Ford Unveils Historic Vehicle Vault in Michigan

Key Points

The collection includes the 1966 Le Mans-winning GT40s and a 1910 UK-sold Model T within a former Amazon warehouse.
Initial public tickets sold out immediately while zoning laws currently restrict full public museum access.
Ford aims to update local codes for regular public visits while using the site as a working design archive.

Editorial Deep Dive & Context

Ford Motor Company has officially opened the Ford Vault, a dedicated 79,000-square-foot facility located in a repurposed Amazon fulfillment center in Romulus, Michigan. This new home consolidates the company's Heritage Fleet, bringing together 125 historically significant vehicles that were previously scattered across Dearborn headquarters and other locations.

The collection spans more than a century of automotive history, featuring rare racing cars, design concepts, classic trucks, and automobiles tied to popular culture. Key exhibits include the three Ford GT40 Mk IIs that finished first, second, and third at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, a 1910 right-hand-drive Model T originally sold in the United Kingdom, and a 1973 Mustang convertible featured on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Other notable vehicles include Jay Leno’s 1934 Flathead Ford pickup truck and the 2005 Mustang GT proof-of-concept nicknamed "Johnny Cash." The facility was developed over three years, initiated after CEO Jim Farley visited Ford of Britain’s heritage fleet in Daventry.

While the initial opening event for select public members and employees sold out quickly, the building currently operates under zoning restrictions limiting access to invited guests. Ford plans to work with the city of Romulus to update codes for regular public museum access.