The Le Mans-winning Ford Mark IV of Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt is one of America’s most beloved race cars. In this video, watch the fascinating and exhaustive steps the Henry Ford Museum takes to preserve it—exactly as it was one spring day in 1967. 

In the world of classic racing cars, the usual standard is restoration. Owners spend unlimited time and money to maintain their cars in good-as-new condition, often better than new. This no-holds-barred approach produces beautiful race cars—if not terribly authentic ones.

But at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, the standard whenever possible is conservation, in the manner of all the great historical museums. Here, the Le Mans-winning 1967 Ford Mark IV, one of its most prized possessions, is handled just like an ancient Greek statue or a painting by an old master. The goal is to preserve every fleck of paint, every shred of torn rubber, maintaining the car exactly as it was one spring day in France. It’s a delicate and challenging process, even a controversial one at times. Enjoy this fascinating video.