2000 Ford Equator Concept

(from Ford Press Release)  Ford Motor Company, which already has committed vehicles, money and in-kind contributions totaling more than $6 million toward hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast region, announced today at the State Fair of Texas that it will auction the Ford Equator – a one of a kind auto show concept – and put the proceeds to work in Texas through Red Cross chapters in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth.

“Ford has 1,800 employees, 300 suppliers and 400 dealers in Texas , so this is our home as much as Detroit is,” said Al Giombetti, Ford vice president, sales. “Texans always respond with compassion and generosity in a crisis, so we want to do our share and then some. That’s what friends and neighbors do.”

The Ford Equator concept is a one-off design study that was unveiled at the 2000 North American International Auto Show in Detroit . It will be displayed at the Ford exhibit at the State Fair of Texas, Sept. 30 - Oct. 23. Then on Nov. 19, the Equator will be auctioned at the Kruse-Leake 33rd Anniversary Collector Car Auction – the largest collector car auction in Texas – which will be held at Dallas Market Hall Nov. 18-20.

“The Equator was envisioned as an extreme expression of Ford’s “Built Ford Tough” truck heritage and it shows how to tackle the harshest elements – whether it’s rock climbing, white-water rafting or snowboarding – without sacrificing comfort or functionality,” says J Mays, group vice president, Design and chief creative officer, Ford Motor Company.

All proceeds from the auction will go to support American Red Cross chapters in San Antonio , Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston for disaster relief.

“The American Red Cross extends our sincere appreciation to the Ford Motor Company for its support and generosity,” says Cindy Atmar, director of development for the Southwest Service Area of the American Red Cross. “We are grateful to Ford for coming forward with much needed financial help for three of our largest chapters in Texas .”

To date, the American Red Cross has provided shelter to approximately 200,000 people and served more than 1.6 million meals in Texas to victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Throughout both hurricanes, more than 33,000 Red Cross workers were deployed to meet the immediate emergency needs of people affected by these catastrophic events. While hurricane operations were going on, local Red Cross chapters continued to respond every day to hundreds of smaller disasters, such as single family fires, in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metro areas.

“Leake Auction is donating its commission, entry fee and buyer’s premium for this worthy cause,” said Richard Sevenoaks, president of Leake Auction Company

“This is a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a remarkable one-of-a kind concept car and
we are honored to be associated with Ford Motor Company,” said Sevenoaks. “For 33 years,
we have dominated the collector car market in Texas and look forward to a record breaking event.”

The Ford Equator Concept

In many ways, the Equator paved the way for the design of today’s Ford F-Series, which is the best-selling truck in Texas and the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for the last 23 years, and the best-selling truck for 28 years.

The Equator concept maintains roughly the same wheelbase as a Ford F-150 pickup, but it is closer to the width of a Ford Super Duty pickup. These proportions give it an aggressive stance and a generously sized cabin.

Equator has an off-road-racing-inspired independent suspension, featuring billet aluminum upper control arms, steel lower arms with all-new geometry for maximum travel, adjustable 32-inch coils over gas-linked shocks and custom machined steering linkage.

The bumper, fender, wheel wells and lower trim panels are made of Kevlar, which makes them resistant to stone damage and nearly indestructible. Billet aluminum wheels with a central tire inflation system and bead locks are wrapped in specially cut off-road tires that are color-keyed to the Serengeti gold body.

The bottom of the doors is cut high, and, when a door is opened, a lower panel can be hydraulically deployed to create a step unit. In the stowed position, the panels provide a watertight barrier for the passenger compartment.

Inside, Equator features four leather-contoured bucket seats. The rear seats and bulkhead fold down, creating a cargo space that is six feet long and five and a half feet wide.

The instrument panel addresses driver-preferred instrument location and content through the use of “clamp-on” gauges. The gauges allow users to select the exact components they want on the instrument panel as well as the exact position for each component. A centerline-mounted compass can be removed for outdoor use.

Flip-up arm rests, visor-mounted GPS technology, outside temperature monitoring instruments, overhead map lights, dual-zone climate controls, two high-volume console-mounted storage compartments and removable flooring provide ultimate feature content.

An overhead, console-mounted audio system ensures that all passengers receive premium sound. The console includes a power amplifier, CD changer, dual speakers in each door, a subwoofer in the lower console and upper-console-mounted tweeters.

As a concept, the Ford Equator was designed as a display property and may not be titled for use on public highways.

Ford’s Contributions to Hurricane Relief

Ford Motor Company vehicle donations, money and in-kind contributions have provided more than $6 million in hurricane relief efforts.

Also at the State Fair of Texas, Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln brand announced that it will put up for bid a Mark LT Chopper – a custom motorcycle built by Orange County Choppers – during the Habitat for Humanity® International Charity Auction to be held on eBay Oct. 3-13.

Proceeds from the winning bid will benefit Habitat for Humanity International’s® “Operation Home Delivery” for relief efforts in New Orleans and other communities along the Gulf Coast.