{"id":219268,"date":"2019-09-27T12:54:33","date_gmt":"2019-09-27T10:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?post_type=carmag_news&p=219268"},"modified":"2020-10-01T14:56:09","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T12:56:09","slug":"one-kind-ranger-one-kind-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/motoring\/2019\/09\/27\/one-kind-ranger-one-kind-country\/","title":{"rendered":"One-of-a-kind Ranger for a one-of-a-kind country"},"content":{"rendered":"

The project, which involved five artists, three sprayers, and one assembler, took a total of 650 hours and 35-litres of automotive paint to complete. While the South African flag stretches from below the grille to the rear of the double cab cabin, the sides and the rear of the vehicle were adorned with traditional art. The tailgate featured Ndebele tribal art alongside a South African map which pointed out Ford production plants in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. On both sides of the vehicle, the team incorporated cultural artefacts such as the national flower, the protea and ancient San rock art, to popular animals such as the lifelike Zebras painted by Tebogo Mohlala.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great privilege to be part of the team that worked on this incredible project, and delivering a product that every Ford employee from every cultural background can be proud of,\u201d Queeneth Buthelezi, project leader. \u201cWhat stands out for me about this project is how it merges South Africa\u2019s various cultural and heritage symbols and artefacts into one cohesive unit, just like how Ford brings together people from different backgrounds who work towards one common goal,\u201d Wiseman Mngadi.<\/p>

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\u201cThe project was a great learning experience for me, and an opportunity to demonstrate my skills. It validates my ability and competence as a woman in the automotive industry.\u201d Alana Jansen. \u201cDavid Serithi and Given Manzini did the spray work on the flag. The final process, which requires three layers of clear coat with some preparation in between, followed by two hours of baking for each layer, was done by Daniel Malinga, while Ben Manala was responsible for reassembling the vehicle. The result is fantastic, and there is no question that we have exceptional talent in our team,\u201d Johan Fourie, Paint Shop Area Manager.<\/p>

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\u201cI was awestruck when I saw what the employees at Ford\u2019s Paint Shop had achieved with this project, I am glad that we were able to play a part in turning into a splendid reality the vision that the team had for this project,\u201d Carl Buchling, Technical Site Manager, Axalta Coating Systems South Africa, who donated the paint.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think Henry Ford \u2013 who once famously said: \u2018Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black\u2019 \u2013 could ever, in his wildest dreams, have pictured how incredible all these colours on just one vehicle would be! But we have no doubt that he would be immensely pleased with what we have achieved. This very special Heritage Ranger is built for South Africans, by South Africans; it is both a tribute to Ford\u2019s proud 96-year manufacturing history locally, as well as a fitting representation of our nation\u2019s rich heritage and diversity,\u201d Ockert Berry, VP Operations, Ford Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n

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