Hidden Gem: 2003 Ford Focus ZTS Centennial Edition from the Junkyard

The Ford Motor Company’s journey in the automotive industry began with the creation of the 1903 Model A, marking a significant milestone in automotive history. Fast forward 100 years, Ford commemorated its Centennial with special Centennial Edition cars and trucks. Among the five Centennial Edition models for 2003 were the Taurus, Mustang, Explorer, F-250/F-350, and Focus, all painted in the iconic black color reminiscent of the 1914-1925 Model T.

During a search through a Denver-area junkyard, a rare find was made – a Centennial Edition Ford Focus, showcasing the exclusive “two-tone signature Centennial Leather” seats, although some special items were missing. Despite its rough condition, this Junkyard Gem offers a glimpse of what it looked like in the sales brochure, standing out as the only ZTS sedan in the Centennial Edition Foci collection.

Each Centennial Edition model was produced in limited quantities, with only 3,000 of the Focus, Mustang, and F-Series vehicles, emphasizing the exclusivity of these commemorative editions. The journey to uncover such unique automotive treasures doesn’t end here, as various other special-edition cars have been built to celebrate production anniversaries, each with its story in car graveyards waiting to be discovered.

The 2003 Centennial Edition Focus ZTS sedan in the United States featured the 130-horsepower DOHC Zetec engine, a far cry from its 1903 predecessor with a two-cylinder pushrod boxer engine. With a modern five-speed manual transmission, this Focus exemplifies Ford’s evolution over the years, adapting to changing automotive trends and technologies.

Although the American Ford showrooms bid farewell to the Focus in 2018, it continues to thrive in global markets, sharing the platform with the current Maverick. Despite the changing automotive landscape, the legacy of the Focus lives on in different parts of the world, catering to a diverse range of customers.

In the midst of preserving automotive history, encountering unforeseen circumstances such as a hooptie early-1980s GM sedan spraying contaminated washer fluid on your new black Focus requires resilience and maintenance to protect your prized possession. As we continue to explore the automotive world, we uncover hidden gems that tell the story of Ford’s legacy and its enduring impact on the industry.