EXHIBIT 5
[FORD LETTERHEAD]
November 13, 1998
Ford Motor Company
The American Road
Dearborn, Michigan 48121
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This will refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") being filed by Ford Motor Company (the "Company") on
or about the date hereof with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the proposed sale by
certain of the Company's stockholders of up to 10,000,000 shares of the
Company's common stock (the "Shares").
As an Assistant General Counsel and the Secretary of the Company, I am
familiar with the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws and
with the affairs of the Company. I also have examined such other documents and
instruments and have made such further investigation as I have deemed necessary
or appropriate in connection with this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, it is my opinion that:
1. The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing as a corporation
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2. When the Shares have been duly executed, authenticated, completed,
issued and delivered against receipt of consideration therefor at least equal
to the par value of the Shares and determined to be adequate by the Company's
Board of Directors or a committee thereof, the Shares will thereupon be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
-2-
I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I am in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ John M. Rintamaki
John M. Rintamaki
Assistant General Counsel
and Secretary