Freddie Ford at the New York Auto Show 1966

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1966, features Freddie Ford, the famous 9-foot-tall talking robot, at the New York Auto Show. An ingenious promotional tool for the Ford Motor Company, Freddie was constructed almost entirely from contemporary automotive parts. His eyes were made from Mustang parking lights, his ears from radiator caps with antennas, and his mouth from a Thunderbird backup light. His massive frame—boasting a 126-inch chest—featured oil pans for feet, brake shoes for hands, muffler resonators for arms, and shock absorbers for legs. Visitors at the New York Coliseum could interact with him by pushing buttons on a console, prompting Freddie to answer questions with a mix of corny jokes and Ford product facts. This specific version is the “second-generation” Freddie, which included a television camera in his nose so the operator could see the audience. While the robot was retired in the late 1970s as the public’s taste shifted toward more compact sci-fi droids, he remains a legendary icon of mid-century experimental marketing. The New York Coliseum has since been demolished, but this factual record preserves the whimsical side of 1960s automotive exhibition. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.