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The SHELBY AMERICAN
Summer 2017 7
JIM FARLEYMOVES ONE STEP CLOSER TO FORD’S TOP FLOOR
Effective June 1, 2017, SAAC
member Jim Farley was promoted to
the post of Executive Vice President of
Ford and President of Global Markets.
His responsibilities will include over-
seeing Ford’s business units in the
Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa
and Asia pacific. Additionally, he will
supervise the Lincoln Mercury Com-
pany and Global Marketing Sales and
Service and will oversee strategy and
business model development for elec-
trified vehicles and autonomous vehi-
cles. While not yet at the very top of
Ford’s organizational chart, he is on
the first page. Prior to this promotion
he was President of Ford of Europe,
Middle East and Africa.
Jim Farley is what you would
imagine an automobile company exec-
utive to be, but very few are. He is a
total “car guy” with gasoline running
through his veins. Guys like him usu-
ally get winnowed out along their way
to the top floor, stepped over by Ivy-
Leaguers with Phi Beta Kappa keys,
MBAs, low golf scores and sail boats.
Farley prefers playing with hot rods
and piloting vintage race cars in his off
time. The company is better for it.
He was always interested in cars
for as far back as he can remember. He
put himself through business school at
UCLA by working for Phil Hill in his
restoration shop, specializing in inte-
rior and upholstery work. He began
racing about ten years ago, driving a
289 Cobra in vintage events in this
country and doing well enough to win
a handful of races. He wanted to run
harder but felt doing that in a Cobra
was taking too much of a chance, so he
got a safer two-liter sports racer and
finished third in a championship. He
also has a 427 Cobra as a street driver.
After being transferred to Europe
he was able to race on the circuits over
there and bought a ‘74 Porsche RSR.
After racing it with Bobby Rahal he
received an offer to sell it and did so.
This enabled him to get what he had
always wanted: a GT40. He found one
in Belgium, P/1109, which he is
preparing for European events. It
seems like the perfect match.
Photos by Stephane Sasso