New Ford Performance Division to be Called 999?
–by Jonathon Klein
Over the past few years, Ford has operated its performance division here in the US under the SVT nameplate. But over the course of the last decade, those performance-driven models have either dropped a letter or two, or completely replaced the entire name, such as with the Shelbys. Now, though, with a more concerted effort in bringing global platforms, the Blue Oval may be rethinking its performance nameplate.
One of Jalopnik’s readers was sent a survey where those surveyed were asked whether or not the name 999 would make for a good performance brand name for a “major automotive manufacturer.” While it wasn’t implicit who that major manufacturer was, later in the survey it does mention Ford.
For those born outside of the beginning of the industrial revolution, the name 999 doesn’t have any significance whatsoever. But for those few people over the age of 108, and those few timelords running around the cosmos, the 999 moniker does have some significance.
Being that Ford wants to emerge as a truly global manufacturer with performance offerings to all, the 999 signifies really the first-ever Ford racing car built in 1902. The car had a 18.3L inline 4 cylinder engine and a top speed of 91 mph! That’s hugely impressive for 1902.
Ford has gone through a multitude of performance nomenclature throughout its storied history, but I’m not sure this one will come through as well as say, SVO, SVT, Shelby or ST. What do you think? Are you all for it, or is “999” a total nein, nein, nein?