Ford Quarter Earnings Up 21.8%

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. said today its earnings rose 21.8% to a record in the third quarter compared with the same three-month period last year, based on strong overseas sales.

The nation’s No. 2 auto maker said it earned $856.3 million, or $1.78 per share, in the July-September period, up from $703.2 million, or $1.38 per share, during the third quarter of 1987. Revenue rose nearly 16% to $17.7 billion from $15.3 billion a year earlier. General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. are expected to announce their third-quarter earnings figures Thursday.