Here’s an excellent film study of the process that created the all-new 1949 Ford, the company’s most important new product in decades.   

It’s no exaggeration at all to note that the 1949 Ford was the automaker’s most important new product since the Model T. Company founder Henry Ford had passed away in 1947 with his greatest triumphs well behind him—the Model T, the Model A, the 1932 V8—and in his final years the company drifted, without solid leadership in business or engineering.

As one consequence, Ford’s passenger car lines fell woefully behind the times, with high-pocket styling and buggy-spring suspension. It was left to grandson and successor Henry Ford II to construct a modern engineering division nearly from scratch—which he capably did with the assistance of organization man Ernest Breech and manufacturing chief Harold Youngren. The product that resulted, the all-new 1949 Ford, represented nothing less than the rebirth of the company.

To chronicle the project, the Ford Motor Company produced a film that has generated some accolades in its own right. Titled The Human Bridge, the movie told the story of bringing a new automobile to market with considerable depth and style. Among films of its type, it’s regarded as something of a classic. There are many memorable moments here, but our favorites include the scenes with young Henry Ford II, the mighty Rouge plant in Dearborn, and the excellent glimpses inside the styling studios (starting at around 4:30). There’s a lot packed into these 12 short minutes—-enjoy the film.

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