In 1928, northern Brazil was captivated by an enticing bit of news. The region’s residents were about to receive a new visitor, a man who came with the promise of reviving their ailing economy and introducing them to a whole new way of life – Henry Ford. Local papers began raving about their future neighbor. Speculation ran wild: some columnists opined that Ford would be building a new railroad to the coast, or a new factory for his cars.