Ford
Harley-Davidson Truck Rumbles Onto Web to Benefit Charities
Each week night on
the "Tonight Show," host Jay Leno loves getting the laughs. In real life,
he's an avowed gear head 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?
Jay 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 on-line
auction will begin on June 20 and end on 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.
Ford Division
President Jim O'Connor (R) hands "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno keys to
a 2000 Harley-Davisdon F-150. One of the limited edition trucks will be
auctioned off on Yahoo!. Proceeds will go to one of Leno's favorite charities,
The Love Ride Foundation, and to one of Ford's top causes, the Susan G.
Komer Breast Cancer Foundation.
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 www.icollection.com.
