Skip to main content

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan is a sight to behold. But it’s not only iconic Ford vehicles on display. It contains an assortment of historic American automobile memorabilia such as these iconic classics that defined certain decades.

Open this photo in gallery:

This 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale was a rare gem with unparalleled style and performance for its day. Fit for a King, it was longer than a Duesenberg with twice as much horsepower as a Rolls-Royce. Powering it was a massive engine, one of the largest ever made in a production car – a 12.7L straight-8 cylinder engine that delivered 300 horsepower. Mind-boggling power in those days. Imposing in its stature, it also had a huge 15-foot wheelbase. Only six were built by Bugatti.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

1 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in this 1961 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible on November 22, 1963, while riding in the backseat through Dallas, Texas. U.S. Secret Service had a code name for Kennedy’s presidential limo; it was dubbed X-100. Customized features included a hydraulic rear seat that raised the president by 26 centimetres and four retractable steps for agents. Following Kennedy’s assassination, all US presidential vehicles were fully armored, closed cars complete with bullet-proof glass.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

2 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

With a massive V-shaped grille, bold headlights and fender skirts covering its rear wheels, the Lincoln Zephyr stood out on the road. Named after the Burlington Zephyr train - which broke several speed records in its day - it was a huge hit. It was powered by a V-12 engine with 110 horsepower. In 1936, 80 per cent of all Lincolns sold were Zephyrs. Almost 15,000 were sold in the first year of production for a price of $1,320 US.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

3 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

Preston Tucker was ahead of his time when he created the 1948 Tucker 48 sedan. With six exhaust pipes, three headlights and swooping fenders it was a visual masterpiece. The centre headlight swiveled with the direction of the steering wheel to provide more illumination around corners. Grilles on the rear fenders were aesthetic and practical, sending air to the rear-mounted engine. But this rear-wheel drive sedan didn’t last long. Only 51 cars were produced in Chicago in 1948 before the company went under in 1949.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

4 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

On November 12, 1965, Goldenrod broke the land speed record for wheel-driven cars. Built by brothers and hot rod fanatics, Bob and Bill Summers, its aerodynamic body measured 32 feet long, 48-inches wide, and 42-inches high. It streaked across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah at 658.64 k/hr. It held the land speed record for 26 years until 1991.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

5 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

This Mustang I was a concept car designed to boost Ford’s image in the early 1960s. Inspired by European sports race cars, this two-seater roadster had a small 1.5L 4-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed transmission, positioned behind the driver. The V-4 engine was available in two types: an 89-horsepower street version and a 109-horsepower racing engine. Its sleek body was made of lightweight aluminum. When the production version of the Mustang hit the streets in 1964, it didn’t resemble this concept car in the slightest.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

6 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

The iconic VW Westfalia was the first camper van on the road. It was functional, cheap, and versatile. And it was a huge hit when it went on sale in the U.S. in 1956 at a price of $2,737. It was powered by a horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission, which delivered only 36 horsepower. It had double barn doors, a fridge, folding table, a portable toilet, and padded bench seats that converted into a double bed.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

7 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

With its unmistakable large tailfins, the DeSoto was modeled after military jets, inside and outside. Even the cabin resembled the cockpit of a fighter plane with its cutting-edge technology that included a push-button transmission with finger-tip gear selection instead of a traditional transmission lever common in the competition. With a two-tone paint job, it was made by Chrysler in Detroit and weighed a hefty 1871 kgs.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

8 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

The Riviera was one of the most recognizable designs of the 1960s. Inspired by Rolls-Royce, it blended English elegance with Italian muscle power. Its V-8 engine, mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission, produced 325 horsepower. Standard features included power steering and power brakes. In 1963, it cost $4,333; while the average annual wage in the U.S. was $5,343. It was produced by General Motors from 1963 – 1999.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

9 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

This 1958 Edsel Citation must have been a beast to drive and park. More than 18-ft long it was a boat. With four round headlights and bedazzled in chrome, it was available in every shade of the rainbow – 161 paint combinations in all so it was easy to add personality and make it your own. Powered by a 345-hp 6.7L V-8 engine, it was built by Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

10 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

11 of 12
Open this photo in gallery:

Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

12 of 12

Interact with The Globe