The story of Ford begins in a garage, with Henry Ford's creation of the Quadricycle at his Mack Avenue home in 1896. Legend has it that his first gasoline-powered car was too big to fit through the doors, which had to be widened to let Henry drive it out for its maiden spin.

Now, 128 years later, Ford is celebrating that legacy by showcasing for employees more than 50 vehicles from its Heritage Fleet of nearly 500 in a special display at the company's headquarters in Dearborn.

This helps document the history of the company, its employees, key innovations, design breakthroughs, racing milestones and role in popular culture. It also serves as an inspiration for our team when creating the next generation of Ford vehicles.

Before 2024, Ford heritage vehicles, a collection the company owns and maintains, were scattered across the globe, lacking a centralized structure. At the request of Ford CEO Jim Farley, I began to search for heritage vehicles already in our possession to understand the breadth of our collection.

Individual collections existed in England, Australia and Germany, totaling more than 300 vehicles, but in North America, we had not historically preserved production vehicles.

Media fleet vehicles used by journalists for auto reviews were generally sold after their practical use. The company had famously donated its vehicle collection to The Henry Ford Museum over the years. Most of the classic concept vehicles were sold at auction — with proceeds going to charity — by Christie’s as part of the Ford centennial celebration in 2003.

Where to start then? The first thing we did — in boring Archives fashion — was work with our team to develop a policy to ensure a consistent rationale behind each car we would select or reject. Some of the criteria included “Ford First” innovations, cultural significance, long-running name plates, regional significance and racing heritage.

Armed with a strategy, we began countless calls and meetings with colleagues across the company. We found vehicles that had either slipped through the cracks or had been safeguarded by engineers and program managers for specific reasons.

Two early finds include two F-150 Lightning trucks. The first was the prototype we used to demonstrate the capability of early electric pickups to tow more than 1 million pounds. The second was driven by President Joe Biden in impromptu fashion during a visit to Michigan.

Similar stories emerged from each group we contacted. We amassed a very nice collection of vehicles; the best part is they were all saved because the teams recognized the historical significance of these cars.

These cars will form the core of the Ford Heritage Fleet, serving as a valuable resource for designers and engineers to shape the future by drawing inspiration from the best of the company's past.

Highlights from the U.S. Heritage Fleet, showcasing Ford’s leadership throughout its 120-plus year history:

Archives Collection: Includes a 1914 Model T replica built for Ford’s 100th anniversary, a 1938 V-8 Ambulance, a 2000 Ranger EV pickup truck, and the Lightning driven by President Joe Biden.

Product Development Fleet: Features concept Broncos, the F-150 Atlas concept that paved the way for the aluminum 2014 F-150, and a Transit Connect Taxi concept.

Communications Fleet: Showcases Auto Show Vehicles, the Mustang that graced the top of the Empire State Building for the 50th anniversary, and the 10 millionth Mustang produced.

Ford Performance Fleet: Highlights iconic vehicles such as the 2004 and 2017 Ford GT, engineering bucks used in their development, and a selection of Mustang GT350s, GT500s, and King of the Roads.

Ultimately, the Ford Heritage Fleet stands as a tribute to the countless individuals who poured their hearts and souls into designing, engineering and building these remarkable vehicles. Their vision and commitment shaped Ford's history and will continue to inspire the company's future endeavors.

Ted Ryan is heritage brand manager and archivist at Ford.