Ford Harley-Davidson Truck Rumbles Onto Web to Benefit Charities

3 April 2000
Ford Harley-Davidson Truck Rumbles Onto Web to Benefit Charities

    DEARBORN, Mich., March 31 Each weeknight on the "Tonight
Show," host Jay Leno loves getting the laughs.  In real life, he's an avowed
gearhead who loves fast cars and motorcycles.  He also has a soft spot for
kids, so when it comes to giving kids a fighting chance in life, Leno gets
downright serious.  When Ford Motor Company and Harley-Davidson
Motor Company announced that they would roll out a special pickup truck this
year, guess who was the first to raise his hand for some special kids?
    Today in Dearborn, Leno moved to the head of the class as he and Ford
Division President Jim O'Connor announced that Ford will donate a new 2000
Harley-Davidson F-150 to be auctioned off on the Yahoo! internet web site with
proceeds going to one of Leno's favorite fund-raisers, the Love Ride
Foundation, and to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, one of Ford's
top corporate causes.  The online auction will run from June 20 through
June 30.
    "This truck has really stolen the hearts of Ford truck fans everywhere.
Dealers have already ordered every one we're going to build this year," said
O'Connor.  "If this customer demand is any indication, we expect a substantial
winning bid for the truck.  In that case, everyone wins -- the lucky winner
will get a rare truck while, at the same time, helping fund research into
muscular dystrophy and breast cancer," added O'Connor.
    Leno is the Grand Marshal of the "Love Ride," which has become a major
annual event in southern California, attracting 20,000 motorcycle riders, with
proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Harley-Davidson's top
corporate charity, and to the "Reading By 9" literacy initiative sponsored by
the Los Angeles Times.
    "I'm just a big kid myself when it comes to things that look great and go
fast, like this Harley-Davidson F-150 -- and what's more important than kids?"
said Leno.  "Thanks to Ford, Harley-Davidson and Yahoo! for helping dreams
come true for our 'Love Ride' kids," he added.
    While in Dearborn, Leno became Customer #1 as O'Connor handed him the keys
to the first Harley-Davidson F-150.  A self-proclaimed gearhead, Leno loves
fast Fords and hot Harley-Davidson motorcycles.  His personal collection
includes more than 60 cars and trucks, including a number of Fords, and
approximately 50 motorcycles.  Leno even has a souped-up Ford Festiva packing
a SHO V-6 that he uses to humble more exotic fare on the roads around L.A.
    Up to 7,500 of the Harley-Davidson F-150s can be produced for North
America at Ford's Ontario Truck Plant in Canada.  Job #1 (production start-up)
is scheduled for May, with showroom availability scheduled shortly thereafter.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) will be $32,995.
    The Harley-Davidson F-150 is the first product of a historic alliance
between Ford and Harley-Davidson, with both companies jointly celebrating
their centennials in 2003.  The Ford and Harley-Davidson alliance provides the
opportunity for the two companies to jointly develop and market exciting
products, like the Harley-Davidson F-150, and a line of unique automotive
accessories and apparel, available only through Ford dealerships and
http://www.icollection.com .