Registration No. 333-   
    ========================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  _____________

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  ____________

                               FORD MOTOR COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                   38-0549190
   (State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)

                                The American Road
                          Dearborn, Michigan 48121-1899
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                   ___________

                  FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)
                                   ___________

                              J. M. RINTAMAKI, Esq.
                               Ford Motor Company
                                 P. O. Box 1899
                                The American Road
                          Dearborn, Michigan 48121-1899
                                 (313) 323-2260
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                   ___________

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------

                                                      Proposed maximum         Proposed maximum         Amount of
 Title of securities to   Amount to be registered    offering price per       aggregate offering      registration
     be registered                                       obligation                 price**                fee
------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ================
<S>                       <C>                      <C>                      <C>                      <C>              
 Deferred Compensation
    Obligations*             $100,000,000                 100%                  $100,000,000          $34,483.00
------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ================
</TABLE>

*  The Deferred  Compensation  Obligations are unsecured obligations of Ford
   Motor Company to pay deferred  compensation in the future in accordance with
   the terms of the Ford Motor Company Deferred  Compensation Plan.
** Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.


<PAGE>

                  FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                             ______________________

            INCORPORATION OF CONTENTS OF PRIOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     The contents of Registration Statement No. 33-62227 are incorporated herein
by reference.


               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement:

          (a) The latest annual report of Ford Motor Company ("Ford") filed
     pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     (the "1934 Act") which contains, either directly or indirectly by
     incorporation by reference, certified financial statements for Ford's
     latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed.

          (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
     1934 Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual report
     referred to in paragraph (a) above.

          (c) The description of Ford's Common Stock contained in registration
     statement no. 33-43085 filed by Ford under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
     "1933 Act").

     All documents subsequently filed by Ford pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the 1934 Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing such documents.

 
Item 8. Exhibits.
 

Exhibit 4.1    - Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan.  Filed as
                 Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-62227 and
                 incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit 4.2    - Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                 effective October 1, 1995.  Filed as Exhibit 10-T-1 to the
                 Registrant's Annual Reporton Form 10-K for the year ended
                 December 31, 1995.

Exhibit 4.3    - Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                 effective October 1, 1996. Filed with this Registration
                 Statement.

Exhibit 5.1    - Opinion of Peter Sherry, Jr., an Assistant Secretary and
                 Counsel of Ford Motor Company, with respect to the legality of
                 the securities being registered hereunder. Filed with this
                 Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5.2    - Opinion of J. Gordon Christy, an Attorney of Ford Motor
                 Company, with respect to compliance requirements of the
                 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Filed with
                 this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 15     - Letter from Independent Certified Public Accountants regarding
                 unaudited interim financial information. Filed with this
                 Registration Statement.

Exhibit 23     - Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants. Filed
                 with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.1  -  Powers of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed as Exhibit
                 24.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and incorporated
                 herein by reference.

Exhibit 24.2  -  Power of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed with this
                 Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.3  -  Certified resolutions of Board of Directors authorizing
                 signature pursuant to a power of attorney. Filed as Exhibit
                 24.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and incorporated
                 herein by reference.


<PAGE>
     The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dearborn, State of Michigan, on this
30th day of January, 1997.

                                     FORD MOTOR COMPANY
 
                                     By:   Alex Trotman*                    
                                          (Alex Trotman)
                                         Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Signature                                 Title                          Date
       ---------                                 -----                          ----
<S>                                   <C>                                       <C>       
                                      Director and Chairman of the
                                       Board of Directors, President
                                       and Chief Executive Officer
Alex Trotman*                         (principal executive officer)
---------------------
(Alex Trotman)


Michael D. Dingman*                          Director                     January 30, 1997
---------------------
(Michael D. Dingman)

                                         Director and Vice
                                   President, Ford Motor Company,
                                     and Director and President
                                    and Chief Operating Officer,
Edsel B. Ford II*                    Ford Motor Credit Company
---------------------
(Edsel B. Ford II)


William Clay Ford*                           Director
---------------------
(William Clay Ford)

<PAGE>
    Signature                                 Title                             Date
    ---------                                 -----                             ----

                                     Director and Chairman
William Clay Ford, Jr.*            of the Finance Committee
------------------------
(William Clay Ford, Jr.)

 

Roberto C. Goizueta*                      Director
-----------------------
(Roberto C. Goizueta)



Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr.*                  Director
-------------------------
(Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr.)



Marie-Josee Kravis*                       Director
------------------------
(Marie-Josee Kravis)



Drew Lewis*                               Director                         January 30, 1997
------------------------
(Drew Lewis)



Ellen R. Marram*                          Director
------------------------
(Ellen R. Marram)



Homer A. Neal                             Director
------------------------
(Homer A. Neal)



Carl E. Reichardt*                        Director
------------------------
(Carl E. Reichardt)

 
 
John L. Thornton*                         Director
------------------------
(John L. Thornton)

<PAGE>
     Signature                             Title                                Date
     ---------                             -----                                ----


  Clifton R. Wharton, Jr.*                Director
----------------------------
 (Clifton R. Wharton, Jr.)


 
                                     Executive Vice President
                                    and Chief Financial Officer              January 30, 1997
John M. Devine*                    (principal financial officer)
---------------------------
(John M. Devine)



                                       Corporate Controller
William J. Cosgrove*               (principal accounting officer)
---------------------------
(William J. Cosgrove)


</TABLE>


*By:  /s/K. S. Lamping          
      -----------------------
        (K. S. Lamping
        Attorney-in-Fact)




<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                                                                        Sequential Page
                                                                                        at Which Found
                                                                                        (or Incorporated
                                                                                        by Reference)
<S>                 <C>                                                                <C>
Exhibit 4.1         Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan. Filed as
                    Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-62227 and
                    incorporated herein by reference.
 
Exhibit 4.2         Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                    effective October 1, 1995. Filed as Exhibit 10-T-1 to
                    the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                    ended December 31, 1995.

Exhibit 4.3         Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                    effective October 1, 1996. Filed with this Registration
                    Statement.

Exhibit 5.1         Opinion of Peter Sherry, Jr., an Assistant Secretary and
                    Counsel of Ford Motor Company, with respect to the
                    legality of the securities being registered hereunder.
                    Filed with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 5.2         Opinion of J. Gordon Christy, an Attorney of Ford Motor
                    Company, with respect to compliance requirements of the
                    Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Filed with
                    this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 15          Letter from Independent Certified Public Accountants
                    regarding unaudited interim financial information. Filed
                    with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 23          Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants. Filed
                    with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.1        Powers of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed as Exhibit
                    24.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and
                    incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit 24.2        Power of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed with this
                    Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.3        Certified resolutions of Board of Directors authorizing
                    signature pursuant to a power of attorney. Filed as
                    Exhibit 24.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and
                    incorporated herein by reference.


</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "DEFERRED COMPENSATION S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 13681}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORD MOTOR CO", "cik": "0000037996", "assigned-sic": "3711", "irs-number": "380549190", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-20725", "film-number": "97514393"}, "business-address": {"street1": "THE AMERICAN RD", "city": "DEARBORN", "state": "MI", "zip": "48121", "phone": "3133223000"}}
Registration No. 333-   
    ========================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  _____________

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  ____________

                               FORD MOTOR COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                   38-0549190
   (State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)

                                The American Road
                          Dearborn, Michigan 48121-1899
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                   ___________

                  FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)
                                   ___________

                              J. M. RINTAMAKI, Esq.
                               Ford Motor Company
                                 P. O. Box 1899
                                The American Road
                          Dearborn, Michigan 48121-1899
                                 (313) 323-2260
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                   ___________

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------

                                                      Proposed maximum         Proposed maximum         Amount of
 Title of securities to   Amount to be registered    offering price per       aggregate offering      registration
     be registered                                       obligation                 price**                fee
------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ================
Deferred Compensation
    Obligations*             $100,000,000                 100%                  $100,000,000          $34,483.00
------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ================
*  The Deferred  Compensation  Obligations are unsecured obligations of Ford
   Motor Company to pay deferred  compensation in the future in accordance with
   the terms of the Ford Motor Company Deferred  Compensation Plan.
** Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                             ______________________

            INCORPORATION OF CONTENTS OF PRIOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     The contents of Registration Statement No. 33-62227 are incorporated herein
by reference.

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement:

          (a) The latest annual report of Ford Motor Company ("Ford") filed
     pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     (the "1934 Act") which contains, either directly or indirectly by
     incorporation by reference, certified financial statements for Ford's
     latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed.

          (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
     1934 Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual report
     referred to in paragraph (a) above.

          (c) The description of Ford's Common Stock contained in registration
     statement no. 33-43085 filed by Ford under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
     "1933 Act").

     All documents subsequently filed by Ford pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the 1934 Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing such documents.

 
Item 8. Exhibits.
 

Exhibit 4.1    - Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan.  Filed as
                 Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-62227 and
                 incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit 4.2    - Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                 effective October 1, 1995.  Filed as Exhibit 10-T-1 to the
                 Registrant's Annual Reporton Form 10-K for the year ended
                 December 31, 1995.

Exhibit 4.3    - Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                 effective October 1, 1996. Filed with this Registration
                 Statement.

Exhibit 5.1    - Opinion of Peter Sherry, Jr., an Assistant Secretary and
                 Counsel of Ford Motor Company, with respect to the legality of
                 the securities being registered hereunder. Filed with this
                 Registration Statement.
Exhibit 5.2    - Opinion of J. Gordon Christy, an Attorney of Ford Motor
                 Company, with respect to compliance requirements of the
                 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Filed with
                 this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 15     - Letter from Independent Certified Public Accountants regarding
                 unaudited interim financial information. Filed with this
                 Registration Statement.

Exhibit 23     - Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants. Filed
                 with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.1  -  Powers of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed as Exhibit
                 24.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and incorporated
                 herein by reference.

Exhibit 24.2  -  Power of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed with this
                 Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.3  -  Certified resolutions of Board of Directors authorizing
                 signature pursuant to a power of attorney. Filed as Exhibit
                 24.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and incorporated
                 herein by reference.
The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dearborn, State of Michigan, on this
30th day of January, 1997.

                                     FORD MOTOR COMPANY
 
                                     By:   Alex Trotman*                    
                                          (Alex Trotman)
                                         Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature                                 Title                          Date
       ---------                                 -----                          ----
Director and Chairman of the
                                       Board of Directors, President
                                       and Chief Executive Officer
Alex Trotman*                         (principal executive officer)
---------------------
(Alex Trotman)

Michael D. Dingman*                          Director                     January 30, 1997
---------------------
(Michael D. Dingman)

                                         Director and Vice
                                   President, Ford Motor Company,
                                     and Director and President
                                    and Chief Operating Officer,
Edsel B. Ford II*                    Ford Motor Credit Company
---------------------
(Edsel B. Ford II)

William Clay Ford*                           Director
---------------------
(William Clay Ford)
Signature                                 Title                             Date
    ---------                                 -----                             ----

                                     Director and Chairman
William Clay Ford, Jr.*            of the Finance Committee
------------------------
(William Clay Ford, Jr.)

 

Roberto C. Goizueta*                      Director
-----------------------
(Roberto C. Goizueta)

Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr.*                  Director
-------------------------
(Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr.)

Marie-Josee Kravis*                       Director
------------------------
(Marie-Josee Kravis)

Drew Lewis*                               Director                         January 30, 1997
------------------------
(Drew Lewis)

Ellen R. Marram*                          Director
------------------------
(Ellen R. Marram)

Homer A. Neal                             Director
------------------------
(Homer A. Neal)

Carl E. Reichardt*                        Director
------------------------
(Carl E. Reichardt)

 
 
John L. Thornton*                         Director
------------------------
(John L. Thornton)
Signature                             Title                                Date
     ---------                             -----                                ----

  Clifton R. Wharton, Jr.*                Director
----------------------------
 (Clifton R. Wharton, Jr.)

 
                                     Executive Vice President
                                    and Chief Financial Officer              January 30, 1997
John M. Devine*                    (principal financial officer)
---------------------------
(John M. Devine)

                                       Corporate Controller
William J. Cosgrove*               (principal accounting officer)
---------------------------
(William J. Cosgrove)
*By:  /s/K. S. Lamping          
      -----------------------
        (K. S. Lamping
        Attorney-in-Fact)
EXHIBIT INDEX
                                                                                        Sequential Page
                                                                                        at Which Found
                                                                                        (or Incorporated
                                                                                        by Reference)
Exhibit 4.1         Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan. Filed as
                    Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-62227 and
                    incorporated herein by reference.
 
Exhibit 4.2         Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                    effective October 1, 1995. Filed as Exhibit 10-T-1 to
                    the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                    ended December 31, 1995.

Exhibit 4.3         Amendment to Ford Motor Company Deferred Compensation Plan,
                    effective October 1, 1996. Filed with this Registration
                    Statement.

Exhibit 5.1         Opinion of Peter Sherry, Jr., an Assistant Secretary and
                    Counsel of Ford Motor Company, with respect to the
                    legality of the securities being registered hereunder.
                    Filed with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 5.2         Opinion of J. Gordon Christy, an Attorney of Ford Motor
                    Company, with respect to compliance requirements of the
                    Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Filed with
                    this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 15          Letter from Independent Certified Public Accountants
                    regarding unaudited interim financial information. Filed
                    with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 23          Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants. Filed
                    with this Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.1        Powers of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed as Exhibit
                    24.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and
                    incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit 24.2        Power of Attorney authorizing signature. Filed with this
                    Registration Statement.

Exhibit 24.3        Certified resolutions of Board of Directors authorizing
                    signature pursuant to a power of attorney. Filed as
                    Exhibit 24.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-02735 and
                    incorporated herein by reference.