On 9 September 1982, Ford Motor Company announced that Henry Ford II would finally leave the company's payroll after more than four decades. His formal retirement took effect on 1 October 1982, when he reached the company's mandatory retirement age of 65. However, he did not completely sever his relationship with Ford: he continued as a director, chairman of the Finance Committee and consultant.
Henry Ford II had inherited a company in serious difficulty following his father's death in 1943. Taking over its leadership after the Second World War, he modernised management, recruited the celebrated “Whiz Kids” and helped transform Ford into a more professionally managed global corporation. During his tenure, Ford introduced landmark models including the Thunderbird and Mustang, while the Ford GT40 achieved historic success at Le Mans.
Ford II served as president from 1945 to 1960, CEO until 1979 and chairman until 1980. His final departure in 1982 therefore marked the end of an extraordinary period of Ford family leadership—although his influence continued until his death in 1987.
