Image: Ford
Image: Ford
Image: Ford
Image: Ford
Image: Ford
Image: Ford
The Ford museum in Detroit an air ticket too far away? The good news is that there is a local collector who has amassed an impressive assortment of classic and vintage models wearing the Blue Oval a stones throw away in White River, Mpumalanga.
Image: Ford
Ford is one of the most recognizable automotive corporations celebrated for innovating automotive production. Henry Ford built his first experimental car in a workshop behind his home in Detroit in 1896. After the formation of the Ford Motor Company, the first Ford car, the original Model A, was assembled at the Mack Avenue plant in July 1903. Today, the Ford Museum in Detroit is the ultimate archive for Ford vehicles.
Almost 120 years later, Ford is still going strong and continues to produce exceptional vehicles. As a petrolhead and Ford fan, one thing you have to scratch off your motoring to-do list is visiting the iconic Henry Ford Museum in Detroit and immersing yourself in the chapters of Ford’s heritage with influential vehicles ranging from the Model T to the Mustang.
If you don’t have the means or funds of going to Detriot any time soon, there is a second option you could explore and it is local. Nestled in the quaint town of White River, Mpumalanga lies a privately-owned Ford museum filled with vintage and classic Fords, most of which are perfectly restored and in mint condition. The Ford museum is owned by Herman Nel and is considered one of the town’s hidden-away gems. In addition to the vehicles, Nel keeps visitors entertained every chance he gets by sharing his vivid stories and famous adventures on the road.
Image: Ford
When Nel was 22 years old he got behind the wheel of a Ford Zephyr. A short drive that had a huge impact on his life, it was at that point when he decided to collect every Ford he could get his hands on. Being fully hands-on he would often perform aspects of the restoration work such as spray painting all by himself.
Over the years his museum has seen great growth as new vehicles are sourced and added. Nel estimates that he has more than 45 Fords in his possession and these are safely stored across the museum’s three areas, spanning an area that covers approximately two thousand square meters. The museum is home to over 6 000 model cars, most of which Nel imported personally, along with books that provide valuable insights into the cars that are in his possession.
Image: Ford
“For those who want to see Ford’s product evolution unfold from past to present right before their eyes, in one of the most unlikely of places, it doesn’t get better than Herman Nel’s museum,” says Minesh Bhagaloo, Communications Director at Ford South Africa.
Inside the museum there truly is a Ford that appeals to everyone’s personal preference and generation, but the Model Ts and Model As symbolising some of the most revolutionary years in Ford’s illustrious history and are a recommended starting point for the museum’s first-time visitors. If your interest is peaked by newer machinery, you will certainly be intrigued by Nel’s limited edition models. These models include a 1957 Thunderbird E-Series which he believes might be the only E series the in the country. Nel also owns a Thunderbird that was released to honour the model’s 25th anniversary, with this vehicle carrying a plaque on the dashboard bearing his name.
Image: Ford
Entry to the museum is limited and by appointment only. Nel never gets tired of meeting visitors who share a similar passion to his own. His museum is indeed the closest and cheapest option for people who want to soak up all the iconic moments and innovations that have helped define and differentiate Ford over the decades.
Keyword: Local White River Ford museum houses hidden gems