Former Ford Factory

Overview

The Former Ford Factory is a museum set inside the original Art Deco Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Bukit Timah — the very building where British Lt Gen Arthur Percival surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. The exhibition, "Surviving the Japanese Occupation," documents the fall of Singapore and three years of wartime suffering.

Highlights

• Board Room: The preserved room where the surrender was signed, with period photographs and the original table.
• Occupation Gallery: Personal testimonies, propaganda posters, and artefacts from the Syonan-to era (Japanese-occupied Singapore).
• Art Deco Building: The 1941 factory's streamlined facade, complete with its original Ford signage, is an architectural highlight in itself.

History

Opened in 1941 as Ford's Southeast Asian assembly plant, the factory was commandeered by the Japanese military within weeks. After the war, Ford resumed operations until 1980. The building was gazetted as a National Monument in 2006, and the museum opened in 2017.

Visitor Tips

• Combine with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: The factory is at the foot of the reserve, making a historical + nature half-day.
• Small but impactful: Don't rush — the personal testimonies deserve careful reading.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.