The SHELBY AMERICAN
Spring 2016 12
HENRY FORD POPS THE HOODS
At one time the Henry Ford Mu-
seum was the focal point of what used
to be called “Greenfield Village” in
Dearborn. Michigan. Henry Ford had
a sense of history and the industrialist
realized the importance of maintain-
ing and preserving items of historical
interest, especially as they related to
the Industrial Revolution. He began
collecting personal historical objects in
1906. Today the twelve-acre site con-
tains huge collections of automobiles,
locomotives (including an Allegheny-
class 2-6-6-6 locomotive, the most pow-
erful steam locomotive ever built),
airplanes, antique machinery and pop
culture items. He had Thomas Edi-
son’s laboratory in New Jersey dis-
mantled and rebuilt on the museum’s
property. Ford also had the Wright
Brothers’ bicycle shop, where they
built their first airplane, moved on to
his grounds. Also included in the dis-
plays is Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s
Theater and JFK’s presidential lim-
ousine. The Henry Ford Museum/
Greenfield Village was opened in 1933.
The Benson Ford Research Center
uses the resources of the Henry Ford,
especially photographic, manuscript
and archival material which is rarely
displayed to allow visitors to gain a
deeper understanding of the American
people, places, events and things.
Shelby American photographer Dave
Friedman’s complete photographic col-
lection is now part of the Benson Ford
center.
More recently the facility was re-
organized and the whole complex is
now called “The Henry Ford.” A couple
of years ago they started a tradition of
raising the hoods of about 40 of the
most iconic cars on display at the mu-
seum. The “hoods up” display only
lasts for the months of January and
February. SAAC Motor City Region
member Rodney Beckwith IV was
there and he photographed what is ar-
guably the most valuable car in their
collection, the LeMans-winning red
GT40 MK IV, #J-5. Most of it’s body
panels were removed, exposing the
car’s internals. The hoods went down
again at the end of February.