The US has old Ford factories and assembly plants that date to a short evolutionary period in the company’s history.

SCATTERED in America’s cities along Route 66 are unique roadside treasures that are tangible links to more than a century of automotive history.

A few such as the 21st Century Museum Hotel in Oklahoma City that was built in 1916 as a Ford Model T assembly plant have been repurposed. Others continue to serve their original purpose. An example is the Dunton Motors facility on Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona, that was established in 1946.

The old Ford factories and assembly plants date to a short evolutionary period in the company’s history. In 1911, before Ford engineer Peter E. Martin had fully perfected the integrated moving assembly line, to meet the demand for new Fords that was increasing exponentially, Ford Motor Company initiated ambitious plans for expansion.

This included the building of 30 plants in cities with central geographic locations. Linked with these were warehouse distribution centres and small "branch assembly plants" that built cars from knockdown kits.

Phase one of the project commenced in December 1911, when Ford's board of directors sent James Couzens to California to "establish Branch Houses, Warehouses, or to make other arrangements for the handling of our business as may seem necessary." During the trip Couzens developed the idea of building smaller factories. As envisioned these plants would assemble Model Ts from parts supplied by Ford's central foundries and stamping operations located in Highland Park, Michigan. The logic was that it was more cost effective to send parts than fully assembled cars.

After careful evaluation of plans submitted by various architectural firms, Ford contracted with architect John Graham. Each plant would have a unique façade, but the basic layout would be standardized.

They would be multi story buildings with ample use of windows for natural lighting. The first floor would be a regional district office and showroom for new Fords.

Using an integrated rail and crane system, parts were delivered to upper floors. Assembly would flow downward. Upon completion the car would literally roll into the showroom, or a storage yard to await delivery to regional dealerships.

Construction of the assembly plants commenced in 1912 and continued through 1916 when the assembly line made it impractical to use the multistory design. But this network of assembly and distribution facilities placed Ford in a position to dominate the industry.

For the year-over-year period ending in 1913, production increased by nearly 140 percent. More importantly the cost of production dropped by almost 45 percent.

In a 1915 promotional booklet the company noted that, “This great output would be impossible, were it not for the Ford Assembling Plants and Branch Houses, twenty-eight in number, located in the principal cities of the United States. To these assembling plants are shipped parts for Ford cars in carload lots, and the cars are assembled at the different plants and supplied direct to dealers in the surrounding territory. While the factory at Detroit is able to average 1,200 cars per day of eight hours, the assistance of the assembling plants makes possible the attainment of a daily average of approximately 2,000 cars.”

A surprising number of these plants have survived into the 21st century. Aside from the facility in Oklahoma City, in Route 66 communities there is one more, and it is located mere blocks from that storied highway.

Redeveloped as apartments, offices and store fronts, the plant located at 2060 East 7th Street in Los Angeles was built in 1913. The first Fords were completed in February 1914. The factory was expanded in 1923 and remained in use as a production facility until 1930.

But these vintage factories are not the only commercial link to automotive history on Route 66. The observant traveler will notice gems such as the Howard Motor Company building on Colorado Boulevard, Route 66, in Pasadena, California. The image below is provided by Joe Sonderman.

Built in 1927, the building retains original architectural attributes. Most notable are the showroom window that mimics the distinctive trademarked shape of the Packard grille framed with distinctive Baroque designs.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America