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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23
 
                     CONSENT OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
Re: Ford Motor Credit Company Registration Statement
    Nos. 33-62973, 33-24928, 33-64237, 33-64263 and 33-55945 on Form S-3
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the above Ford Motor Credit
Company Registration Statements of our report dated January 27, 1997 on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements of Ford Motor Credit Company and
Subsidiaries at December 31, 1996 and 1995 and for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1996 included in Ford Motor Credit Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
/S/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN
MARCH 21, 1997