Concept cars are not a new thing. Automakers have been building these oftentimes fanciful vehicles for many decades. These mockups are a great way for designers to explore new ideas, push styling boundaries and, of course, tease future products that are under development and under wraps. Concepts can also be a great way to gauge public interest in certain design elements or other industry trends.
Over its 120-plus-year history, Ford Motor Company has built more than its share of concept cars, as have its other divisions like Lincoln and Mercury. But what happens to these design studies after the auto shows are over and the years march forward? Well, they can get sold off, destroyed, or, in the best-case scenario, preserved. And that is exactly what Ford has done with a number of its most iconic concept vehicles.
Sharing this unique slice of history, the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has held on to a number of its historical concepts, from the 427 and Interceptor sedans to the Forty-Nine, Lincoln C, Airstream and many more. In this feature, all-around automotive expert Jim Hall and AutoEsoterica host Craig Cole take you for a tour of the fascinating Ford Heritage Fleet of historical vehicles, a fascinating walkabout in the garage of the automaker’s world headquarters.
To learn more about classic cars, make sure you check out the AutoEsoterica YouTube channel. And if you’re feeling generous, go ahead and subscribe, too.
The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.
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