1993 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat

Ford's first-gen Econoline was American industry's answer to the VW Bus. Where VW used an air-cooled rear engine, Ford put a Falcon six under the cab floor. The result was a genuinely useful commercial vehicle that also worked for families, campers, and custom van enthusiasts. The cab-forward design maximized cargo space in a compact footprint. Before full-size vans became conversion van monsters, the Econoline was right-sized and practical.

The '67 Mustang is where the pony car grew up. The original 1964½ was a secretary's car — a compact Falcon in a pretty dress. For '67, Ford stretched the body to fit big-block V8s. The fastback roofline became the defining silhouette of American muscle. Steve McQueen's '68 Bullitt Mustang (nearly identical to the '67) cemented the fastback as the coolest car shape of the era. This is the Mustang that launched a thousand posters.

The fifth and sixth generation Ford F-Series trucks represent Ford's transition from work truck to lifestyle vehicle. The 1967-72 'Bumpside' trucks have clean styling that's highly collectible today. The 1973-79 'Dentside' trucks added the character line down the bodyside and a more comfortable cab. The 300 cubic inch inline-6 became legendary for bulletproof reliability — many have crossed 500,000 miles with basic maintenance. The F-150 designation appeared in 1975, eventually becoming America's best-selling vehicle for decades. These trucks were built to work, and the survivors are either still working or treasured for their simplicity.

The Pinto is forever associated with its fuel tank scandal — Ford's calculated decision that paying wrongful death settlements was cheaper than fixing the design. That scandal defined automotive ethics debates for decades. But before that, the Pinto was just Ford's answer to the import invasion. It was cheap, efficient, and sold millions. The car itself was adequate transportation for people who needed adequate transportation. The scandal shouldn't define the car, but it's impossible to separate them.

The Festiva is transportation reduced to its absolute essence. Built by Kia, engineered by Mazda, sold by Ford — a globalized economy before anyone used that word. It's slow. It's tinny. The three-speed automatic is basically two gears and a suggestion. But it weighs nothing, sips fuel, and will get you from A to B forever if you do basic maintenance. For kids learning to drive, this was perfect: nothing to break, nothing to race, just honest transportation that taught you how cars work.

The first-gen Bronco was Ford's answer to the Jeep CJ — a no-nonsense, purpose-built 4x4 for people who actually needed to go off-road. The short 92-inch wheelbase made it absurdly maneuverable in the rocks and woods. The removable hardtop made it a convertible. The V8 option made it fast. For a decade, the Bronco was the serious choice for serious off-roaders. Then the O.J. Simpson chase in 1994 made it famous for entirely different reasons. Today, the early Bronco is one of the hottest collector trucks on the market, with values that have tripled in a decade.