Why can't FORD be more original with their names...

[fz500sel]

whats the deal with Ford? They have some new models out and 1 of them is called FIVE HUNDRED SEL. They must be Mercedes Benz wannabe's.

[MS Fowler]

I can't explain the "SEL" for Ford, but they have used the "500" as upper level model designator for decades!
AT least as early as 1957, Ford used the "500" on their high level Fairlane .

[J. R. B.]

MsFowler is right about the 500 being used for years. Remember the old Galaxie 500's. As far as the SEL goes maybe Ford is trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

They used "500" years ago. They should do that. I like the numbers on cars. It should be used to seperate their quality of cars as MB does. I'm not really sure on their cars but there Trucks are awesome.

My parents bought a brand new 1973 Ford Thunderbird, man that was nice. I think it may have had a 460 engine, I can't remember. It had some torque.

[Hatterasguy]

I am surprised they can use 500SEL together. But MB moved on from SEL a long time ago.

I am also surprised VW isn't sueing them for trade dress infringment.

[leejxxxxx]

Originally Posted by PaulC

Ah, you guys have forgotten the good old Seventies, when Chevy came out with a grille for the 1973 Malibu that only needed a three pointed star hood ornament to have MB lawyers screaming copyright infringement. The first-gen Ford Granada/Mercury Monarch were virtually w115 ripoffs, at least in general look and proportion. Ditto Plymouth Volare.

MB ripoffs have been happening for decades. Don't forget the era in the late fifties when Studebaker and Mercedes had an affiliation in the US. More than a few Studes had MB-like grilles. Given the regrettable decline in MB quality, I submit that Ford and Mercedes are now closer on many fronts than they have ever been. Mercedes-Benz Pinto? Has a nice ring to it.

Anyone remember the commercial for the Ford Grenada in the late 70's? It had a Mercedes and a Grenada side by side and the tagline was along the lines of something like, why pay more when the Ford is almost the same inside and out.

[Veloce300DT]

The SEL attached to Fords Five Hundred model name isnt anything new....

Dont forget! The late Windstar and current Taurus use the SEL model designations as well.

How creative!

[Kestas]

Originally Posted by leejxxxxx

Anyone remember the commercial for the Ford Grenada in the late 70's? It had a Mercedes and a Grenada side by side and the tagline was along the lines of something like, why pay more when the Ford is almost the same inside and out.

Remember when some cop wrote a parking ticket and mistook the Grenada for a Mercedes back then?.... the Ford PR people had a field day with that incident!