







The Ford Model T was made famous in 1908 by Henry Ford as the first mass produced motorcar. Ford famously said that "you can have any colour, as long as it's black" in a bid to standardise cars which could be produced faster. The mass produced nature of the car opened the automobile market up to the middle class across America.
The first Ford Model T rolled off the production line on September 27th 1908, with the fifteen millionth and last, leaving on May 26th 1927. Henry Ford was in Michigan to witness both of these historic occasions.
Throughout its life, the assembly of the Model T took place across the world, from its home in Michigan to Argentina, Australia, Germany and England. Collectors today live across the world, all seeing the Model T as the most iconic car of the twentieth century.
All cars featured the standard 2.9 litre 20 hp engine with a two speed planetary transmission, utilising rear wheel drive. Top speed was said to be in the region of 40-50 mph with a fuel efficiency of up to 25 mpg, which is in line with some modern day sport hatches. Engines could be run on ethanol, though with the introduction of the prohibition it was deemed an impractical fuel source, with many sticking with gasoline.
The Ford Model T was started using a crank shaft handle at the front of the car. One issue encountered with a crank start was an engine kick back, which could seriously injure the starter by breaking their wrist. The Model T however introduced a reverse motion, which pushed the starters hand away from the car, thus making it safer.
The standard car in 1909 cost a mere $850, which is equivalent to $21,000 today. It is clear why the Model T was so popular when competitor models cost upwards of $2,000 putting them in a completely different league. The price of the four seat open tourer reduced further to $550 in 1913 and $440 in 1915. The price reduced further in the 1920's to just $260 as a result of economies of scale. 1915 saw a peak year in production, no doubt as a result of the reduction in price, with over 500,000 models produced.
The ClassicCar Forum - Free to use & 14265 members strong!
Visit The Forum| Popular Discussions | Latest Discussions |
|---|---|
|
Bill Albright , May he rest in peace
57 Comments Started by VicTor Z |
1928 Huson & Essex Flat Rate Prices & Repairs manual
3 Comments Started by hudsontech |
|
Racing Pictures
184 Comments Started by super651 |
54 Hollywood
6 Comments Started by tncarman |
|
Ugliest Car Ever Made in USA
71 Comments Started by Lancer770 |
35 H8 roadster project
3 Comments Started by bob ward |
|
Welcome to our latest Classic Car forum member: oriedeviectyandexru Become a member: Join Now |
|