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Ford Heir's 1968 Torino: A Cherished Family Legacy
27 Nov
Summary
- Bill Ford's father drove the 1968 Indy 500 pace car, a Torino.
- Ford later found and restored the significant family Torino.
- Car passion often creates deep, generational family bonds.
Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford Motor Company, recounts a vivid childhood memory from 1968 when his father drove the Indy 500 pace car – a Ford Torino convertible powered by a 428 Cobra Jet. This exhilarating experience at age 11 left a lasting impression, prompting Ford to locate and restore the very same car after his father's passing in 2014.
The automobile industry and motorsport are filled with similar family narratives. Many major car manufacturers have founding families still involved, and grassroots racing often begins with parents introducing their children to karting, fostering a lifelong passion. These shared experiences create enduring connections across generations.
From elite drivers like Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson, whose fathers were crucial to their racing careers, to local traditions like Raymond Beniquez restoring woodie station wagons with his son, the theme of family legacy in automotive pursuits is pervasive. Bill Ford himself cherishes other family-related vehicles, but the 1968 Torino holds a unique place, recently restored and intended as a gift for his mother's 100th birthday.
