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Article: Ford in UK: The early years.(Ford 100)(Ford Motor Company Ltd.)(Company Profile)
- Article from:
- Automotive News Europe
- Article date:
- June 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Ian Morton
Ford had been producing cars for only a matter of months before it became an exporter as well.
Ford made its first sale in France, home of Europe's biggest national auto industry, in 1904.
Yet the UK emerged as the anvil of Ford's early progress abroad. Two Model As went on display at an auto show in Islington, London, in March 1904. They caught the eye of Aubrey Blakiston, who set up a sales agency, ordered a dozen cars, and leased a showroom in Long Acre, London.
When only 12 cars were sold in 1904, the agency enrolled another energetic young pioneer, Percival L.D. Perry. The reorganized company, Perry Thornton ...