Discover 100+ years of some of the Blue Oval's most priced possessions and treasured icons on this private tour
by Amrit Balraj on May 24, 2024, 08:00The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan houses one of the largest collections of automobile memorabilia in the world. The collection is so extensive that the museum even features a substantial secret collection of special cars, carefully preserved in a hidden bunker away from prying eyes. Imagine getting the opportunity to spend time in such hallowed halls—this is exactly what Top Gear’s Ollie Kew experienced. During his visit, he also had the chance to converse with the museum’s Curator of Transport, Matt Anderson, who is essentially a living encyclopedia of every vehicle in this collection. We get to see some of the rarest and most exotic cars ever made by the Blue Obal and hear their stories, straight from the man who has seen the collection grow over the years.
The Henry Ford Museum houses a large number of vehicles from different periods in history, however, they are unable to display the entirety of their collection at the same time. This means that the bulk of their collection remains safely in their archives and is sometimes rotated with the main attractions of the museum. Ollie experienced some of history’s most celebrated and rarest automobiles ever made by the Ford Motor Company. Along with the cars, the collection also features some vintage bicycles, including an 1818 wooden Drasienne bicycle.
Some of the more historical exhibits in the collection include a 1964 Lincoln Continental Limo which was made exclusively for Pope Paul the 6th for his visit in 1965, a camping van that was used as a pantry vehicle used by Henry Ford himself, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone (Firestone Tires) when they went camping and a Studebaker Avanti. Besides cars with historical importance, there are also several concept cars like the 1996 Lincoln Sentinel which was made for the North American International Auto Show, and a 1998 crossover concept that looks like an early version of a compact SUV but sadly never went into production at the time. Interestingly, there is also a 2nd Generation Ford GT which has been cut up across its cross-section as an interesting show car.
There are also several law enforcement vehicles on display including a Crown Vic and a Ford Ranger which was donated by the Ford Corporation to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey post the devastating attacks of 9/11. Ollie Kew’s journey through the archives of the Henry Ford Museum was expertly guided by the knowledgeable and gracious host Matt Anderson, who was able to breathe life into this unique experience. This tour wasn’t just a walkthrough of automotive history but a study of the innovation, design, and cultural impact of vehicles through the ages.
Amrit Balraj
When not reading up or watching videos about obscure and rare automobiles, Amrit spends his free time planning imaginary road trips on some of the best driving roads in the world, preferably in an old truck with a motorcycle strapped to the bed. Read full bio