Cartoons Poking Fun at the Ford 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
1941
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, Michigan, Dearborn
Creator Notes
Original cartoons drawn by Will B. Johnstone.
Keywords
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
84.1.1660.P.D.1224
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 8.25 in
Width: 10.25 in
Inscriptions
Handwritten in image, lower right corner: To Henry Ford / with best wishes and / compliments of / Will B. Johnstone / Sept 2 1941
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