Launching this month on Ford’s 119th anniversary, the blue oval company is showcasing a century of its archival documents and other materials made available to the public with a new online database titled the Ford Heritage Vault.
Ford developed the Heritage Vault for fans of the company, journalists, and general car enthusiasts in order to make it simple to discover the company’s storied automotive history from anywhere in the world. The searchable footage, pictures, documents, and other historical features are downloadable for personal use at no charge for the first time as part of the American auto industry’s largest complete online database.
More specifically, the vault provides over 5,000 curated photographs and product brochures from Ford and Lincoln vehicles, from all the way back during the company’s founding in 1903 to its centennial celebration in 2003. Ford will help evolve and grow the Heritage Vault over time, drawing from its archives.
“We’re opening up in a way we’ve never done before,” said Ted Ryan, Ford archive and heritage brand manager. “Our archives were established 70 years ago, and for the first time, we’re opening the vault for the public to see. This is just a first step for all that will come in the future.”
All the documents and materials available in the vault now were carefully curated during the past two years by Ford’s highly-trained archives team. A large number of the company’s high-resolution images present the design and functionality of Ford and Lincoln vehicles over time. Others are distinct images that put significant parts of Ford’s heritage in full view for both experts and newcomers to automotive fandom.
For example, one set of brochures works as a time capsule for the 1970s and ’80s era. The series was created to market specific vehicle design packages to younger consumers and shows beach outings, racing and skydiving, accentuated with vivid oranges, browns and yellows.
“Complementing all of the vehicle photos available in the Ford Heritage Vault, brochures like these add so much more information and impact for people who want to learn about our products, heritage and accessories,” said Ciera Casteel, processing archivist, who prepared materials for the Heritage Vault.
