Henry Ford and Robert Boyer with the Soybean Car, 1941

Summary

Robert Boyer, a chemist, oversaw a series of experiments at Greenfield Village's Soybean Laboratory. The undertaking resulted in this plastic-bodied car. Henry Ford had a strong interest in plastic automobile parts. Always partial to projects combining industry with agriculture, Ford hoped plastic made from soybeans might be developed into a safe, strong substitute for traditional metals.

Robert Boyer, a chemist, oversaw a series of experiments at Greenfield Village's Soybean Laboratory. The undertaking resulted in this plastic-bodied car. Henry Ford had a strong interest in plastic automobile parts. Always partial to projects combining industry with agriculture, Ford hoped plastic made from soybeans might be developed into a safe, strong substitute for traditional metals.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

13 August 1941

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Creator Notes

Photographed by Ford Motor Company Engineering Photographic Department, Dearborn, Michigan

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.189.P.16352

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: 7.5 in

Width: 11 in

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