Exhibit 5.1


                               [OBJECT OMITTED]


Ford Motor Company                                              October 11, 2001
One American Road
P.O. Box 1899
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 savings plan portion of the
Company's Benefit Equalization Plan (the "Plan") to pay in the future the value
of the participants' Plan savings accounts based on the measurement investment
options applicable to the accounts, in accordance with the terms of the Plan
(the "Obligations").

         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 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 therefore the
consideration provided in the Plan.

         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.



                                      -2-


                                                Very truly yours,


                                                /s/Kathryn S. Lamping
                                                --------------------------
                                                Kathryn S. Lamping
                                                Assistant Secretary
                                                  and Counsel