destroyed the reputation of American cars being the best made vehicles in the world.
This was always pure propaganda and if that argument were being made, that downfall would've happened way before the '70s. Like, beginning of the 20th century, at latest.
Ford didn't even claim that he invented the automobile. However, he did make the manufacturing process a lot faster, and therefore cheaper, so he was the first to sell them at a price that most people could afford.
He was also a turbo-racist who Hitler saw as an inspiration, but that's a different subject.
This! This! This! Goliaths like GM could make competitive affordable cars tomorrow if they decided they're were going to make money off building good cars instead of ripping off consumers, financialization and oligopolistic tactics.