Exhibit 5.1


[OBJECT OMITTED]


                                                                October 30, 2001
Ford Motor Company
One American Road
Dearborn, Michigan  48126-1899

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This  will  refer  to  the   Registration   Statement   on  Form  S-8  (the
"Registration Statement"),  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  64,000,000
shares of Common  Stock,  par value  $.01 per  share,  of the  Company  ("Common
Stock"),  relating to the Ford Motor Company  Savings and Stock  Investment Plan
for Salaried Employees (the "Plan").

     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 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  5.1 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