Automobile
Object number99.50.1
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Manufacturer
Allegheny Steel Company
(1939)
Date1936
MediumMetal; Rubber; Plastic; Glass; Paint
Credit LineGift of Allegheny Teledyne, Inc. in recognition of Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation
Description1936 Ford Deluxe sedan with brushed stainless steel body, brown and tan interior upholstery, and ribbed rubber-faced running boards. V-8 engine, chromed spare tire mounted over rear bumper.Dimensions68 x 64 x 189 in. (172.7 x 162.6 x 480.1 cm)MarksEnamelled medallion on hood ornament: "FORD"
Historical NotesOne of six stainless steel cars designed by Allegheny Steel (later Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation) and Ford Motor Company to demonstrate the practical and promotional uses of stainless steel. After assembly in Detroit in 1936, company representatives, usually salesmen, drove the car for business purposes.Label TextThe gleaming finish of this automobile is a testament to the innate properties of stainless steel. Though it is over 60 years old and has traveled more than 200,000 miles, the body of this car still looks brand new. The car is one of six designed by Allegheny Steel (later Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation) and the Ford Motor Company to demonstrate the practical and promotional uses of stainless steel. After rolling off the assembly line in Detroit, the cars were dispatched to district offices of Allegheny Ludlum in New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis. Company representatives, usually salesmen, drove the cars for business. Wherever they went, the cars attracted attention and provided salesmen the opportunity to expound on the assets and abilities of the “Allegheny metal,” stainless steel. As well as increasing interest and awareness in stainless steel, the cars demonstrated the metal’s durability and resistance to weather, wear, and corrosive elements. The stainless steel body of this car has long outlasted its non-stainless steel parts. Though retired from company use in 1947, the Ford Sedan aptly served its purpose. Allegheny Ludlum and Ford Motor Company collaborated on three stainless steel models. Shown left to right are a 1936 Ford Deluxe Sedan, 1967 Lincoln Continental, and 1960 Thunderbird
Terms
On View
On view
1966-2010
