Business Notes AUTOS

The last time that Ford Motor could claim to be the most profitable U.S. automaker, its best-selling car was the Model T. After trailing General Motors for 61 years, Ford last year outearned its top rival, $3.3 billion vs. $2.95 billion. Most impressive of all, Ford raced to the lead while selling less than half as many cars as GM.

Ford has succeeded by cutting costs by some $5 billion during the past six years. Another plus: its popular, curvy Taurus and Mercury Sable cars. For the last quarter of 1986, the Taurus (base price: $11,076) outsold all other models in the U.S.