This coming June 12-16, Ford Motor Company will hold a special five-day celebration on the grounds of Henry Ford II World Center in Dearborn, Michigan. To be dubbed The Road is Ours 100^th Anniversary Celebration, this knock-down, drag-out affair will commemorate the company’s rich history, as well as look ahead to its future.

The Celebration is for Ford Motor Company’s some 350,000 employees, retirees, dealers and suppliers of Ford, as well as enthusiasts and customers alike. "The success of the company throughout our first 100 years," says Jim O’Connor, group Vice President, North America Marketing, "as well as our future success, is attributable to the people of Ford, and we want everyone to feel part of this historic anniversary."

Featured at the five day Celebration will be one of the world’s largest displays of Ford products in one location, including classic and historic cars and trucks from across all Ford Motor Company brands (Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Mazda, Volvo). A unique display of concept vehicles will also be present. Visitors will be able to experience a wide range of headline entertainment, including country star Toby Keith, Motown and rock-and-roll.

Events will occur throughout the year 2003 and will include special Ford Centennial-Edition vehicles. Five new limited-edition vehicles, designed to mark the company’s 100^th Anniversary will be displayed for the first time at the 2002 Washington Auto Show from December 26-January 1, 2003. The three Centennial-edition cars include the 2003 Ford Mustang, Focus and Taurus, and the 2003 Ford F-Series Super Duty and Explorer trucks. In honor of Ford Motor Company’s founder Henry Ford, the Centennial-edition vehicles will be available in "any color as long as it’s black."

In 1914, Henry Ford ordered his Highland Park, Michigan Model T factory to use black paint exclusively, strictly in the name of simplicity, efficiency and affordability. Black enamel paint dried faster than any other color, which meant more automobiles could be built each day at a lower cost. That same year, Ford slashed the workday from 10 to eight hours and introduced the $5 per day minimum wage, more than double the prevailing rate. Low production cost, affordable prices and generous wages helped mobilize society. The price for the Model T dropped from $850 at introduction to less than $300 by the early 1920s. Annual sales went from roughly 300,000 units to more than 1.8 million.

In addition to black clearcoat paint, all Ford Centennial-edition vehicles will come equipped with Premium Verona-grain Imola leather seating surfaces in two-tone parchment; Ford 100^th Anniversary deck lid and side badges; a commemorative key chain and watch; and a copy of the limited edition coffee table book The Ford Century.

Each vehicle includes a black leather owner’s guide portfolio with the embossed signatures of Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, Edsel’s son Henry Ford II, and Henry Ford’s great grandson William Clay Ford, Jr.

Standard equipment on each Centennial-edition model includes 17-inch premium alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes, traction control, dual exhaust, power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Mach 460 AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer on the Ford Mustang Centennial Coupe and Convertible. On the Ford Focus Centennial Edition sedan are 16-inch aluminum wheels, rear spoiler, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescoping column, AM/FM stereo with CD and MP3 player, and driver’s seat lumbar support.

The Centennial Edition Ford Taurus sedan comes equipped with 16-inch machined aluminum wheels, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer, power driver’s seat, antilock brakes, power-adjustable pedals, automatic headlamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel and center armrest, simulated wood door and instrument panel trim and anti-theft alarm system. The Ford Explorer Centennial SUV gets 17-inch chrome wheels, chrome roof rack and grille, power driver and front passenger seats, fog lamps, AM/FM/ stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer, leather-wrapped steering wheel and center console.

And finally, the Ford F-Series Super Duty Crew Cab Centennial Edition truck will be equipped with leather-wrapped steering wheel and center console, overhead storage console, sliding rear window, power driver’s seat, power windows, privacy glass and a color-keyed rear bumper.

All Centennial editions will be available in Ford dealerships in spring 2003. Production for the Ford Mustang, Focus and Super Duty truck will be limited to 3,000 units, and 4,000 units for Explorer and Taurus. Pricing will be announced closer to the introduction.

Those visiting the Celebration will find all kinds of commemorative goodies, including paperweights, stationary, clocks, watches, calendars, key rings, jackets, t-shirts, mugs, ad infinitum; more than 100 different products. In an effort to reach Ford employees worldwide, Ford has developed a communications program available in January. A special "Anniversary-in-a-Box" component has been developed to help facilities outside Michigan customize their own 100^th anniversary celebrations.

In commemoration of this big year, Ford Motor Company has even moved its 2003 Annual Shareholder’s Meeting to June 16, the date the company was founded.