Ford Designer Lowell E. Overly in the Soybean Car, 1941
Add to SetSummary
In the 1930s, chemists doing research at Ford's Greenfield Village laboratory discovered that soy-based plastics could be molded into thick, hard sheets. The scientists created prototypes of automobile body parts, like trunk lids. Soon, they envisioned a car with a complete soy-plastic body. Henry Ford unveiled this experimental vehicle in 1941. The "Soybean Car" was abandoned with the U.S. entry into World War II.
In the 1930s, chemists doing research at Ford's Greenfield Village laboratory discovered that soy-based plastics could be molded into thick, hard sheets. The scientists created prototypes of automobile body parts, like trunk lids. Soon, they envisioned a car with a complete soy-plastic body. Henry Ford unveiled this experimental vehicle in 1941. The "Soybean Car" was abandoned with the U.S. entry into World War II.
Artifact
Photographic print
Subject Date
13 August 1941
Keywords
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
64.167.189.P.16353
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 7.3758 in
Width: 11.25 in
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