Ford Vedette

Infobox Automobile


name = Ford Vedette
aka = Ford Vendôme
manufacturer = Ford SAF
production = 1948–1954
predecessor =
successor =
class = Large car
layout = FR layout
body_style = 4-door fastback
4-door saloon
4-door landaulet
5-door estate
2-door coupé
2-door cabriolet
engine = 2.2 L "Aquillon" V8
3.9 L "Mistral" V8cite web|url=http://website.webcenter.lycos.de/www.fomcc.de/vedette.htm|title=Ford Vedette|work=Ford Oldtimer und Motorsport Club Cologne|accessdate=2006-08-16 De icon]
transmission = 3-speed manual
wheelbase = convert|2.69|m|in|1cite web|url=http://storm.tocmp.com/fordvedette.htm|work=Ford Vedette 1951 (Dutch brochure)|title=Free Car Brochures|accessdate=2006-08-16 Nl icon "(technical data for 1951 Dutch-market saloon model)]
length = convert|4.50|m|in|1
width = convert|1.72|m|in|1
height = convert|1.57|m|in|1
weight = Auto kg|1180|0
fuel_economy =
fuel_capacity =
related = Ford Comete
Simca Vedette
Simca Ariane
Chrysler Esplanada
similar = Ford Zephyr
Mercury Eight
Opel Kapitän
designer = 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.cite web|url=http://www.philseed.com/fordvedette.html|title=Ford Vedette 1951|work=Phil Seed's Virtual Car museum|accessdate=2006-08-16] On the other hand, the Vedette was the first car to feature the new independent front suspension concept developed by Earl S. MacPherson, known today as MacPherson struts.cite web| url=http://www.channel4.com/4car/100-greatest/innovations/suspension.html | title=4Car 100 Greatest Innovations|accessdate=2006-08-16]

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.cite web|url=http://website.webcenter.lycos.de/www.fomcc.de/saf.htm|title=Ford SAF|work=Ford Oldtimer und Motorsport Club Cologne|accessdate=2006-08-16 De icon] 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).cite web|url=http://www.philseed.com/fordvedette54.html|title=Ford Vedette 1953-1954|work=Phil Seed's Virtual Car museum|accessdate=2006-08-16]

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.cite web|url=http://www.simcatalbotclub.org/vedette.htm|title=SIMCA VEDETTE and SIMCA ARIANE|work=Simca Talbot Information Centre – Simca Club UK|accessdate=2006-08-12]

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 had debuted already in France under the name of Simca Vedette, but was sold as the Ford Vedette in some markets (including Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany) at least until 1956.cite web|url=http://www.philseed.com/simvedette.html|title=Vedette (1955-1961)|work=Phil Seed's Virtual Car museum|accessdate=2006-08-13] cite web|url=http://www.simcatalbotclub.org/vedette.htm|title=SIMCA VEDETTE and SIMCA ARIANE|work=Simca Talbot Information Centre – Simca Club UK|accessdate=2006-08-12]

References

External links

* [http://www.clubvedettefrance.com/ Club Vedette France] Fr icon
* [http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/ph2/175a.htm Mademoiselle Ford @ Best Cars Web Site] Pt icon