37 Ford Model T Facts: Read About This Car Known For Its Class

The Ford Model T perhaps needs no introduction as it was the world's first car that underwent mass production and was well known for its durability and class.

Among all of Ford's cars that the company has launched since its inception, it is believed that the Ford Model T has revolutionized the transportation sector the most. At the same time, the Ford Model T is believed to be the first-ever affordable automobile that enabled middle-class Americans to travel in cars.

As the name suggests, it was the world-renowned Ford Motor Company that produced the Ford Model T from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927.

The Ford Motor Company was founded by the late Henry Ford on June 16, 1903, in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Henry Ford went on to become a well renowned American industrialist following the launch of the Ford Motor Company and its most successful Ford Model T. Interestingly, all the cars which were launched prior to the Ford Model T were relatively more expensive than the Ford Model T and Henry Ford devised ways to cut down on costs and launched the model T which unsurprisingly went on to become an instant hit.

The individual handcrafting technique was replaced by assembly line production which played a pivotal role in reducing the costs of production along with the efficient fabrication techniques undertaken by Henry Ford.

Scroll down to know more about the Ford Model T, one of the most successful American cars ever.

Features Of Ford Model T

Before the Ford Model T was launched by Henry Ford early in the 20th century, the Ford Motor Company itself had launched several models but none of them were as cheap and as robust as the Ford Model T. Henry Ford had launched the Ford Model T with the aim of making a car which could be afforded by the middle class unlike the cars sold in the earlier days such as the Ford Model A or Ford Model S.

The first-ever Ford Model T was produced on August 12, 1908, which eventually left Ford's factory on September 27, 1908.

The first-ever Ford Model T was produced at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan.

Did you know that the first models of the Ford Model T were green, gray, red, and blue?

The Ford Model T was initially built as a touring car for recreational purposes but eventually, a number of new styles were introduced.

One of the unique selling points of the Ford Model T was its low cost of repair.

The Ford Model T could easily achieve a top speed of around 40-45 mph (64.37-72.42 kph).

Did you know, the Ford Model T had its steering wheel on the left.

The Ford Model T could conveniently run on kerosene, gasoline as well as ethanol which was a big positive for farmers.

The initial selling price of the Ford Model T was $850 but it came down to around $525 after four years which shot up the sales of Ford Model T.

The Ford Model T's throttle was controlled using a lever that was placed on the car's steering wheel.

Interestingly, after four to five years when Ford Model T was first launched such was the demand for the model that Henry Ford decided to manufacture it only in the black color as it dried faster and sped up production.

Owing to the high demand for the Ford Model T, around 200,000 of it were produced in 1913.

Many collectors who are a fan of the Ford Model T labeled the 1909 model of it as the first Model T.

The Ford Motor Company introduced the moving assembly line system on October 7, 1913, which significantly the car costs.

Since the inception of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford named all his cars alphabetically beginning with the Ford Model A but not all the cars were produced and it went up to the Ford Model T.

The Ford Model A which was the supposed successor of the Ford Model T had curved doors instead of the flat doors of the Model T which is one of the biggest differences between the two.

Design And Engineering: Ford Model T

The Ford Model T was designed by a team of four people including a couple of Hungarian guys. At the same time, it was the first car to feature a host of elements and is believed to have paved the way for modern cars.

After the first model of the Ford Model T was launched, nine different body styles of Ford Model T were launched.

These included the two-passenger coupe model, the five-passenger version known as the touring car, the three-passenger car, and many others as well. Let us take a closer look at the design and engineering of the Ford Model T.

The primary designers of the Ford Model T were Childe Harold Wills and a couple of Hungarian immigrants, Eugene Farkas and Joseph A. Galamb.

Interestingly, the design team also consisted of several other people such as Gus Degner, Henry Love, Peter E. Martin, C. J. Smith, and Henry Ford as well.

The Ford Model T had an inline four-cylinder engine under the hood which produced a total of 20 ho (15 kW).

At the same time, the fuel economy of the Ford Model T was around 14-21 mi/gal (22-34 km/l).

Interestingly, the initial 2,447 units of the Ford Model T had their engines cooled using water pumps.

The standard model of the Ford's Model T had three-foot pedals along with a lever that was alongside the driver's seat.

Interestingly, the first 800 models of Ford's Model T had their reverse gear engaged with a lever.

But after the first 800 models, the central pedal was used to engage the reverse gear while the car was in neutral gear.

Did you know that there was a hand crank placed on the front end of the Ford Model T to turn the engine on.

Owing to the ignition system present in the Ford Model T, the magnetos which were used for ignition in the other automobile models were avoided which went on to drastically reduce the cost of the automobile.

The electric starting mechanism of the Ford Model T was installed in the cars which were produced after 1919.

The final model of Ford's Model T had three pedals, with the brake pedal on the right, the left pedal to shift gears, and a pedal in the middle to make the car go in reverse.

At the same time, the electric lighting feature became a part of the Ford Model T in 1915 as it replaced the oil lamps and the acetylene gas flame lamp.

A lesser-known fact about the production of the Ford Model T is that Vanadium steel was used to manufacture this automobile, it proved to be considerably stronger than all the other types of steel.

The Historic Significance Of The Ford Model T

The Ford Model T is believed to have played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the automobile industry as it was the first car of its kind to be available for such cheap rates. It enabled the American middle class and made it possible for people to travel from one place to another without incurring very heavy expenditures.

At the same time, people could use various kinds of fuels such as kerosene, ethanol, and gasoline to run the car which unsurprisingly made it convenient for the middle class.

For the first time in history, the assembly line method of production was adopted for manufacturing cars which was previously used for meat chopping.

The key points of the Ford Model T were its low maintenance cost, high durability, versatility, and low cost of purchase.

Owing to how cheap the Ford Model T was, it led a number of American workers to purchase the car and revolutionized the automobile market forever.

People had to pay less than $900 back in the '10s to purchase a Ford Model T which was around four months' worth of salary of an average American worker. Whereas the average car price in America in 1913 was around $1,432.

Ford's Model T had an unparalleled impact on the American automobile market as in 1918, more than 50% of cars sold in America were Ford Model T.

During the '20s, America also experienced consumerism owing to the easy credit available on installment plans on purchasing the Ford model T.

It is believed that by 1927, Ford Motor Company was turning out one Model T every 24 seconds.

The term 'Fordism' was coined which reflected the efficient manufacturing system of the company, its low-cost input goods, and at the same time, paying a decent amount of wages to its workers.

FAQs

What does Model T stand for?

The Ford Model T interestingly gets its name in alphabetical order as Henry Ford started naming the cars of Ford Motor Company alphabetically starting with the Ford Model A. Although not all the models from A to T went into production there were some such as model S.

Was the Ford Model T fast?

During the early 1900s, there were not a lot of well-constructed roads and keeping that in mind, the Ford Model T produced decent speeds. The car could run at top speeds of around 40-45 mph (64.37-72.42 kph).

How did the Model T change people's lives?

Not only did the Ford Model T change numerous American lives but changed the American and the world automobile market as well. The car was so affordable that the entire world transformed from using carriages to using cars for travel.

How much did a car cost in 1913?

On average, a 1913 car would cost around $1,432 which when adjusted with inflation results to $36,241 in the current day.

Who invented the Model T Ford?

The model T of Ford Motor Company was unsurprisingly the brainchild of the founder of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford.

Why did henry ford invent the T Model?

Henry Ford is largely credited for inventing the Model T which changed several lives and also influenced their style of living. Henry Ford looked to develop a car that was not only affordable for once but also easy to operate and durable and thus went on to invent the Ford model T.

Where did Henry Ford invent the Model T?

The first model the Ford Model T was invented by Henry Ford along with a team of designers and engineers at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan on August 12, 1908.

Who owns the 15 million Model T Ford?

The 15 millionth Ford's T model was produced on May 26, 1927, from the Highland Park assembly line marking the last of its kind. It is currently present in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI to mark the success of the Ford Motor Company.