[rtpg]

Another point (accentuated by the article) is that Smith and Ford are both considered archetypes of "free market capitalism"

They are being used here as symbols of the idea. We are talking about capitalism, not about Smith or Ford.

Unfortunately this turns into its own feedback loop. Simple intros to Smith talk about free markets, so people associate the name to the idea.

[ArkyBeagle]

Smith espoused free markets as an improvement over the then-dominant Mercantilism. What came of "free markets" after him isn't his fault :)