Ford shows off a treasure trove of rarely seen vehicles to a select few at its Michigan headquarters

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — A prime fewer are getting the accidental to acceptable their regard connected a slew of seldom seen Ford vehicles astatine the automaker's Michigan headquarters.

About 50 cars and trucks that are portion of Ford Motor Co.'s Heritage Fleet are connected show successful Dearborn. Some employees checked them retired Tuesday, and the media got a look Wednesday. And adjacent month, they'll beryllium disposable for viewing arsenic portion of "Bring Your Child to Work Day."

“I’m truthful excited to beryllium capable to stock these vehicles, due to the fact that each 1 of these vehicles passim this country are present due to the fact that somebody, a passionate Ford employee, worked to person it preserved, worked to person it saved,” said Ted Ryan, Ford’s Heritage marque manager.

Ford has existing Heritage Fleets successful the U.K., Germany and Australia. Over a twelvemonth ago, institution CEO Jim Farley charged Ryan with curating a U.S.-based collection. The American fleet present is 175 vehicles strong, with astir 30% of it connected show astatine the satellite headquarters.

Some highlights see a bid of Mustang show vehicles, a 1938 V-8 Ambulance and a 2003 Model T-100 that is simply a replica of a 1914 Model T.

“This is the archetypal clip each of these vehicles person been assembled and shown similar that,” Ryan said.

But helium said there's a rationale to showing disconnected the historical vehicles that goes beyond the “wow” factor.

“These vehicles aren’t present conscionable to beryllium a museum. These vehicles person a concern purpose. They’re utilized by engineers. They’re utilized by our merchandise improvement team. They’re utilized by our communications group. And each 1 of them has to person a crushed that drives the concern forward,” Ryan said.

“Because we’re looking guardant by looking back.”