Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Ford And The SoyBean Car...!

Long before you would have expected, Ford was planning to build a car withplastic panels. Pretty advanced thing for his day and time.

Ford’s Soybean Car


Photo via Wikimedia

In the 1940s, Henry Ford experimented with making plastic parts for automobiles. These experiments eventually resulted in what became known as the Soybean Car or, more recently, the Hemp Car.

The frame of Ford’s Soybean Car was made of tubular steel and had 14 plastic panels attached to it. The exact ingredients of the plastic panels are unknown, but it is believed that they were made from a chemical formula that included ingredients such as soybeans, wheat, hemp, flax, and ramie.

The Soybean Car was designed for a number of reasons. First, Ford wanted to engage in a project that combined industry with agriculture. Second, there was a shortage of metal at the time due to the ongoing world war and Ford hoped that his new plastic materials would eventually replace the traditional metals used in cars. Finally, Ford claimed that plastic panels made the car safer than traditional steel cars.

In 1941, Ford unveiled the Soybean Car at the annual community festival called Dearborn Days. By that time, however, America’s entry into World War II had suspended all auto production. When the war ended, an abundance of cheap metal quickly ended the appeal of the plastic car.

Call me crazy, but I really like the body style of this car. It's clean and sleek, doesn't look boxy or outlandish, and I would imagine that it could be easily modified for anyone wanting to make it sportier.

BTW, you may have noticed that I posted Western Wednesday's post yesterday on Tuesday, so that's the reason for you get Tuesday's post on Wednesday. Thanks for not bringing that embarrassing fact up. Sorry if it caused any confusion besides mine!

Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. Chocolate chip cookies to share!

7 comments:

linda m said...

I can see myself driving that car. Sure would be easy to park. Cookies sound great thanks. Another very windy day here - 20 MPH sustained winds with gusts up to 40 MPH.

Hermit's Baby Sis said...

I like the lines of this, too. Guess It's my "old" self coming out. And no, I didn't notice the incorrect posting - since I've retired I hardly know what day it is, anyway!

Big hugs ~

HermitJim said...

Hey Linda...
Yeah...I'm with you. I thinking that parking would be easy with this one.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Sis...
I know what you mean about losing track of the days. Happens quite often to me!
Thanks for coming by today, Sis!

JO said...

I like the looks of the car but the way people drive, we would have more deaths.

Never noticed about the post yesterday. We must be on the same level my friend. Give us something to ponder over those cookies and coffee.

Gorges Smythe said...

I love cars from '35 to '50 or so; this one still has the styling I appreciate.

Dizzy-Dick said...

I learned to drive in my Grandpa's 1940 Ford, but it didn't look like the soybean car.

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
You are probably right about that. Folks just don't seem to be able to drive anymore.
Thanks for dropping by, sweetie!


Hey Gorges...
Like I said, it has a clean design. I like it!
Thanks for the visit today!


Hey Dizzy...
It's a bit different, but still not radical. I think it would blend in, don't you?
Thanks for coming over today!