On January 13th, 1942, Henry Ford received a patent for the construction of the first plastic car. Ford, a renowned American innovator, created the Soybean or Hemp Body car, as he aspired to build a lighter, more fuel-efficient car.
Ford believed plastic, which was only recently discovered, to be more durable than steel. His patent stated, “Plastic parts produce a quiet body, may be molded to exact sizes” and “may be readily replaced in case of an accident.”
The car’s frame was constructed from tubular steel, with 14 plastic panels attached. This reduced the car’s weight to 2000 lbs., 1000 lbs. lighter than a steel car.
Production for the car took place in the Soybean Laboratory in Greenfield village under Lowell E. Overly, who worked on tools and design. His supervisor, Robert A. Boyer, helped.
With plastic, Ford hoped to create a replacement for traditional metal materials used in cars amid a metal shortage. In addition, Ford believed that plastic materials would be safer than steel. He once demonstrated the plastic’s strength by swinging an axe at the trunk. The trunk was said to be fine, but the axe broke instead.
Ford revealed his Soybean car at the Dearborn Days festival in Michigan in 1941. Afterwards, the car was displayed at the Michigan State Fair.
However, the prototype for the Soybean car was never mass-produced due to the Second World War. Because all automobile production in the United States was put on hold during the war, the prototype was also put on hold. In time, the prototype was destroyed, and the project was abandoned.
While the formula used for the original Soybean car no longer exists, the car laid the foundation for the use of plastic in the automotive industry. This innovation was pivotal to the use of plastic in lightweight, fuel-efficient designs. In addition, Ford’s use of plastic paved the way for its adoption in other industries, such as food packaging and medicine.
Ford’s transformative use of plastic in automobiles can be credited with shaping how cars are built today, inspiring future innovators in their own creations across all industries.
Related:
- 15 Nostalgic (& Ugly) ’50s Cars
- Then & Now: 44 Photos Comparing Car Companies’ Debut vs Latest Models
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