This 1904 Factory Still Has Cars Inside!

[@SilveradoUSA1]

I didn't think something like this still existed anymore. Thank you for sharing. In 2000, I sold my all original 52 F1 to a guy from England. After I gave him the title, he said, "I'm going to chop the top and drop it." I regretted selling it and bought a case of Budwiser. It had the original paint, interior, 6 volt and I believe it had a 215 CID Inline engine with a one barrel carb. It also had 3 on the tree shifter. A month later, he wrote me to tell me the engine start right away on the first crank after sitting a month on the boat. His entire family waited anxiously to see it driven off the boat. When they seen it, they yelled out, "Don't touch it, go back to the states and get another one!" He said the only thing he did to it was replace the windshield seal because it rained a lot in English. I was so relieved.

[@ThePTBRULES]

Unless the car is a literal wreak, or a rusted body that needs substantial rebuilding, I hate anyone who cuts down or modifies an original old car.

[@SoupyMittens]

@@ThePTBRULES hot rodders are the bane of my existence

[@chadmark88]

There is a name for people like that . . .

[@catlover34fl]

Thank you for this fascinating tour of mostly Ford cars. My father started working at Ford Motor Co. Buffalo, New York, in 1929 a a lineman. He ended up superintendent of the chaise line by 1958 when he quit because they moved operations from Buffalo to Lorain, Ohio. He was very loyal to the company and never bought anything but Ford cars. He expected his kids to do the same. When I purchased a VW bug, he wouldn't speak to me for weeks. Ford Motors was a big part of his life.

[@billywilliams6853]

Hey man, I understand your frustration and pain. My Father was in the WWII fought and Killed many Japanese. He thought that anyone that bought a Toyota or Honda was a traitor.

[@jeffbarton4398]

People took pride in what they did back then especially a damn good job like that. It's why we won the war

[@kennv7566]

You bought a German car thats why you father was mad at you

[@billywilliams6853]

@@kennv7566 Again, Father fought the Japanese. Saw many of his friends, shot and killed. Father did NOT like Japanese cars. And to honor my Father, I will NEVER buy a Japanese Car.

[@jeffbarton4398]

@@kennv7566 He spent his life working at FORD back when that meant a lot. They're trash now. I don't go around defending people on the internet but my grandparents met when BOTH were in the Navy fighting Adolf. History is important

[@rayrussell6258]

I'm a Ford retiree, resided west of Dearborn and still never got a chance to visit this plant / museum. I've moved from Michigan, likely will not get to see this in-person. Thanks for the walk-through. Once, I did get to walk inside the Highland Park Plant and also the Rouge Assembly Plant / Rouge Steel Plant. It's an amazing moment to feel the history in these places.

[@forgetfulpriestiv14]

Thanks for sharing

[@nordiccombatant2167]

That’s great to know Ray. Let me ask you something, when you say Ford Retiree does that mean Ford gave you a pension or you had to do that on you’re own????

[@fabianbauza4448]

Ford is gay

[@rayrussell6258]

@Google User You would be wrong then. I don't fly, plus the price of gasoline to drive there is too damn high, if you must know. My pension no longer covers all the inflation that our government mis-management caused.

[@OleGeezerCirca1941]

Thank you so much for the walk-through! Great job on the video! I am 81 years old, and your videos allows me to see in a way that would not be possible otherwise. It’s really nice that you are doing this for people who can’t get there to see for themselves. Thanks for sharing this with everyone. Wonderful video Chris.

[@donstanley8021]

Hi Chris, just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your videos. I am 81+ years young - your videos allow me to see and enjoy this world of ours in a way that would not be possible otherwise. Thank you.

[@VRed37]

I was aware of the Model-T and Model-A. I had no idea they were produced in other alphabet models. What a wonderful save of history for future generations. Thanks for taking me along!

[@andrewdriver3318]

There were two model A's, B's and C's. The first cars they produced went from A through to the Model T. The car they built to replace the T was so different they decided to start with A again then went through to C, then skipped to Y, then decided to drop the letters for numbers for a few years before finally going to model names.

[@VRed37]

@@andrewdriver3318 Thanks for sharing Andrew. I guess it’s not anymore confusing than naming cars Mustangs or Corvettes. They just attach model types and years. I wonder if Ford differentiated they’re models beyond letters?

[@sallykohorst8803]

My dad worked for the Ford motor company as a seller in the 60's and 70's until he died in 1977. In fact the salesman of the year once. Well great video and walk thru.

[@RedneckHillbilly-ho9md]

OMG I want a time machine so damn bad, those days were awesome looking.

[@NJDEVILz86]

IBMs first plant in Endicott NY... international time recorder co...huge plant across river where all our parents worked

[@guineapiglady2841]

You can say that again!

[@bobbiejeanraper5156]

You take us to the most interesting places. Thank you so much. Love these old cars.

[@glennjudd2467]

This is amazing !!!! What a great museum & beautiful old cars !

[@1940limited]

Fascinating. Thanks for the tour. It's a testimonial to how well built the building was for it to have survived all these years. I wish the Packard plant in Detroit was this well preserved.

[@clearsailing7993]

I think the Packard plant was torn down a few months ago. My uncle was an electrician there for 19 years til it closed. Then he went to Ford axle on Mound road.

[@lumpymeyer2990]

Very nice tour. It’s really nice that you are doing this for people who possibly physically can’t get there to see themselves. Plus you do not talk to the whole thing and that is awesome.

[@tonymiller8826]

I own a 1925 Model T Ford Roadster. I drive it most every weekend.

[@cosmos7492]

Enjoyed that as always thank you Chris I bet the old place smelled nice too you can't beat the smell of old cars

[@bdog1323]

The Hupmobile at 10:00 reminds me of the story on how the NFL was started by football club owners in a Hupmobile dealership while sitting on a car's running board.

[@whodo4893]

My father retired from Ford Motor Company and he worked at that plant for 40 years and 4 at the glass house. The plant was used for files for many years and the garage where Henry had his personal fleet repaired and serviced. I was there a couple times in my life and I really liked being in the shop. All the files that were kept there were full of 8x10 b&w glossy photos There were still a couple of cars there and some parts & tools for the cars there.

[@whodo4893]

Right at the end of JohnR in Highland Park.

[@johnelliott0101]

This was awesome. My father worked at the Ford plant at Norfolk Virginia for many years. This walk thru was most SOLID!

[@maryellenshock]

I had the privilege to meet Mr Shelby at a restaurant in Utica called the Packard grill! It was just a mile or two from the Packard proving grounds. I used to drowl every time I drove by it! Very nice gentleman!

[@hughring]

Nice video! The weight on the door is connected to a fire link which when melted in a fire will cause the door to automatically close and stop the fire from spreading. Modern fire doors have this also.

[@7MPhonemicEnglish]

Yeah, the doors hang on inclined tracks, so when the weights break free, gravity causes the doors to 'roll down the ramp' and shut.

[@42luke93]

I was like “how do people inside get out then?” Then I saw the sign saying to use fire escape. They thought of that well putting the sign there.

[@SD9Driver]

I like that the plant walls/floor have the worn "unrestored" look. I dig that old timeclock too. 👍

[@JohnShinn6078]

Got invited as a kid in the 60's to ride in my neighbor's model T in a parade. Didn't think then how fortunate I was. Thanks for the tour Chris! 👍👍👍

[@jamesweir2943]

I am a huge fan of Henry Ford and what his processes did to advance mechanization in our country thank you very much for the video.

[@miguelnavarro2571]

Absolutely incredible. Thank you for that

[@RM-mm4jr]

Another great upload! Just like all your others. Thank you so much. I've been to amazing places, seen incredible things and I've learnt such alot through you and the adventures we go on. ❤ From Australia

[@thomasschwarting5108]

And from here in New York!!

[@jimrossi7708]

@@thomasschwarting5108 , and New Jersey !!

[@coloradostrong]

Apparently during your travels to amazing places, you didn't learn that _Alot_ is a town in India and _a lot_ is more than one of something; multiples of.

[@bryanlosen3262]

I love history. Greenfield village is my favorite place in the world and Henry Ford museum. I've never been in the Piquette building and can't wait to do so!! How awesome...

[@davidclemens1578]

Having just retired from one of the oldest window companies in the US there are still parts of the building that are original and over 100 years old. The fire doors are on tracks that are angled and the weights are used to assist in opening. There is a cable connected to the weights with a heat sensitive connector that melts at a certain temperature and when that connection melts it allows the doors to close.

[@kaisantiqueengines569]

Very cool thanks for sharing

[@lisap6645]

Really cool! Thanks for the trip back in time.

[@alanparadis5061]

Man I actually feel like I was there for the tour! Great job on the video and guiding us thru it!! 👏 👍

[@MrIslandman59]

Very cool tour, thanks for taking of us along!

[@lyonsdavid]

Just Imagine all the hustle & bustle inside that factory during operations! So Cool.

[@raymondsprengelmeyer1278]

Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed the visit very much!

[@goldenera4ever]

I absolutely love historical buildings/places, especially those with such significance. The insertion of the photographs were really nice. Awesome video!👍

[@melbourne-heat.69-71]

There was a guy in Pennsylvania his house was in the middle and his whole property was surrounded by cars from the early 1900s, 20s & 30s the he probably had about 500 cars maybe 600 and I remember driving by it all the time and they would always sit there some of them you can see trees growing Through the Windows & out the roofs if you came anywhere near his property he would come out and start yelling maybe with a shotgun in his hand this is private property stay away from the cars.. and then one day they were all gone they had construction equipment there and they built a "Wawa" where his house was.. I guess he passed away never had a clue where all the cars got to maybe in that factory watching this video brings a lot of memories and history when they finally put cars on the roads and how they were created..The workmanship with the wood and brass,steel and even the technology..👏👏👏

[@janmcguire5268]

So cool! Thanks for sharing this tour!

[@bobn8865]

The heavy weight on the fire door holds the door open. In the event of a fire the weight drops and the door slams closed. I once worked in a very similar building in Detroit.

[@danielginther4879]

Way cool thanks for the private tour!

[@colvinator1611]

As well as the great collection of automobile history, I really appreciate the patina of the factory. Thanks a lot, Colin 🇬🇧.

[@nikkigardiner9426]

Thank you, Chris! ❤

[@kimkelly-kline3768]

Thanks Chris for the Tour...I've lived in Michigan my whole life..never been to the Piquette Plant..now I want to go...been a million times to The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village,but never here..hope you enjoyed your stay in Michigan!!

[@mattskustomkreations]

13:30, that hand cranked thing next to the bell on the fire truck is the siren!

[@michaelvasques1837]

Appreciated the tour,thks bro! 😎 Some beauties..

[@matabeleman]

outstanding video

[@rossroderickwhitney]

What a fabulous documentary! The absence of music is deeply appreciated. Also, that the video is not a talking head. What's so remarkable is that one can stand so close to all sides of every car and examine the detail in depth. And I gather that admission is free. Is it? Thanks very much for the tour, Instinct!

[@palyba1]

Very, very cool! So glad they kept the building and restored it! Its beautiful! Not a Ford fan but this is really awesome! Thank you for sharing this!

[@wendysmith8246]

This is a very cool video Chris Thank-you so much!! Can't wait till the next one!!

[@larry3064]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this.

[@robertward553]

That was amazing, thanks. Lived in Cleveland and visited Ford places for years when I was a kid , late forties and fifties, especially the old Dearborn area. Don't remember seeing this old plant.

[@troyhonda71]

Amazing, thank you!

[@steelman86]

This building has seen better days inside and out, but the cars are FABULOUS,! I hope they stay that way in their present environment!!!

[@42luke93]

Wow a very small assembly plant than I expected!

[@clarebutterfield6927]

Outsatnding! Thank you!

[@Jared_Wignall]

This is awesome to see. Keep up the great work Chris!

[@debbienye6002]

I can almost smell this video! Love the old cars, and the historic factory!

[@zhew2]

Great video! I was really hoping for a closeup of that Ford GT40.

[@scottogan3182]

Zhew2 close up?? How about actually showing it at all? Instead of what appeared to be going out of one's way to avoid showing it. And such a huge important part of fords overall history. Very disappointing and something I can not understand why if the idea is to give viewers the complete experience of a place. Certainly makes me have little interest to bother with any other videos as i have no faith they also won't be only part off what was really on display.

[@mitchellpickering472]

Thank you for the tour, good video, good presentation and I enjoyed it. Thank you very much

[@tankerman135]

That was awesome!-My house is 1 year younger than that plant....

[@mattskustomkreations]

18:13 those look to be old “gas cabinets”, often located on wooden sidewalks, at hardware stores, etc. precursors to gas pumps at gas stations.

[@edwardkellogg1284]

Great tour. Lots of great brass Era Fords.

[@73beetle19]

The door weight helps the door close easier. I worked for a company that was built in the twenties. It had those creaky wood floors and big fire doors with weights.

[@JohnSmith-lf4be]

So much nicer than modern factories.

[@alvinprettyman1802]

absolutely amazing

[@mytube3358]

About those big doors. They are actually called fire doors. They are in fact being held open by the rope and counterweight hanging from the rope. The reason The other end of the rope is extended out past the end of the door directly over the opening is so that if there is a fire and it starts to travel from one side to the other it will burn the rope and the door will glide down the sloped rails. Thus preventing the fire from traveling through the building. Going to have to check this place out though. We’ve been to the Henry Ford Museum but I didn’t know about this building being open. Thanks!!

[@paulapirpignani4802]

Wonderful video Chris...brings me back to my MI roots. A trip from MI to FL probably wasn't likely ...but then again these cars were all about travel. 🌴 🌴

[@southernsass2937]

This was so interesting. TFS My uncle had a Model T sitting in his yard for the longest. Me and my cousin used to play with our Barbee dolls in there. What a great memory ❣

[@MobileInstinct2]

That is a cool memory!

[@pissedoffpistongarage]

I like how you showed literally everything but the GT-40

[@retiredcolonel6492]

As a Ford enthusiast, I’d love to visit…if it wasn’t in Detroit!

[@Loretta318]

You are at my birthplace, Detroit, I've been there countless times, thank you

[@jimchik]

@about 20:30, you point out the weight. I’d guess it’s to counter balance the door, making it easier to move either way.

[@fixedguitar47]

I work at Ford Chicago Assembly. Been in operation since 1924…. The oldest continually operating car factory. There are names in the concrete that say “Earl 1931” for example

[@deniselockhart2882]

I loved the tour, was born/raised in Michigan but have never been to that museum

[@donaldpiper9763]

I’am a Ford retiree from Kansas City Assembly Plant . I never got too see this one ,but got sent too Detroit a couple of time’s for special projects , to Wixom in Michigan and Dearborn Plant . While I was there got too go too Green field Village,very interesting place ,it has Thomas Edison’s complete original workshop,along with a variety of different generations of Ford vehicles and an 1700’s colonial village and restaurant period correct ,fascinating place .

[@chriswright2250]

It's nice to see the factory and auto's.

[@atanumukherjee5263]

Thank you for making this video..I am able to watch from India. What a treat for car lovers

[@dezertraider]

THANK YOU,,THAT WAS VERY COOL!

[@presspound7358]

Thanks for the tour. The best part was the “original condition” of the premises. 👍

[@fieldguy316]

Very cool history thanks for sharing

[@bobspeller2225]

Great collection of old cars, a must visit if I can next time I'm in the US. all the best Bob (from the UK)

[@Chris.Davies]

Love saving the heritage. Great stuff. Even the floor looks original!

[@Carolbearce]

That is an amazing museum. So many amazing cars!!

[@jimj4280]

Your camera lens had an oil film on it when you filmed that. Very cool Museum. Thanks for the video.

[@powderriver2424]

I love these cars I owned a 1931 model A cabriolet it was and older resto very drivable. I had a guy clock me on the highway at 67mph. I was with a model A collector he said that was the fastest he'd ever been in a stock model A. I can tell you these cars were tough machines they didn't have paved roads then, and going highway speeds in one is not like any car you've ever rode in.

[@ChaserTiponi]

Thank you for the tour Brother! I assume this plant was/is in Detroit? I would spend a whole day in there! Love the antiquity of the beginning auto industry!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Very cool to see these!

[@jamesmooney8933]

Pittsburgh had a model T Ford plant. The building is still standing. I has a historical display.

[@markhancock7527]

Great video nice to see an original car factory.

[@johnelliott7375]

Thanks for sharing this with everyone, that is the way stuff was run almost to the end of the 20th century, except for the belts and motors on the machines got a lot more compact. Back then the more mass moving means more power and torque, but the big awkward belts were a little dangerous. Lose a finger, hand, arm, belts flying through the air I am sure that you could have been maimed in more ways than one. Great evening to you.

[@jakessmallengines]

I was born in Detroit a important time in early history !!!! Thank you for this video !! A+

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Been to the Henry Ford multiple times. Driven by here, but not in. Wow! Need to go back. Thanks for uncovering! 👍👍😎🇺🇸

[@division4526]

Kool video Chris, would love to take one of these cars a drive 😆 love from Scotland 😊

[@richardburke454]

I've been to the model t plant in highland Park or what's left of it!

[@dwhallon21]

Nice video... I love seeing old cars and old buildings. Building reminds me of one of the former plant buildings that I used to work in. Of course it was torn down in 2022 due to plant closure

[@Frank7748124]

I have been a fan of the Piquette Plant for many years; I used to volunteer and did some of the installation of various items. A few things to mention: Ford's first factory was made of wood and located on Mack Avenue; but it burned down. That is why Henry built this one with fire doors and sprinklers (I believe this might have been one of the first factories to do so). Ironically, the wording located on the side shown at 5:00 (Home of the Celebrated Ford Automobiles) was only painted over in 1980(!). The Secret Room on the third floor is where Henry and his team put together all they had learned in several years of making the other models, the result was the Model T. The Model T sold so many cars because it made driving a car affordable to the masses. Think how much of our society has changed as a result (the roads you drive on, the suburbs you live in, etc.). You can stand where the modern world changed so much. BTW: the museum looks better than even a few years ago. Be sure to visit when you come. The parking area is fenced in and gate accessible.

[@fordenginebuildersv8power184]

Our family worked for Ford since the opening of the Rouge! My grandfather worked at Piquette early on to disassemble the plant

[@ernestj3081]

Absolutely amazing Chris🤩What a spectacular find!! Now, those were Cars!! Nothing like these anymore! All plastic and cheap construction for insane prices! A step back in time when Style and Quality mattered🙏🏻💙Thanks for the visit Chris!

[@chuckthebull]

truly fascinating to see the evolution of the automobile here..i must visit this in person.

[@nightrunner1456]

Friend, that was not so long ago. The trunk at one time was a real luggage truck. That was just strip on to the back of the vehicle, we still call it a trunk today. It's easy to study a map, WHEREVER THERE A RIVER or lake in a big city that where the city started. There one in Houston TX. called Market Street.

[@carlschroeder6811]

The weight and rope hold the door open, in the event of fire, the rope burns through, dropping the weight and the door, which is on a slope, automatically closes.

[@stevengibson3641]

Very cool tour!

[@Sandhills_Coyote]

Chris are you a car guy? Seeing a little more car material in your videos and seems like you have a bit of car knowledge. Love it!!

[@toppops22]

Very interesting Good job filming by the way, gave us a good look nice and steady, I enjoyed this very much. So many cars, wow 1911 Cadillac, amazing.