Soybean body panels
 

Whilst consuming Edamame last evening (soybean pods, lightly cooked and salted-sort of like a boiled peanut), I opined on Henry's Soy Bean Based body panels. My guests were enthralled, disgusted, amused, etc. This led to discussions of recyling plastic soda bottles into car seat fabrics, outdoor benches, deck lumber, etc.

We've all seen the picture of Henry taking a sledge to the Soy based trunk.

Word is that one of them was on the Farm at Richmond Hill, Georgia in Henry's time.

What became of these panels/cars? I know they wouldn't be as valuable as a Stainless Tudor, but there must be some value if they still exist.

Were they recycled for food during WWII, did they dissolve, did Henry's sledge do them in??? Are they in a museum? Did Sorensen tire of the whole charade and take an axe to them?

Re: Soybean body panels
 

I dont know if the panels were saved, but if they were left on the car and the car was in general use, they would be junk by now. The 46-48 ford dashboard trim was made with soybean plastic, as were the switch knobs and window lift knobs. They all disintegrated in time. My first car was a 40 ford which I bought in 65, and already the knobs were getting bad.

Re: Soybean body panels
 

i'll bet it was all swept under the rug just like the EV1 , nobody knows and talk of it should be carried out in a speak easy .

fleece is of recycled bottles , trex is that as well with cedar , still hemp the original plastic is slowly making its way into products . we'll see all the forests gone before paper is made of an alternative entirely .
search for the greatest failed attempts .
or ask betsy ross .

Re: Soybean body panels
 

Great topic, I have thought the same things. I just last year found out about the stainless cars. I have seen the pic of Henry and the sledge, always wondered what happened.

Re: Soybean body panels
 

Henry Ford's 1942 Ford Sedan still exists. This is the car he takes the ax to in the photo.
http://www.culiblog.org/wordpress/wp....thumbnail.jpg

After Ford's death Clara gave the car to Ray Dahlinger, Ford Farms superintendent and close friend of Henry & Clara. Sometime later it was acquired by the Henry Ford Museum and placed on display at Ford's Fair Lane estate in the garage.
http://www.henryfordestate.org/42v8.htm

If you want to see a neat piece of rare color film showing Henry Ford's 1942 Ford and Ford executives displaying their livestock- watch this short film. I added subtitles so the people are easily identified.
On a related note- if any long time Michiganders can provide input as to where the "Lake Shore Country Fair was I'd like to hear about it!
http://vintagefordfacts.blogspot.com...-showcase.html

Re: Soybean body panels
 

Why is he taking an axe to that car?

Re: Soybean body panels
 

To demonstrate how strong the soybean panels were. Henry Ford did this quite often as he carried an axe & shovel in every car he owned/drove- mainly because he liked digging in the soil at his various properties to examine the dirt.

He did the axe trick one too many times and the trunk lid broke in front a crowd of newsmen.

Re: Soybean body panels
 

Like Iacocca dropping an egg onto the padded dashboard at a Ford dealer's meeting. Egg broke, safety campaign was swamped by Chevy's Tri-5's in sales.

Re: Soybean body panels
 

True, but remember in '57 Ford sold more than C$%^&! :)

Re: Soybean body panels
 

A friend of mine, diehard Ford guy to the extreem sometimes, would have said of your statement if it was Chevy selling more cars in '57 its because they built more, they had to have sold them :rolleyes:

Suffice it to say, we had alot of interesting discussions at the Back to the 50's weekend when it came to the 55 to 57 Fords vs Chevy comparisons.