2025 Ford Maverick vs. 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz

While you can't miss the famous Ford Blue Oval logo outside McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, how much do you really know about the man who started it all? Read on for 10 fun facts about Henry Ford–inventor, innovator, entrepreneur and all-around American genius! 1) Henry Ford made extra money as a pocketwatch repairman when he was in his early teens. A mechanical genius from a young age, Ford taught himself the craft of watch repair by repeatedly taking apart and putting back together a pocketwatch given to him by his father. He even made his own tools to work on watches, including tiny screwdrivers he laboriously filed from old nails, and tweezers made from the spring steel "bones" from a discarded corset. 2) When he was only 20 years old, Ford was promoted to Chief Engineer of the Thomas Edison Illumination Company's main electrical plant in Detroit, which provided electrical power for the city. He worked there for six years before Edison himself encouraged Ford to follow his dreams of creating an affordable, reliable, gasoline-powered automobile. Learn More About the Ford Mustang 3) Among many, many other innovations Henry Ford brought to his manufacturing plants was a willingness to hire handicapped people, including the blind, deaf and those who had lost limbs in combat or in accidents. By 1919, more than 20 percent of Ford Motor Company's workforce had some form of disability. 4) After being convinced he should seek a life in politics by his friend President Woodrow Wilson, Ford ran for a seat in the United States Senate in 1918. He only lost by 4,500 votes, even though he didn't spend a dime on his campaign. 5) Henry Ford was America's second billionaire, after oil magnate John D Rockefeller. 6) Still an innovator well into old age, Henry Ford debuted a prototype of a plastic-bodied car in August 1941. Even more amazing, the car's body was biodegradable, with the lightweight panels made entirely from soybeans. While Ford hoped to include the soybean panels in production Ford cars and trucks to lighten weight and lessen the cost of new vehicles, the outbreak of World War II sidelined the project. 10 fun facts about the 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang 7) One of the stranger objects on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan is a vial containing the last breath of Ford's idol and former employer Thomas Edison. As the great inventor was dying, Ford convinced Edison's son to sit beside Edison's bed a glass test-tube, then capture his last breath and seal the tube with a cork. 8) Among Ford's many inventions over the years is a summertime staple: the compressed charcoal briquette. With Ford plants turning out the Model T, which featured many parts made of oak, Ford found himself awash in wood scraps. Ford's Brother-In-Law E.G. Kingsford suggested they create a charcoal manufacturing plant, and Ford named the product Kingsford Charcoal in his honor, with Kingsford still being a top producer of briquettes to this day. Talk about some cool Henry Ford facts! 9) During World War I, Ford took to the skies when he founded the Ford Airplane Company. While the company didn't achieve the success Ford had hoped, it did create the sturdy and now-iconic Ford Tri-Motor airplane, which was produced between 1928 and 1933. A Ford Tri-Motor even appears in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." 10) Ford designed and built his first operational steam engine in 1878, when he was only 15 years old! As we wrap up these interesting facts about Henry Ford, it's like uncovering hidden treasures! His story is full of fascinating twists and turns, showing us the power of determination and innovation. Let's carry these facts about Henry Ford with us as we forge ahead, inspired by his incredible journey.

Though our sense of high fashion pretty much stops at jeans and three-button golf shirts here at McLarty Daniel Ford, we do love Ford's iconic Blue Oval logo. Now it appears haute couture clothing design house Versace Fashion has a thing for it as well. In a unique partnership between Ford Motor Company and Versace, the pioneering fashion label had top models sporting the Ford logo while strutting the catwalk during this year's Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy in January. Part of the label's "The Versace Man" collection, which debuted at Milan Fashion Week, the Ford logo was prominently featured on a variety of Versace designs in the show, including pants, shirts, skirts, hooded sweatshirts and a one-off leather jacket designed to emulate the feel of an old-school Ford racing jacket. According to a news release from Versace, The Versace Man collection "reflects on the modern concept of man, an idea of masculinity that pushes the boundaries and breaks the rules of menswear by challenging notions and stereotypes. Only a confident man is able to see beyond the status quo and challenge it. This newly found attitude gives him the freedom and security to ignore conventional norms around beauty, and even more so, around masculinity." While the partnership might strike some Ford fans as an odd pairing, executives at Ford say it represents a cutting-edge trend in corporate marketing and fashion, with the logos of iconic brands being seen more for their design than the products they sell. "We're seeing a lot of luxury brands pairing with iconic brands that are kind of opposite," Joy Falotico, chief marketing officer for Ford, told the Detroit Free Press. "There's a clothing brand called Supreme, and they partnered with McDonald's, and Marc Jacobs did something with MTV. Coca-Cola has done a lot of branding. That's why we weren't really that shocked." The limited edition collection featuring the Ford logo will be sold at Versace stores worldwide. For more information, check out this story on the unique partnership between Ford and Versace from the Detroit Free Press.

Cruise control has been around for decades, helping drivers maintain a steady speed on highways without constantly pressing the gas pedal. But as vehicle technology advances, so does the way we drive. Ford’s Adaptive Cruise Control is a major upgrade from traditional cruise control, offering added convenience, safety and intelligence on the road. If you’re wondering how the two compare and which one is better suited for your driving needs, let’s break it down. Shop Our New Inventory Traditional Cruise Control: The Basics Traditional cruise control is a simple yet effective system that allows drivers to set a constant speed without keeping their foot on the accelerator. Once activated, the vehicle maintains that speed until the driver manually brakes, accelerates, or turns off cruise control. Benefits of Traditional Cruise Control Reduces driver fatigue on long highway drives Improves fuel efficiency by keeping a steady speed Simple to use with minimal buttons and settings Limitations of Traditional Cruise Control Does not adjust to changing traffic conditions Requires the driver to manually brake and reset speed when needed Can be inconvenient in stop-and-go traffic While traditional cruise control is helpful for maintaining speed on open highways, it falls short in dynamic traffic conditions, requiring constant driver input when other vehicles slow down or change lanes. Ford’s Adaptive Cruise Control: Smarter and Safer Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) takes traditional cruise control to the next level by using advanced sensors, cameras and radar technology to automatically adjust your speed based on traffic flow. Instead of just maintaining a set speed, ACC can slow down or speed up your vehicle based on the distance to the car ahead. How Adaptive Cruise Control Works Set Your Speed – Just like traditional cruise control, you select your desired speed. Senses Traffic Ahead – The system monitors vehicles in front of you using radar and cameras. Adjusts Speed Automatically – If the car ahead slows down, your Ford will automatically reduce speed to maintain a safe following distance. Returns to Set Speed – Once traffic clears, your vehicle accelerates back to the preset speed without manual input. What’s Ford BlueCruise? Key Features of Ford’s Adaptive Cruise Control Stop-and-Go Functionality – In traffic, ACC can slow your vehicle to a complete stop and resume speed when the road clears. Lane-Centering Technology – Some Ford models include Lane-Centering Assist, which keeps the vehicle aligned in its lane while using cruise control. Customizable Distance Settings – Drivers can adjust the following distance to keep a comfortable space between vehicles. Pre-Collision Assist – Works with ACC to detect potential collisions and apply emergency braking if needed. Benefits of Adaptive Cruise Control Improves highway safety by automatically adjusting to traffic flow Reduces driver fatigue in stop-and-go traffic Enhances fuel efficiency by maintaining a smoother speed Provides a more relaxing drive with fewer manual speed adjustments Which One Is Right for You? If you frequently drive on highways or long road trips, traditional cruise control may be enough to keep your speed steady and reduce fatigue. However, if you spend a lot of time in traffic or unpredictable driving conditions, Adaptive Cruise Control is a game-changer. Many Ford vehicles, including the F-150, Explorer, Edge, and Mustang Mach-E, offer Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go as part of their driver-assist packages. This technology is designed to make driving not only easier but also safer by reducing the need for constant braking and acceleration. Whether you’re looking for a vehicle with Adaptive Cruise Control or just want to test the latest Ford technology, we can help you find the perfect match. Visit McLarty Daniel Ford today for a test drive and experience the difference for yourself!