July-August, 1969 - Milwaukee Road Archive

Ford Ships Mid-America Special Models
For Its Mid-America Customers
District Ford dealers who met the Mid-America Special at Perry, la., pose there for
news photographers before boarding the train for the ride to Council Bluffs, la.
Six hundred Ford automobiles loaded
on tri-level cars in a striped effect-yellow
cars on the top, green in the middle
and blue on the bottom-were an
arresting sight as they moved out of the
company's Twin Cities assembly plant
June 24 and over our lines to Council
Bluffs, Ia.
The shipment, identified as "Mid­
America Specials for Special Mid-America
People," was the largest consignment
(Continued [1'om page 10)
sion with headquarters in Duluth
G. A. Jonasson appointed trainmaster
of the Milwaukee Terminals Division
with headquarters in Milwaukee.
D. R. Friend is appointed trainmaster-tra\'eling
engineer of the Iowa Division
with headquarters at Perry, Ia....
R. W. Rask appointed trainmaster-traveling
engineer of the Iowa, :!\Iinnesota
& Dakota Division and the Dubuque &
Illinois Division with headquarters at
Mason City, Ia.
EiIective J nne 1, 1969:
C. E. Faber is appointed agent at
Mason City, Ia.
Management Services
Department
Effective June 1, 1969:
C. D. Rogers Jr. is appointed director-data
systems and operations.
Engineering Department
Effective July 16, 1969:
G. G. Irion is appointed general roadmaster
with headquarters in Chicago.
July-August, 1969
of Fords the Milwaukee Road has handled
at one time.
The movement was routed via Perry,
Ia., where the tri·level cars were made
up into a special train. In compliment
to its local Ford dealer and the Mid­
America promotion, Perry staged a
mini-parade of high school musicians,
funny autos, antique cars, a covered
wagon and a color guard, along with
several of the Mid-America models.
A party of Ford dealers, civic officials
and newsmen, headed by A. M. Lam·
bright, Ford Divisiori's Omaha district
sales manager, and R. E. Mollner, manager
of car merchandising-Omaha District,
were on hand for the event, and
rode with the shipment to Council Bluffs
in special cars attached to the train.
The Mid-America Specials-Ford
Customs, Custom 500's, LTD's and
XL's-are painted distinctive new colors:
Dakota Green, Goldenrod Yellow
and Sioux Blue. They are also identified
by medallions mounted on each front
fender. The units were built specifically
for dealerships in Ford's Omaha District,
which encompasses eastern and
central Nebraska, central and western
Iowa and southern South Dakota.
The standard-sized Ford was chosen
for the special offering because of buyer
preference in the three-state area. Mr.
Lambright stated that nearly 62 per cent
of the cars sold in 1968 by district dealers
were standard-sized. Nationally, the
standard size accounts for about 50 per
cent of total sales.
Omaha District buyers also show a
preference for specially equipped cars,
he said, choosing extra-option accessories
in excess of the national average. As
a result, hardtop models in the Mid­
America group have reduced-cost accessory
packages available for installation.
The trainload moved from Perry to
Council Bluffs the afternoon of June 26
and went on sale in the Omaha District
the week of June 29.
Shown beside the Mid-America Special while passenger cars were being attached at
Perry, la., are R. E. Mollner, manager of Ford's car merchandising department-Oma.
ha District (from left), J. M. Fortman, manager "f automotive and implement sales
for the Milwaukee Road, and A. M. lambright, Ford Division's Omaha District sales
manager.
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