Who We Are

The Automotive History Preservation Society (AHPS) is an IRS non-profit 501 c(3) public charity that has been in existence since 2010. We are headquartered in Michigan, U.S.A. where we are also registered as a non-profit organization.

We see our job as the best method to digitally preserve all documents, drawings, images, and artwork created by and for the automotive industry. This includes all materials that were created to design, build, and service the automobile and those created to inform and sell vehicles and components to the public.

Our core mission is to digitally capture, restore, and preserve these materials for present and future generations.

Our staff is composed of experienced archivists, automotive experts and authors as well as many volunteers who donate their time and material to our efforts.

Why We Are Here

Original documentation of the history of the automobile gets closer and closer to critical mass each day. Why?.

Paper and Photographic Documents Deterioration - Most paper and photographic materials have a short life-span. Even with the best of efforts, much of our paper documentation of automotive history will decay to unreadability in the next 50 years.

Protecting these materials requires expensive storage, protective encasement, and worse - restricted access, because repeated handling of paper and photographs damages the document.

Increasing costs of Storage Infrastructure and Human Capital - Cost and management of the large facilities needed to store paper has increased drastically over the last 40 years. Space, equipment and human capital costs are rising higher and higher. Many facilities are located in structures that cannot be modernized. Many organizations can no longer incur the rising cost of storage and manual retrieval of these materials.

Access Issues are Increasing - Paper and photographic materials require human intervention to access. Therefore delivery to an individual cannot be accomplished without physical intervention. Either the requester has to go to where the document is stored, or ask that a copy be made from the original and forwarded. This is time consuming and labor intensive - and costly.

Fixing It: Go Digital - The solution to these issues has been available for the last 30 years, but few have executed on it. Simply scan the material and create a digital copy. Use the digital copy for viewing and handling.

Going digital is not only possible, but it is the best and least expensive answer to preservation and access. When combined with the Internet's ability for global accessibility, costs go down, and availability goes up.

What We Are Doing

We have built an Internet-based digital library for all documents, drawings, images, and artwork created by and for the automotive industry. This includes all materials that were created to design, build, and service the automobile and those created to inform and sell these vehicles and components to the public.

By doing so, we are creating a huge cache of materials that will be of interest to enthusiasts, usable for publications, essential for research and education, will even assist museums in describing their exhibits and collections, and significantly - will educate and illuminate the public.

Our Approach - "The Project"

First, we work diligently to discover materials. Then we scan these materials using strict specifications for capture. Once scanned we restore the materials to as close to original condition as possible in size, color and layout. This part of our operation is called the Automotive History Preservation Project. Learn more detail about the Project by clicking the blue buttons on the left or by clicking HERE.

Where and How We Make It Available

We store these materials on a secure Internet web-server in our Internet-based Digital Documents Library. Materials are available 24/7/365 open to all visitors where anyone can view the materials, or download them, or print them. We have over 250,000 pages of material already stored and available. Over 100,000 visitors come to our Library each year and they draw down over 700,000 pages of material.

Why Use the Library

Any person or organization interested in the automobile should consider a visit to our Digital Library.

• The website contains thousands of original documents and materials as well as a compiled data from multiple sources; factory brochures and print advertisements, including excerpts from magazines, and press releases/press photos.
  
  
• The Digital Documents Library and Technical Center also contain service manuals, factory vehicle assembly manuals, listings of paint codes and their mix codes.
  
  
• The website is also a great place to explore favorite brands, the different model years - or to make comparisons of different vehicles.
  
  
• Thinking of purchasing a collectible automobile? We have information on factory models, options and photographs to help evaluate a potential purchase.
  
  
• The website contains invaluable reference material to assist car club members in restoring or improving their cars.

How You Can Help

• Monetary. As a non-profit 501 c(3) public charity, the Society relies on donations from interested parties and contributions from sponsors for the working capital to continue our efforts. There is a tax deduction incentive for those making larger donations.
  
  
• Helping Hands. The AHPS can always use volunteers who can contribute material or help in the scanning and cleaning of documents. A computer and scanner -along with some inexpensive photo editing software is all that is needed.
  
  
• Buy Something in our Store. After we scan paper, we sell it in our store to raise money. We also sell posters and other artwork! Help us out and buy our stuff. All sales dollars go directly to the operation of the Society and the website. Keep your receipt - it's tax deductible!

Note: Sponsors can champion their favorite brand. We welcome individuals who want to assist in the Society's capital needs by directly funding the continued growth of their favorite brand. Please contact us at sponsorships@ahpsoc.org for more information.

Why not join the Society and help support us through participation, volunteering or sponsoring pages on the website?

You can start helping by clicking the gold "Join" box on the upper left. If you don't want to join but still want to help - just make a financial contribution using the PayPal "Donate" button at the top left.