Tag: founder

ETC: Ford celebrates its founder’s 150th birthday around the world

Filed under: Ford

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Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company and the man that is widely considered to have put America on wheels, would have been 150 years young today. Naturally, there are celebrations at Ford’s Dearborn headquarters, and the state of Michigan has declared today, July 30, 2013, Henry Ford Day.

While Ford’s flaws are well documented, his institution of the moving assembly line and $5 work day were largely responsible for the middle class explosion in Detroit during the 1910s and 1920s, while vertical integration in his production contributed even further to the affordability of Ford’s products. Ford’s company was also a key component of the Arsenal of Democracy, with the company’s Willow Run Assembly Plant one of the crown jewels of war-time production.

Besides celebrations in Michigan, Ford facilities around the globe are celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founder’s birth. Ford’s German outlet is holding five road rallies over the course of 2013, while 21 markets in the Asia Pacific region have converted showrooms into displays celebrating Ford’s history, as part of Ford Heritage month. There will be more celebrations in the coming months, as well.

Have a look through the gallery above for lots of historical photos of Henry Ford, as well as celebrations taking place in other parts of the world.

Ford celebrates its founder’s 150th birthday around the world originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Hamann, Hamann Motorsport founder, dead at 53

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Europe, Lamborghini

2010 Hamann Victory II

Hamann Victory II – Click above for high-res image gallery

Richard Hamann, founder of Hamann Motorsport, died this weekend after a long struggle with cancer. He was 53.

Hamann led a nearly 20-year racing career before forsaking his Nomex and starting the tuning company that got its hands on just about every European sports car you can name from 1986 on. Most recently, his company has made its name with cars like the Hamann Victory II, a hotter Lamborghini Gallardo.

Before he was making sports cars sportier, Hamann enjoyed a long and successful racing career. In his time on track, he took part in more than 700 races, finishing on the podium a startling 300 of those times. He had a combined 103 victories in DTM, Group C, Formula 3 and the Special Touring Car Trophy, which he won three times at the wheel of a BMW M1.

Despite the loss of its leader, Hamann’s company will carry on.

Gallery: Hamann Victory II

[Source: Hamann via E90post]

Richard Hamann, Hamann Motorsport founder, dead at 53 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gemballa moves past founder’s murder with 2011 Porsche Cayenne Toronado

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, SUV, Porsche

2011 Gemballa Tornado

2011 Gemballa Tornado – Click above for high-res image gallery

Death is an ominous shadow to cast over a company. All the more so when the death in question was not, as the case were, from natural causes. But in the wake of Uwe Gemballa’s passing, the company that bears his name appears to be emerging from that shadow, creating the beast of a machine seen here.

So far all that’s been released about the new Gemballa Tornado are the images you see here and scarce few details. It’s based on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne, and as you can tell, replaces many of the body panels with carbon fiber. Uwe Gemballa’s successor, Andreas Schwarz, points out that unlike other aftermarket body kits, the composite panels on the Tornado replace the steel ones on the stock Cayenne instead of simply applying them on top. And an aggressive-looking job they’ve done of it, integrating gigantic air ducts, LED running lights, a significantly wider track and restyled taillights, all in a high-contrast treatment while shaving a good 150 pounds off the big sport ute’s curb weight.

Further details on the interior still under development and the engine – tipped to produce some 700 horsepower with a Stage 2 turbo kit – are expected to follow. As will pricing, which promises to be just as astronomical as that horsepower figure, with only 30 examples slated for production.

Gallery: 2011 Gemballa Tornado

[Source: Gemballa]

Gemballa moves past founder’s murder with 2011 Porsche Cayenne Toronado originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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