Ever since its establishment in 1903, the Ford Motor Company has produced a wide range of notable, historically important, and groundbreaking automobiles. Surprisingly though, up until quite recently, Ford lacked an official lineup dedicated to showcasing their historical models within the U.S. Recently, however, the company created the Ford Heritage Fleet and extended an invitation for people to explore some of these distinctive vehicles at their location in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ted Ryan, the Ford Heritage brand manager, shed light on how the collection came into being. During his visit to England last year, CEO Jim Farley was deeply impressed by the Heritage and Innovation Centre located in Daventry. This center celebrates Ford’s legacy in the UK through an extensive archive of documents and over 100 automobiles.

The visit led Farley to send an email to his American counterparts, urging them to develop a vehicle archive documenting the brand’s heritage in its homeland. Since Ford lacked any structured practice of maintaining their vehicles, the team had to start entirely anew. Ryan initiated this process by drafting a “collections policy,” which served as a guideline specifying which vehicles should be retained, those that shouldn’t, and the crucial rationales behind keeping important ones. Subsequently, the team gathered various automobiles; they were discovered in storage facilities, hidden at the rear sections of manufacturing plants, and even donated by dedicated Ford enthusiasts.

The purpose of the Heritage Collection is not to establish a museum but instead to assemble a group of cars that can serve as tools for narrating the Ford narrative via marketing and various promotional efforts. This collection, tucked away behind an unassuming entrance at the company’s main offices, serves multiple roles: it is utilized during staff gatherings like inviting design teams for creative stimulation, and also showcased at significant occasions such as the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The U.S. fleet has been integrated with archives from the U.K., along with collections in Germany and Australia, all of which focus on Ford’s country-specific initiatives. Additionally, Ford plans to utilize this fleet for documenting key vehicles and intends to add further content to their repository.
Heritage Vault website
, an extensive online repository of photographs, press releases, and brochures covering virtually every car model Ford produced up until the early 2000s.

We found around 50 vehicles during our visit, and although almost every car was fascinating enough for us to ramble endlessly about them, we have narrowed down the selection to highlight only the most captivating cars from the lot.

1999 Ford Mustang V-10

This silver
Mustang
boasts an uncommon powertrain. Rather than sticking with the conventional V-8 setup, this experimental model comes equipped with a 5.8-liter V-10 engine created by a secretive development squad working parallel to the 2005 GT project at Ford. This decision aimed to potentially compete head-to-head against the ten-cylinder Dodge Viper. Interestingly, the V-10 block was engineered using parts from dual 4.6-liter V-8 engines; specifically, Ford removed the first two cylinders from one unit before fusing these sections onto another engine. Given that there wasn’t a specific electronic controller designed for this custom configuration, engineers utilized two distinct computer modules—each managing half of the cylinder banks—as though they controlled individual inline-fives respectively. According to reports, despite being a prototype, this vehicle remains operational today, delivering approximately 400 horsepower and apparently excelling spectacularly during drag races thanks to its potent torque output.

2007 Ford Airstream Concept

The shiny
Airstream concept
Was constructed in partnership with the renowned Camper/Trailer firm bearing the same name, designed to mimic Airstream’s classic chrome trailers. Its advanced exterior—which featured cameras replacing side-view mirrors and non-symmetrical doors—concealed a cutting-edge propulsion system known as HySeries Drive. This prototype configuration utilized a plug-in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell, powering the wheels through electric motors and charging the battery using either the hydrogen fuel-cell mechanism or by connecting to a charger.

2000 Ford Ranger EV

The
F-150 Lightning
Wasn’t Ford’s initial attempt at an all-electric pickup truck. Actually, the Ranger EV, manufactured between 1998 and 2002 primarily for lease to fleet buyers, marked Ford’s first mass-produced electric vehicle. This modest-looking model featured a lone motor positioned at the back along with a hefty nickel-metal hydride battery tipping the scales at approximately 2000 pounds. According to Ford, this particular Ranger EV remains operational today but now offers a driving distance of roughly 40 miles, compared to its original estimated reach of about 82 miles. What’s even more impressive is that the original charging apparatus used by the Ranger EV has been kept intact, highlighting significant advancements made within the realm of electric vehicles over the past twenty years.

Ford GT Mk II

Certainly, Ford showcased an impressive collection of GTs, featuring the initial trio of prototype units built for the 2005 GT—with their Vehicle Identification Numbers ranging from 001 to 003—and also included a striking 2017 edition distinguished by its visible carbon fiber exterior. However, the most spectacular one stood out among them all.
GT Mk II, a version designed exclusively for racing tracks
of the
GT
That incorporated insights gained from competing against the GT in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Created in collaboration with Multimatic, just 45 units of the Mk II were manufactured, each priced at $1.2 million.

2009 Lincoln C Concept

The
Lincoln C concept
It was an unconventional move for the luxury marque, suggesting the possibility of a compact hatchback with upscale aspirations. The sleek exterior boasts a stepped rear end—a nod to the early-2000s Renault Mégane—but the true standout element was the sophisticated interior. It featured a front bench seat, a hollow steering wheel, abundant wooden accents, and intricate floral patterns adorning the seats. Lincoln imagined this model equipped with an EcoBoost 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine capable of delivering up to 43 mpg. However, despite these ambitions, the C concept never made it past the prototype stage; instead, Lincoln pivoted entirely towards focusing on SUV sales.

2004 Ford Bronco Concept

Ford had been contemplating the comeback of the Bronco well ahead of when the newest version was released in 2021. This boxy 2004 concept made its first appearance at the Detroit Auto Show and combined a square-shaped frame with a compact wheelbase for an iconic look.
Bronco
Proportions were maintained. Underneath, a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine worked alongside an “intelligent” all-wheel drive system. Ford also highlighted a nitrous oxide injection setup designed for temporary surges in horsepower. This Bronco concept would go on to feature in various shows.
Rampage
beside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R

The
Cobra R
One of the most scarce high-performance models within the Mustang series, only 300 were produced. This particular edition boasts an assertive aerodynamic package featuring a domed hood, pronounced front spoiler, and a large rear wing, signaling the presence of the potent 5.4-liter V-8 engine beneath. Capable of delivering 385 horsepower along with 385 pound-feet of torque via a six-speed manual transmission, this car was stripped down for performance; Ford removed elements like the infotainment system, climate control, and backseats to reduce overall mass. Additionally, both the suspension and braking systems underwent enhancements to ensure that the Cobra R would be the definitive racing-focused variant of the Mustang.

2001 Ford Ranger Thunder Strike

This beefy
Ranger
The Lightning Bolt is a unique prototype pickup truck that features the supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 engine from the second-generation F-150 Lightning installed beneath the hood of Ford’s mid-sized vehicle. This powerplant delivers an impressive output of 420 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. Given that the Ranger weighs approximately 1000 pounds less compared to its larger counterpart, the F-150, driving the Lightning Bolt promises to be quite exhilarating.

2003 Ford 427 Concept

A number of the cars in Ford’s lineup feature large engines, and the
427 concept
It is no different. Despite the initial design appearing similar at the front end, this particular four-door car showcased a powerful 7.0-liter V-10 engine under its hood. Extensive utilization of aluminum for components like the engine block, pistons, and cylinder heads made the V-10 weigh approximately 70 pounds less compared to the V-8 found in the Cobra R model. Power from the engine was transmitted through a six-speed manual transmission directly to the rear wheels with an output of 590 horsepower.

2007 Ford Interceptor Concept

We will finish up with one more potent, rear-wheel-drive, manual-shift sedan idea, the
2007 Interceptor
Once more, the design of this concept would impact a production vehicle—the 2008 Five Hundred, which would later get a new moniker: Taurus. Unfortunately, the Interceptor’s “Cammer” 5.0-liter V-8 engine from Ford Racing did not find its way into the final model. Sharing the same foundation as the Mustang, the Interceptor supported E85 fuel, delivered an output of 400 horsepower, and came equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

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