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Ford's St. Thomas Assembly Plant Builds First 1998 Models

27 October 1997

Ford's St. Thomas Assembly Plant Builds First 1998 Models

    ST. THOMAS, Ontario, Oct. 27 -- Production of 1998 Mercury
Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria kicked off at Ford of Canada's
St. Thomas Assembly Plant today with a Job One celebration honoring customers,
employees and cars.
    A 1998 Grand Marquis was the first vehicle off the assembly line, marking
the start of the new model year at the 30-year old facility.  Plant Manager
Dave Savchetz was in the passenger seat as Bob Vincent, a loyal Grand Marquis
customer, drove the first car off the line.  A second ceremonial car was
driven by the plant's first production employee, Kurt Buehler, a tool and die
maker who was given badge #1 when he was hired 30 years ago.  Buehler was
accompanied by Brenda Laursen, the plant's first woman production employee who
was hired in 1977.
    Vincent, a 51-year-old computer salesman from Lawrenceville, Georgia,
represents a unique group of customers who voluntarily participate in the
Grand Marquis Owner-to-Prospect Marketing Program.  Lincoln-Mercury Division
has invited the volunteers to talk with prospective customers at 14 auto shows
in the United States.
    "Grand Marquis has a 42 percent owner loyalty rating, the highest in the
full-size car segment," said Al Giombetti, Grand Marquis Brand Manager,
Lincoln-Mercury Division.  "These Owner-to-Prospect volunteers love to talk
about their cars, so the program is a natural fit for the car and these
customers."
    The 1998 Grand Marquis has significant changes in styling, ride and
handling that will appeal to traditional customers, as well as new buyers.  In
addition to major exterior and interior appearance changes, Grand Marquis has
new standard features, including increased engine horsepower, larger wheels
and brakes, power locks and a new "Precision Trac" suspension system for
improved ride and handling.  North American public introduction at dealerships
is December 26.
    Ford invested $50 million at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant for the launch
of the 1998 Grand Marquis and its Ford counterpart, Crown Victoria.
    "There is a lot of enthusiasm for the redesigned Grand Marquis in the
plant," said Savchetz, "and we think it's going to attract a lot of younger
buyers."
    "Quality levels of the vehicles produced at the St. Thomas plant are the
highest ever and we are confident that we will maintain that for our
customers," added Whitey MacDonald, CAW Plant Chairman.
    The Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria models are built exclusively at
St. Thomas Assembly Plant and are exported to markets in Europe, Latin
America, Middle East and Asia-Pacific.  Production for the 1997-model year
totaled 230,000 vehicles.
    St. Thomas Assembly Plant began operations on December 18, 1967, when Job
One ceremonies were held for the first 1968 Ford Falcon.  It subsequently
produced Pinto/Bobcat, Fairmont/Zephyr, EXP/LN7 and Escort/Lynx models and in
1983 was changed over to build Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis.
    St. Thomas Assembly Plant has 2,800 salaried and hourly employees.

SOURCE  Lincoln-Mercury Division