Driving
America
Daily Activities at Driving America
While there are no scheduled activities today, be sure to see our complete activities listing for upcoming offerings.
From the 1865 Roper, the oldest surviving American car, and Henry Ford’s first gas-powered vehicle to the hybrid 2002 Prius, our Driving America exhibit helps to tell the story of how automotive innovations have changed our lives and influenced American culture. Be sure to stop by the Douglas Auto Drive-In Theatre for a 10-minute, award-winning film. On your journey, you’ll also encounter more than a dozen interactive kiosks that will engage, inform, and inspire.
Highlights
1896 Ford Quadricycle Runabout, First Car Built by Henry Ford
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1896
Summary
The Quadricycle was Henry Ford's first attempt to build a gasoline-powered automobile. It utilized commonly available materials: angle iron for the frame, a leather belt and chain drive for the transmission, and a buggy seat. Ford had to devise his own ignition system. He sold his Quadricycle for $200, then used the money to build his second car.
Creators
Place of Creation
Object ID
00.2.93
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Henry and Clara Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1896 Ford Quadricycle Runabout, First Car Built by Henry Ford
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1965 Lotus-Ford Race Car
Artifact
Racing car
Date Made
1965
Summary
This is one of the seminal cars in American racing history. In 1965 Scotsman Jimmy Clark drove this car to victory in the Indianapolis 500. A few years earlier legendary road racer Dan Gurney concluded that the proper application of European Formula One technology could capture the Indianapolis 500. He brought Ford Motor Company together with Colin Chapman, English builder of Lotus sports and racing cars. The combination resulted in a lightweight Lotus chassis powered by a specially designed Ford V-8 engine. With its monocoque chassis, four-wheel independent suspension, and rear-mounted engine, the Lotus-Ford effectively killed the traditional Indy roadster and established a new paradigm for American race cars. Engine: Ford V-8, double overhead cam, 256 cu. in., 495 hp
Keywords
United States, Indiana, Indianapolis
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.)
Object ID
77.21.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1965 Lotus-Ford Race Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1931
Summary
Longer than a Duesenberg. Twice the horsepower of a Rolls-Royce. More costly than both put together. The Bugatti Royale was the ultimate automobile, making its owners feel like kings. Not only did it do everything on a grander scale than the world's other great luxury cars, it was also rare. Bugatti built only six Royales, whereas there were 481 Model J Duesenbergs and 1767 Phantom II Rolls-Royces.
Object ID
58.86.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Charles and Esther Chayne.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1962 Mustang I Roadster
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1962
Summary
This sharp looking little two-seater created a great "buzz" when racing driver Dan Gurney introduced it at the United States Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, New York, in 1962. Featuring a rear-mounted V-4 engine, it was unlike any Ford ever seen before. The Mustang name later appeared on a sporty four-seater that created its own buzz in 1964.
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
74.57.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1962 Mustang I Roadster
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Texaco "Fire-Chief" Gasoline Pump, circa 1940
Artifact
Gasoline pump
Date Made
circa 1940
Summary
By the 1940s, drivers watched "computing" pumps like this Texaco Fire-Chief pump automatically calculate the amount of gasoline and the price. This type of pump did away with price charts used by service station attendants. Internal, calibrated gear sets turned numbered wheels allowing quick and easy fill ups and payments.
Creators
Place of Creation
Object ID
87.196.25
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Fletcher Oil Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Texaco "Fire-Chief" Gasoline Pump, circa 1940
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Douglas Auto Theatre Sign, circa 1955
Artifact
Advertising sign
Date Made
circa 1955
Summary
The first "auto movie theatre" opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, but it took time to perfect the new technology. In the 1950s, a new market of families and teenagers embraced the informality and privacy of in-car movie-watching. This sign stood at the entrance to a drive-in theatre that held 800 cars when it operated between 1955 and 1985.
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
87.84.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Kalamazoo College.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Douglas Auto Theatre Sign, circa 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1901 Ford "Sweepstakes" Race Car
Artifact
Racing car
Date Made
1901
Summary
This is Henry Ford's first race car. After his first auto company failed, Ford turned to racing to restore his reputation. He raced "Sweepstakes" against Alexander Winton on October 10, 1901, and, to everyone's surprise, the novice Ford beat the established Winton. The victory and resulting publicity encouraged financiers to back Ford's second firm.
Place of Creation
Object ID
00.136.123
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1901 Ford "Sweepstakes" Race Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1935 Miller-Ford Race Car
Artifact
Racing car
Date Made
1935
Summary
This beautiful car was created by Harry Miller, the most important American racing designer before World War II. His legacy included the four cylinder Offenhauser engine that dominated American racing between 1935 and 1975. Miller's hallmarks were innovation, superb craftsmanship, and an artistic touch that transformed his cars, engines, and individual components into pieces of sculpture. The Miller-Ford illustrates all these characteristics. It is lower, sleeker, and more streamlined than any other 1935 race car. It featured independent front and rear suspension, unheard of in American cars of the day. The aerodynamic cast aluminum suspension arms would look good on a pedestal in a museum. But for all its artistry this car was not as successful as Miller's earlier designs. One of ten similar cars, it was produced in a hurry and suffered from lack of time for proper development. Engine: Ford V-8, side valves, 221 cu. in., 150 hp
Place of Creation
Keywords
United States, Indiana, Indianapolis
Miller, Harry A. (Harry Armenius), 1875-1943
Object ID
69.137.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1935 Miller-Ford Race Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1965 Goldenrod Land Speed Race Car
Artifact
Racing car
Date Made
1965
Summary
In November 1965 this sleek car flashed across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to break the world speed record for wheel-driven (as opposed to jet or rocket powered) cars. One key to its success was its long, slim shape that minimized wind resistance. The other key was the clever engineering that packed four Chrysler "Hemi" engines and the machinery to drive all four wheels inside that slim shape. Goldenrod's record of 409.277 miles per hour stood until 1991. Builders Bob and Bill Summers were part of an automobile culture unique to Southern California. This culture spawned a "hot rod economy," made up of people who made their living building cars and equipment, promoting races, operating tracks, selling equipment and accessories, and writing about cars and events. Bob and Bill's success at Bonneville allowed them to become part of the hot rod economy by starting their own business building custom transmission and driveline parts. Engines: Four Chrysler "Hemi" V-8s, overhead valves, 426 cu. in., 600hp each
Place of Creation
Object ID
2002.103.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1965 Goldenrod Land Speed Race Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Driving America
Check out some of the amazing automotive inventions you'll see first-hand when you take a journey through our Driving America exhibit in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.
Roper Steam Carriage
The oldest surviving American-made car, the 1865 Roper was powered by a small steam engine.
Quadricycle
Henry Ford's first attempt at a gasoline-powered vehicle, the Quadricycle was made of commonly available material.
Setting the Standard
As cars developed, they began to include features we recognize today, including headlights.
The Craftsmanship
Cars from throughout American history demonstrate the skill of all who worked on them.
Texaco Service Station
With more Americans on the road, a whole new industry grew to service the cars.
