<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>e032702dcprex51.txt
<TEXT>

                                                                    Exhibit 5.1

                               FORD MOTOR COMPANY


Ford Motor Company                                      One American Road
                                                        P.O. Box 1899
                                                        Dearborn, Michigan 48126


                                                        March 27, 2003

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 the obligations of the Company under the Company's Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") to pay in the future the value of the deferred
compensation accounts, as defined in the Plan, adjusted to reflect the
performance, whether positive or negative, of the selected measurement
investment options during the deferral period, in accordance with the terms of
the Plan (the "Obligations").

         As an Assistant Secretary and Counsel of the Company, I am familiar
with the Restated 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 Obligations being registered under the Registration
Statement, and all such Obligations issued in accordance with 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.

<PAGE>

                                      -2-

         I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 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



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
