10 Questions Round 3: Bill Ford

[Apollo]

You know, I probably have a million questions, both GT and Ford business related, but I would just want to say thanks for:

1) Taking the risk and building the GT
2) Taking a different path from GM & Chrysler ~ giving full consideration of share and stakeholders in a difficult restructuring
3) Having both the courage and foresight to hire Alan Mulally
4) Giving back to your community

Last, a request. One day i'd still like to get my GT signed by you. I'll trade for lunch at Eagle Tavern.

Exactly!:cheers

 

[KMCBOSS]

Mr. Ford, I've been a Ford owner/fan for almost 40 years. I'm a car show guy and fly the Ford flag (so to speak) at every event I attend whether I'm in my Shelby, BOSS 302 or Ford GT. My Ford GT is always major point of interest at every show and a showcase for Ford products. having said that, I know how difficult it is to restore/maintain a vintage Mustang (BOSS 302/429). I expect to own this car for many years, I hope Ford Motor Company will continue to support the owners of this special car by making repair parts available well into the future - especially the electronic components. I know providing parts is an expensive endeavor but many of these special vehicles will be parked in garages if parts support becomes an issue. Ed

 

[BlackICE]

Ford is doing fantastic without Government bailout money, but does Bill feel Ford is being unfairly affected because GM has been given so much that they really do not have to be accountable for - has GM been given an unfair advantage?

I don't think you are likely to here his real opinion on this one.

 

[JPLeBoeuf]

For those of you that have not seen my previous posts re:supply of parts, my name is Jerry LeBoeuf and I work for Ford Customer Service Division (the team that provides parts to the FLM dealerships) in the Purchasing Strategy Office. I have been assigned the responsibility for tracking and ENSURING the future supply of parts for the Ford GT. As you may be aware there has been a fair amount of fall out in the Automotive Supplier base over the last 18 months and in some cases we have struggled with getting parts back into the pipeline. In most cases we have been able to get a final shipment from the supplier before the doors close. In a majority of these instances it is what we estimate to be an all time requirement. In other cases we are able to get a small quantity of parts out to serve as a Bridge Run until we can get the part re-sourced to another supplier. In all cases to date we have been able to locate & retrieve the original tooling and find a new home for it. Please be assured that we are working the issues. I get a stock status report for each GT Unique part every week and work with the appropriate buyer, supplier, packager, and warehouse team to get parts into the pipeline. Yesterday's report had 5 parts on backorder and we have delivery promise dates for 4 of those. My Manager is a car collector and he has given me free rein to do whatever it takes to get parts available for this OUTSTANDING vehicle. Please forward any specific concerns to me (JPLeBoeuf) via this website and I will get you an answer. Jerry

 

[Howard]

Wow! Thanks, Jerry. This is very incouraging. I hope you are a young man just starting your LONG carreer at Ford!! (Psst...know anyone working the gauge issue??)

Howard

 

[shelbyelite]

They don't end up in Arkansas, but I think more than half of the production has passed through the state.

All the BEST GTs pass through Arkansas at some point in their life! Its just destiny.....

 

[RALPHIE]

All the BEST GTs pass through Arkansas at some point in their life! Its just destiny.....

Guess I'll just have to drive through Arkansas one of these days....:lol

 

[BlackICE]

All the BEST GTs pass through Arkansas at some point in their life! Its just destiny.....

Does that mean the next Rally is in Arkansas?

 

[AtomicGT]

For those of you that have not seen my previous posts re:supply of parts, my name is Jerry LeBoeuf and I work for Ford Customer Service Division (the team that provides parts to the FLM dealerships) in the Purchasing Strategy Office. I have been assigned the responsibility for tracking and ENSURING the future supply of parts for the Ford GT. As you may be aware there has been a fair amount of fall out in the Automotive Supplier base over the last 18 months and in some cases we have struggled with getting parts back into the pipeline. In most cases we have been able to get a final shipment from the supplier before the doors close. In a majority of these instances it is what we estimate to be an all time requirement. In other cases we are able to get a small quantity of parts out to serve as a Bridge Run until we can get the part re-sourced to another supplier. In all cases to date we have been able to locate & retrieve the original tooling and find a new home for it. Please be assured that we are working the issues. I get a stock status report for each GT Unique part every week and work with the appropriate buyer, supplier, packager, and warehouse team to get parts into the pipeline. Yesterday's report had 5 parts on backorder and we have delivery promise dates for 4 of those. My Manager is a car collector and he has given me free rein to do whatever it takes to get parts available for this OUTSTANDING vehicle. Please forward any specific concerns to me (JPLeBoeuf) via this website and I will get you an answer. Jerry

God Bless the United States and Ford motor Company. We are supporting you !

 

[shelbyelite]

Does that mean the next Rally is in Arkansas?

Hell yeah! We can hang out in the Rice fields, hang out with my sisters and my cousins and go to the Honky Tonk!

In all honesty, Arkansas is NOTHING like the stereotype that comes to mind. Very nice, clean state. Great place to live! :thumbsup
Some really good twisty, winding, hill roads not too far from where I am either....

 

[fjpikul]

Yeah, except your bordered by Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee.

 

[shelbyelite]

Yeah, except your bordered by Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Those are bad places?

 

[fjpikul]

Let's say less sophisticated.

 

[2112]

God Bless the United States and Ford motor Company. We are supporting you !

+1

:usa

 

[tpraceman]

Dear Bill,
Please keep Jerry employed in his current position forever.

Jerry....we would send you a message but you have your PM message set to blocked

For those of you that have not seen my previous posts re:supply of parts, my name is Jerry LeBoeuf and I work for Ford Customer Service Division (the team that provides parts to the FLM dealerships) in the Purchasing Strategy Office. I have been assigned the responsibility for tracking and ENSURING the future supply of parts for the Ford GT. As you may be aware there has been a fair amount of fall out in the Automotive Supplier base over the last 18 months and in some cases we have struggled with getting parts back into the pipeline. In most cases we have been able to get a final shipment from the supplier before the doors close. In a majority of these instances it is what we estimate to be an all time requirement. In other cases we are able to get a small quantity of parts out to serve as a Bridge Run until we can get the part re-sourced to another supplier. In all cases to date we have been able to locate & retrieve the original tooling and find a new home for it. Please be assured that we are working the issues. I get a stock status report for each GT Unique part every week and work with the appropriate buyer, supplier, packager, and warehouse team to get parts into the pipeline. Yesterday's report had 5 parts on backorder and we have delivery promise dates for 4 of those. My Manager is a car collector and he has given me free rein to do whatever it takes to get parts available for this OUTSTANDING vehicle. Please forward any specific concerns to me (JPLeBoeuf) via this website and I will get you an answer. Jerry

 

[DanQ]

I don't know if these questions would best be directed to Bill Ford, but here are some general questions I have,
1) Are there any plans to support FORD GT race teams (like Matech, Robertsons) at LeMans or FIA GT, ALMS in the future?
2) How much money did Ford need to make on each GT to consider it a viable project?
3) Do you think there will be any other halo cars like the GT in Fords Future?
4) How did they come up with the number ~4000 units for GT production?
5) How was the GT development team chosen.
6) If Ford built another super car, where would it be built now that wixom is gone?

Other than that, thanks for taking the chance on producing the GT. Its a stunning car.

 

[tpraceman]

Oh but a "Thunder" would sell like wild fire... Put a new 5.0 in a new light F100 Ranger and hang on.

 

[GTJack]

Oh but a "Thunder" would sell like wild fire... Put a new 5.0 in a new light F100 Ranger and hang on.

Amen!!

 

[roketman]

For those of you that have not seen my previous posts re:supply of parts, my name is Jerry LeBoeuf and I work for Ford Customer Service Division (the team that provides parts to the FLM dealerships) in the Purchasing Strategy Office. I have been assigned the responsibility for tracking and ENSURING the future supply of parts for the Ford GT. As you may be aware there has been a fair amount of fall out in the Automotive Supplier base over the last 18 months and in some cases we have struggled with getting parts back into the pipeline. In most cases we have been able to get a final shipment from the supplier before the doors close. In a majority of these instances it is what we estimate to be an all time requirement. In other cases we are able to get a small quantity of parts out to serve as a Bridge Run until we can get the part re-sourced to another supplier. In all cases to date we have been able to locate & retrieve the original tooling and find a new home for it. Please be assured that we are working the issues. I get a stock status report for each GT Unique part every week and work with the appropriate buyer, supplier, packager, and warehouse team to get parts into the pipeline. Yesterday's report had 5 parts on backorder and we have delivery promise dates for 4 of those. My Manager is a car collector and he has given me free rein to do whatever it takes to get parts available for this OUTSTANDING vehicle. Please forward any specific concerns to me (JPLeBoeuf) via this website and I will get you an answer. Jerry

Jerry ,
Your my hero !!!
That is a wonderful post !!
Its great to know we will have parts to keep our gals running for many,many more glorious years of driving pleasure!!!
I just hit 2ok on my gal !!I also have 2 friends with over 50k not including Ralph who has over 65k !!
Ok boys ,this means you can start driving your cars !!!

 

[JPLeBoeuf]

OK, I think I've re-set my PM to on. Please contact me with issues as stated in my post.