[OBJECT OMITTED]
Exhibit 5.A
Ford Motor Company One American Road
P.O. Box 1899
Dearborn, Michigan 48126-1899
August 2, 2000
Ford Motor Company
One American Road
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This will refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") that is being filed by Ford Motor Company (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with
respect to 250,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company ("Common Stock"), relating to the Company's Savings and Stock Investment
Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Plan").
As an Assistant Secretary and Counsel of the Company, I am familiar with
the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Company and with its
affairs, including the actions taken by the Company in connection with the Plan.
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 upon 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) All necessary corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize
the issuance of the shares of Common Stock being registered under the
Registration Statement, and all such shares of Common Stock acquired by Fidelity
Management Trust Company, as trustee under the Master Trust Agreement dated as
of September 30, 1995, as amended, relating to the Plan (the "Master Trust
Agreement") and as trustee under the Plan, in accordance with the Master Trust
Agreement and the Plan will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable
when the Registration Statement shall have become effective and the Company
shall have received therefor the consideration provided in the Plan (but not
less than the par value thereof).
I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.A 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/Kathryn S. Lamping
Kathryn S. Lamping
Assistant Secretary and
Counsel
