Ford has a cult following in Europe, and its superfans take their love for the brand to the next level

• Ford has a lot of love for Europe, and the feeling is mutual.
• Ford fan clubs, blogs, and memorabilia collections are popular in Europe.
• Some megafans have even gone so far as to tattoo the brand onto their bodies.
• Meet some of Ford’s megafans and see how the love affair has blossomed.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

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Some Europeans just can’t get enough of Ford.

Source: MSN

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Ford’s devoted global fan base has grown over recent years.

Source: MSN

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Jaron Cole, the founder of Mustang Fan Club, told Business Insider that owning a Ford car overseas is something special.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

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Europeans admire an American-made car because it’s something they’re not used to having, Cole told Business Insider.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

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Fans show their love for Ford in a number of ways. Everything from European fan clubs to online Ford blogs exists.

Source: MSN

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There are European fans who collect old Ford models, have extensive memorabilia collections, and some who own just about anything Ford related…

Source: Wall Street Journal

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…and then there are others who even included their Ford collection in their wedding photos.

Source: Getty Images

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There are some individuals in Europe who even have the car permanently branded on them.

Source: Getty Images

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Fabrizio Schenardi is one of these Ford megafans who lives in Italy.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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Schenardi told Business Insider that he was first exposed to Ford cars when he was eight years old. There was a small auto shop in his hometown village in Italy that worked on American cars.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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After riding in a Mustang for the first time as a child, he was instantly hooked. "I felt like a rockstar," Schenardi said about the experience.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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Schenardi saved up enough money to finally purchase his first Mustang in 2006.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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That same day, Schenardi got a Mustang tattoo to commemorate his big purchase.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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Schenardi eventually became the first European car blogger, writing strictly about Mustang cars.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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As big as Ford's fan base is now, that wasn't always the case for Ford and its European market.

Source: The New York Times

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Ford of Europe wasn't established until 1967.

Source: Bloomberg

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The American car brand had a difficult time attracting European customers and competing with other car brands.

Source: Bloomberg

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But today in Europe Ford is an in-demand car brand.

Source: Ford

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Ford fanatics overseas often prefer to purchase their cars from America, rather than their local dealerships.

Source: U.S. News

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Cole said that it's challenging to purchase a Ford car through another country.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

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Certain European countries have regulations, fees, and taxes.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

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But many European Ford fans would rather pay import and transportation fees to transfer the Ford car from America, Cole told Business Insider.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

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It'll still be cheaper than all the fees and such that the European countries would charge them, he said.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

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Unsurprisingly, the car brand recently unveiled plans to cut six of its 23 European factories and anticipates more than tripling its yearly passenger vehicle imports into Europe by 2024.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Automotive Logistics

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Out of all of Ford's car models, motorhomes are a hot commodity in Europe.

Source: News Atlas

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According to Ford, its motorhome sales in Europe are up almost 15% compared to previous years, and sales have surpassed 100,000 units for the first time.

Source: Ford, The News Wheel

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More recently, self-employment is on the rise in Europe…

Source: Ford, The News Wheel

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...and Ford's Transit vans have become the backbone of business there.

Source: Ford, The News Wheel

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Ford recently converted its transit cargo van into a tiny home that's only available in Europe.

Source: Business Insider

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This is the fourth motorhome that Ford has released just for its European fans.

Source: Ford

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When it was time for Ford to unveil its latest motorhome, there was no question that the brand was going to give the European market priority.

Source: Ford

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In addition to motorhomes, the Ford Mustang's popularity has been on the rise in several European countries.

Source: Ford

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To celebrate the Mustang's 50th anniversary in late 2015, Ford released an updated version of the beloved car with a new design and engineering.

Source: Bloomberg

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Although US sales of the limited-edition Mustang eventually started to dip, Ford saw a major increase in foreign sales.

Source: Bloomberg

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Since 2016, one in four Mustangs is now owned by drivers in China, the UK, and Germany.

Source: Bloomberg

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According to Bloomberg, Ford even sold 17 Mustangs in Bulgaria, one of the smaller countries in Europe.

Source: Bloomberg

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It might seem unexpected for a European to love an American car so much, but when it comes to Ford cars, "the price and performance is one of the best in the world," Schenardi said.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

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After Ford’s campervan release to the European market and the global Mustang fascination, it seems Ford is paving the way for other American car brands' international presence.

Source: Bloomberg, Ford, MSN