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- Ford Motor Company Advanced Styling Section, circa 1953 -
- circa 1953
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Advanced Styling Section, circa 1953
- Scale Model of the Nucleon, a 1958 Ford Motor Company Styling Conception for an Atomic-Powered Car - This 3/8-scale model was built to explore how the future of energy might affect the future of automotive design. The Ford Nucleon would have been powered by a rear-mounted, self-contained nuclear reactor. This atomic-automobile idea assumed, of course, that issues with nuclear safety and the size and weight of nuclear reactors would eventually be resolved. The Nucleon was never produced.
- 1958
- Collections - Artifact
Scale Model of the Nucleon, a 1958 Ford Motor Company Styling Conception for an Atomic-Powered Car
This 3/8-scale model was built to explore how the future of energy might affect the future of automotive design. The Ford Nucleon would have been powered by a rear-mounted, self-contained nuclear reactor. This atomic-automobile idea assumed, of course, that issues with nuclear safety and the size and weight of nuclear reactors would eventually be resolved. The Nucleon was never produced.
- Ford Public Relations Memo regarding Letter from Lincoln, Age 14, January 19, 1966 - In January 1966, Ford public relations assistant Milton D. West replied to Lincoln, a 14-year-old car enthusiast from Michigan, who was curious about the time needed to design an automobile. West explained that the 1967 Lincoln Continental's design had been completed long ago. He added that, even in early 1966, the 1968 Lincoln Continental's design was largely finished too.
- January 19, 1966
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Public Relations Memo regarding Letter from Lincoln, Age 14, January 19, 1966
In January 1966, Ford public relations assistant Milton D. West replied to Lincoln, a 14-year-old car enthusiast from Michigan, who was curious about the time needed to design an automobile. West explained that the 1967 Lincoln Continental's design had been completed long ago. He added that, even in early 1966, the 1968 Lincoln Continental's design was largely finished too.
- Advanced Design Group Working at Ford Motor Company Dearborn Engineering Laboratory, 1948 - Automotive designers were photographed in 1948 while working at their drafting tables in the Ford Engineering Laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford built the lab in 1923-1924 to house its tool design, production engineering and experimental engineering research departments. The facility was expanded several times over the years. It later housed the advanced design studio and powertrain engineering facilities.
- 1948
- Collections - Artifact
Advanced Design Group Working at Ford Motor Company Dearborn Engineering Laboratory, 1948
Automotive designers were photographed in 1948 while working at their drafting tables in the Ford Engineering Laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford built the lab in 1923-1924 to house its tool design, production engineering and experimental engineering research departments. The facility was expanded several times over the years. It later housed the advanced design studio and powertrain engineering facilities.
- Designer Working in the Ford Motor Company Styling Studio, August 1953 -
- August 20, 1953
- Collections - Artifact
Designer Working in the Ford Motor Company Styling Studio, August 1953
- Letter of Thanks from Eugene Bordinat to Car Enthusiasts Ronnie, Scotty, and The Car Club, May 1965 - In 1965, three members of "The Car Club" of Colville, Washington, wrote to Ford Motor Company to report that they had voted Thunderbird their best car of the year. The young enthusiasts even sent drawings of cars and a small plastic trophy. In reply, they received a letter of appreciation from Ford design head Gene Bordinat.
- May 03, 1965
- Collections - Artifact
Letter of Thanks from Eugene Bordinat to Car Enthusiasts Ronnie, Scotty, and The Car Club, May 1965
In 1965, three members of "The Car Club" of Colville, Washington, wrote to Ford Motor Company to report that they had voted Thunderbird their best car of the year. The young enthusiasts even sent drawings of cars and a small plastic trophy. In reply, they received a letter of appreciation from Ford design head Gene Bordinat.
- Letter and Auto Design Drawing from Car Enthusiast Benny to Ford Motor Company Styling Office, May 11, 1965 -
- May 11, 1965
- Collections - Artifact
Letter and Auto Design Drawing from Car Enthusiast Benny to Ford Motor Company Styling Office, May 11, 1965
- Eugene Bordinat, Elwood P. Engel, and John Najjar at Wayne State University Exhibit, 1961 - Ford Motor Company designers Eugene Bordinat (right), Elwood Engel (center) and John Najjar (left) contributed to many of the memorable cars Ford produced in the 1950s and 1960s. Bordinat's credits included the Falcon and the Mustang. Engel oversaw the 1961 Lincoln Continental. Najjar supervised design of the Mustang I concept car.
- September 27, 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Eugene Bordinat, Elwood P. Engel, and John Najjar at Wayne State University Exhibit, 1961
Ford Motor Company designers Eugene Bordinat (right), Elwood Engel (center) and John Najjar (left) contributed to many of the memorable cars Ford produced in the 1950s and 1960s. Bordinat's credits included the Falcon and the Mustang. Engel oversaw the 1961 Lincoln Continental. Najjar supervised design of the Mustang I concept car.
- Ford Motor Company Designers Gil Spear and Larry Wilson Working on Clay Model, 1950 - Gil Spear (left) began his career at General Motors before joining Ford in 1947, where he remained until retiring in 1974. Larry Wilson (right) started at Ford as a clay modeler in 1940, having been hired by Henry Ford himself. Wilson retired in 1981. The two designers were photographed in 1950 while working on a three-eighths-scale clay model.
- November 16, 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Designers Gil Spear and Larry Wilson Working on Clay Model, 1950
Gil Spear (left) began his career at General Motors before joining Ford in 1947, where he remained until retiring in 1974. Larry Wilson (right) started at Ford as a clay modeler in 1940, having been hired by Henry Ford himself. Wilson retired in 1981. The two designers were photographed in 1950 while working on a three-eighths-scale clay model.
- Gene Bordinat's Speech for the Introduction of Ford Aurora Concept Car, March 31, 1964 - Gene Bordinat, Ford's Vice President and Director of Styling, introduced the Aurora concept car at the 1964 New York World's Fair. He described the station wagon as "a rolling laboratory of new ideas in styling and engineering." While Bordinat admitted that many of Aurora's features were a long way from production, he celebrated the opportunity "to let the imagination roam free."
- March 31, 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Gene Bordinat's Speech for the Introduction of Ford Aurora Concept Car, March 31, 1964
Gene Bordinat, Ford's Vice President and Director of Styling, introduced the Aurora concept car at the 1964 New York World's Fair. He described the station wagon as "a rolling laboratory of new ideas in styling and engineering." While Bordinat admitted that many of Aurora's features were a long way from production, he celebrated the opportunity "to let the imagination roam free."