A proponent of downsizing, Sperlich conceived of a 'world car' that could be sold in both Europe and North America as a solution to the needs of the various divisions. Hal Sperlich was vice-president of product planning and research at Ford. Bourke, ex-chairman of Ford of Europe and one-time managing director of Ford of Australia, was made executive vice president of North American Operations and Robert Alexander, previously with Ford of Europe as vice president in charge of car development, moved to same position in the States. : 151Ĭhanges were also happening at Ford's executive level, as William O. At the same time, Ford of England's Cortina line was in need of refreshing, as was the Taunus model built by Ford of Germany. At the time, Ford's North American product line included the subcompact Pinto and Mustang II, and the compact Maverick, but replacements for all of these models would soon be needed.

: 150 In October of the same year, the 1973 oil crisis started. In April 1973, the American EPA released its comprehensive list of fuel economy results. For 1984, the model line was replaced with the front-wheel drive Ford Tempo. On November 15, 1977, a Fairmont (a 1978 Fairmont Futura coupe) became the 100 millionth vehicle assembled by Ford Motor Company. Through its production, Ford produced the Fairmont at numerous facilities across North America. Though the Fairmont itself was produced for only six model years, the Fox platform would live on for another two decades, underpinning vehicles (in updated form) through the 2004 model year. The inaugural model lines of the rear-wheel drive Ford Fox platform (which served to replace models based on the Ford Falcon), the Fairmont and Zephyr shared underpinnings with twelve additional model lines for Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln. Though never sold as a Lincoln, Mercury sold a divisional counterpart of the Fairmont as the Mercury Zephyr. In contrast to its predecessor (only offered as a two-door or four-door sedan), the model line was offered as a two-door notchback sedan, two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and five-door station wagon. Initially slotted between the Pinto and Granada within the Ford line, the Fairmont was later marketed between the Ford Escort and Ford LTD. The successor of the Ford Maverick, the Fairmont marked the third generation of compact sedans sold by Ford in North America.

The Ford Fairmont is a model line of compact cars that was manufactured by Ford from the 1978 to 1983 model years.

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