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Ford Motor Co. is opening the doors to a massive new archive outside Detroit, bringing together about 150 historic vehicles, concept cars and racing machines under one roof.
The 79,000-square-foot Ford Vault opens Friday and consolidates vehicles previously stored in several locations across southeast Michigan, giving employees and visitors a first-hand look at more than a century of the automaker’s history.
“It’s going to be a spectacular place for people to visit,” Ted Ryan, Ford’s archives and heritage brand manager, told FOX Business ahead of the opening.
The collection includes a 1910 Model T, World War II-era military vehicles, concept vehicles, a Formula One race car and a 10-cylinder Mustang, he said.
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Ford Motor Company is opening the doors to a massive new archive outside Detroit, bringing together approximately 150 historic vehicles, concept cars and racing machines under one roof. (Jeff Kowalsky/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ryan said Ford began developing its U.S. heritage fleet about three years ago after CEO Jim Farley pushed the company to develop a collection similar to those it maintained overseas.
Ford ultimately collected more than 60 concept vehicles, about 50 racing vehicles and dozens more from its archives, bringing the collection to about 150 vehicles.
Previously stored at multiple locations, including the garage at Ford’s former headquarters, vehicles are now brought together in the Vault.
Among them is a 1941 Ford GP, an early military vehicle linked to Ford’s role in the American industrial effort during World War II.
Ryan said Ford built about 282,000 GPWs during the war.
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Ted Ryan, Ford’s head of archives and heritage brand, said Ford began developing its U.S. heritage fleet about three years ago. (RENARD company)
Another notable car is a 1998 Stewart Formula 1 car, reminiscent of Ford’s long history in motorsport.
Other vehicles feature some of Ford engineers’ more unusual creations.
“Some of our crazy, smart engineers figured out how to make a 10-cylinder car, but then how to put it into a Mustang and a Mustang body. And so it’s just insane,” Ryan said.
But the Vault isn’t just about preserving Ford’s past. Ryan said the collection can also serve as inspiration for today’s designers and engineers.
“It’s important because looking to the future you always have to know where you are,” Ryan said.
He pointed to vehicles such as the Bronco and Mustang, saying designers can study what made previous generations distinctive without simply recreating them.
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Earlier this year, Ford also showcased its history in Washington, D.C., opening a free exhibit at Union Station as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. (Ford Motor Co.)
Upon entering, visitors will be greeted by two Ford GTs and a 1910 Model T, followed by rows of vehicles spanning several generations of Ford history.
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“It’s just going to be one car after another, where if someone wants to, they can dedicate all their time to delving into not only what this car means, but Ford’s role in culture and society,” Ryan said. “(There are) stories within stories.”
Earlier this year, Ford also showcased its history in Washington, D.C., opening a free exhibit at Union Station as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
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