It was a first-time event Thursday when the Ford Motor company showcased its physical heritage fleet. CTV was there for a media only sneak peek at the Ford vault in Romulus, Mich. This curated special space was built to preserve rare concept cars, Formula One racers, Hollywood Mustangs, and legendary historic vocational vehicles. The facility is home to 125 cars that spans 79,000 square feet. Some vehicles are on loan from private collections, including comedian Jay Leno’s 1934 yellow pickup and the three Ford GT40 race cars that swept the podium at the legendary 24-hours at Le Mans in 1966. “We’re going to open to the public in some way, shape, or form in the future,” said Ted Ryan, the archives and heritage brand manager for Ford. “But what excites me as we divide them up and storytelling pillars to tell the story of how Ford has impacted America, America’s race team answering the call. Who else but Ford during World War II could build 282,000 jeeps or with a run where we built the B-24 Liberator bombers? So, the cars are divided up in storytelling pillars that really give a full expression of how Ford has impacted American life.” The Ford Vault aims to be a historic collection of automotive history, innovation, and American culture. Although not officially announced – a public opening of the historic automotive venue possibly will occur in 2027.
