Barney Oldfield Driving a Ford Race Car, 1902-1904

01

Artifact Overview

After building this massive racing car in 1902, Henry Ford was reluctant to drive it. He hired a bicycle racer named Barney Oldfield, who would win many races at the controls of the Ford "999." Both men built careers on the car's success--Oldfield became America's first nationally famous race driver and Ford gained support for his next venture: Ford Motor Company.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

1902 - 1904

Subject Date

1902 - 1904

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.728

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Cardboard

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3 in
Width: 6.5 in

Inscriptions

on front: BAKER'S ART GALLERY, COLUMBUS, O.
Barney Oldfield Driving a Ford Race Car, 1902-1904