Ford online Heritage Vault chronicles Ford history

Australian Ford enthusiasts are excited about the online Heritage Vault that first opened in June 2022 has some 5000 images of older Australian Fords.

Ford, Heritage Vault, Ford History

Last week Ford added another 180 photos and brochures of some of the brand’s most interesting and iconic models sold here between 1960 and 2002 – with more to follow soon.

Ford’s new Australian upload includes images and brochures covering Anglia to Zephyr and everything in between including Escort, Econovan, Falcon, Meteor, Spectron, Transit and more.

The vault first started in 2003 to mark the centenary anniversary of the company. To date some 12,000 curated Ford and Lincoln photographs and product brochures from the first century of the company’s history have been made available to the public online – and the site is currently seeing around 5,000 downloads per day.

Visitors from more than 170 countries have searched the vault with Australian search volume making it one of the top five locations in the world.

Even with Australia’s heavy Ford vs Holden history, there is plenty in there for the car enthusiast to browse, even if your not a Ford fan.

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Im Rob Fraser

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Quick details

  • More than 180 new photos and brochures from Ford Australia vehicles uploaded to Ford Heritage Vault – one of the auto industry’s most comprehensive online databases
  • Historical assets are available to Ford enthusiasts as free downloads for personal use from one of the most comprehensive online vehicle databases around
  • Spend your day reading about the Escort Outback, Fairlane, Model T, and much more

Ford, Heritage Vault, Ford History

Ford Heritage Vault more details

Almost 100 years since the founding of Ford Motor Company of Australia Ltd in 1925, Ford’s online Heritage Vault has added more than 180 photos and brochures of some of the brand’s most interesting and iconic models sold here between 1960 and 2002 – with more to follow soon.

Following the opening of the vault in June 2022 with 5,000 images, which saw unprecedented web traffic from around the world, Ford’s new Australia upload includes images and brochures covering Anglia to Zephyr and everything in between including Escort, Econovan, Falcon, Meteor, Spectron, Transit and more.

Ford created the Heritage Vault for fans, journalists, and car enthusiasts, making it easy to discover the company’s rich heritage from anywhere in the world. The searchable artifacts are downloadable for personal use, free of charge, as one of the auto industry’s most comprehensive online databases.

To date, almost 12,000 curated Ford and Lincoln photographs and product brochures from the first century of the company’s history have been made available to the public online for the first time – and the site is currently seeing around 5,000 downloads per day.

Visitors from more than 170 countries have searched the vault with Australian search volume making it one of the top five locations in the world.

“We’re opening up in a way we’ve never done before,” said Ted Ryan, Ford archive and heritage brand manager. “Making our archives accessible for everyone online is a real passion project for me and the team. Looking back through Ford’s history not only helps to educate but can serve as inspiration as we accelerate our transformation as a company.”

Example Ford Heritage Vault posts

From the hundreds of Australian images and brochures on offer, there are some absolute gems in the mix, so say goodbye to the rest of your day.

Marvel at a 1909 Ford Model T brochure espousing the virtues of Vanadium steel and committing to the production of 25,000 Tin Lizzies in a year [LINK].

The 1983 Ford Fairlane brochure is a wonderful walk down memory lane. That model was the recipient of a Good Design Award and saw success as a luxury car that “is tough enough to handle the wide-open spaces yet is equally at home among the bright city lights” [LINK].

One of our favourites is the 1975 Ford Escort Outback which was “built strong to take Australia in its stride,” boasting a pop-top roof “for stand-up headroom”, an awning, optional 12V fridge, sink, a couch that could be converted into a bed for two, and much more [LINK].

Read about Birdsville’s iconic knight in a shining 4×4, Peter Barnes, who waxed lyrical about his 1993 Ford Courier. “I reckon it’s near bullet-proof,” he said in the print advertisement [LINK].

Every Aussie motoring enthusiast had a soft spot for Ford’s XR range of utes, from the 172kW XR6 to the 200kW XR8. This Ford Falcon ute range brochure from 2002 kicks off with the XR8, saying “If the smell of roasting rubber doesn’t tell you what the XR8 is all about, the special quad lamp front end will” [LINK].

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About Rob Fraser 2492 Articles
Rob Fraser – General dogsbody & Director Rob is the founder of the business. He constantly mutters something about way too many red wines one evening being to blame. Often known for taking the 4WD in the driveway over the sports car, he has travelled pretty much everywhere in Australia and when he is bored goes for a drive. He first learned to drive on the farm in a left hand drive WW11 Jeep when he was 11, and was hooked on 4WDriving way back then. In addition to 4WD he is an avid motoring enthusiast and has maintained a strong interest in the industry ever since his teens. He has owned way too many cars in his time as well. Having previously lived at the top of corporate life he retired in 2000 and hasn’t put a suit and tie on since. Cars are his passion so why not have a business doing what you love he figures. He has towed either a caravan or camper trailer to most parts of Australia, has run guided tours for camper trailers’ and instructed drivers in off road towing.