SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report September 24, 1998 ------------------ (Date of earliest event reported) FORD MOTOR COMPANY ------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware -------- (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 1-3950 38-0549190 ------ ---------- (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) The American Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48121 -------------------------------------- ----- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code 313-322-3000 ------------ -2- Item 5. Other Events. - --------------------- Ford Motor Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), has registered Debt Securities ("Debt Securities") pursuant to Registration Statement No.333-52485 and Registration Statement No. 333-14297. The Debt Securities were registered on Form S-3 to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933. The Company has created a series of Debt Securities for issuance under an Indenture dated as of February 15, 1992, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 5, 1996, between Ford and The Bank of New York designated as the Company's 6 5/8% Debentures due October 1, 2028 in the aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000,000 (the "Debentures"). Copies of tax opinions and consents relating to the issuance of the Debentures are filed as exhibits to this Report. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBITS -------- Designation Description Method of Filing - ----------- ----------- ---------------- Exhibit 8.1 Opinion of Shearman & Sterling. Filed with this Report Exhibit 8.2 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell. Filed with this Report Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Shearman & Sterling Filed with this Report is contained in their opinion set forth in Exhibit 8.1. Exhibit 23.2 Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell Filed with this Report is contained in their opinion set forth in Exhibit 8.2. SIGNATURE --------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the date indicated. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ------------------ (Registrant) Date: September 28, 1998 By/s/Peter Sherry, Jr. -------------------- Peter Sherry, Jr. Assistant Secretary -3- EXHIBIT INDEX ------------- DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION PAGE - ----------- ----------- ---- Exhibit 8.1 Opinion of Shearman & Sterling. Exhibit 8.2 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell. Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Shearman & Sterling is contained in their opinion set forth in Exhibit 8.1. Exhibit 23.2 Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell is contained in their opinion set forth in Exhibit 8.2.