and again in 1952, when the car finally received a one-piece windscreen, new interior and bumpers, better brakes, larger trunk - and a cigarette lighter. The 1952 Mondial de l'Automobile also saw a luxury version of the Vedette, the Ford Vendôme, fitted with the bigger 3923 cc Mistral V8 engine, previously used in Ford France trucks. Also debuting in 1952 was the 5-door, 5-seat Abeille (French for "bee") estate with a two-piece tailgate, advertised as both practical (with a payload of 500 kg) and comfortable.[1][5][6][7]
[edit] Enter Mr. Pigozzi
Facing unsatisfactory sales results, as well as disruptive strikes at the Poissy plant at the turn of the decade, Ford had been trying to dispose of the factory since shortly after the end of the war. An opportunity arose in 1954, when Henri-Theodore Pigozzi, the founder of the increasingly successful French automaker Simca, was looking for a new plant to expand its operations. Ford France was merged into Simca with both the Poissy plant and the rights to all models manufactured there - including a newly-designed new Vedette. The new car debuted already under the name of Simca Vedette, but was sold as Ford Vedette in some markets (including the Netherlands and Germany) until 1956.[1][5][8][7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Ford Vedette. Ford Oldtimer und Motorsport Club Cologne. Retrieved on 2006-08-16. (German)
- ^ a b c d e Free Car Brochures. Ford Vedette 1951 (Dutch brochure). Retrieved on 2006-08-16. (Dutch) (technical data for 1951 Dutch-market saloon model)
- ^ a b Ford Vedette 1951. Phil Seed's Virtual Car museum. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.
- ^ 4Car 100 Greatest Innovations. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.
- ^ a b c Ford SAF. Ford Oldtimer und Motorsport Club Cologne. Retrieved on 2006-08-16. (German)
- ^ a b Ford Vedette 1953-1954. Phil Seed's Virtual Car museum. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.
- ^ a b SIMCA VEDETTE and SIMCA ARIANE. Simca Talbot Information Centre – Simca Club UK. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
- ^ Vedette (1955-1961). Phil Seed's Virtual Car museum. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
[edit] External links
- Club Vedette France (French)
- Mademoiselle Ford @ Best Cars Web Site (Portuguese)
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