Ford Model T history: the car that put America on wheels

Ford Model T history

Henry Ford wanted a car for the great multitude: simple, tough and cheap enough for ordinary families. The Model T went on sale on October 1, 1908, with a four-cylinder engine cast in one block, a top speed of about 40 mph and roughly 20 mpg. Dealers had 15,000 orders before the factory had built one, nearly twice Ford's sales of the year before.

Demand drove the methods that made the Model T famous. Ford moved production from the Piquette Avenue plant to Highland Park in 1910, began moving-line experiments there in April 1913 and fused the lines into continuous assembly by early 1914, producing a finished car every 93 minutes. In January 1914 Ford announced the Five Dollar Day, roughly doubling pay to cut worker turnover.

Volume rose from about 200,000 Model Ts in 1913 to more than 820,000 in 1919 and peaked at 1.8 million in 1923, while the price fell to as little as $260. By the end, Model Ts had been built in 19 other countries. The 15-millionth car, the ceremonial last Model T, was driven off the Highland Park line on May 26, 1927.[1],[2],[3],[4],[6],[9],[10]

Years and production numbers

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The Model T used an inline four-cylinder L-head engine of 177 cubic inches (about 2.9 liters) rated at 20 horsepower, per The Henry Ford.
• The cylinder block was cast in one piece, a cost-saving choice that suited mass production.
• Typical performance was a top speed of about 40 mph and roughly 20 miles per gallon.
• From 1914 to 1925 the car was offered only in black; before and after, other colors were available.

Sources:[1],[2],[5]

What changed, generation by generation

1. 1908Model T introduced October 1.
2. 1910Production moves from Piquette Avenue to the new Highland Park plant.
3. 1913Moving-line experiments begin in April; chassis assembly line developed in August.
4. 1914Continuous lines turn out a car every 93 minutes; Five Dollar Day announced January 5, effective January 12.
5. 1914–1925Black is the only color offered.
6. 1923Production peaks at 1.8 million.
7. 192715-millionth car built May 26; production ends.

Sources:[1],[2],[4],[6],[10],[11]

What to check before you buy one

• Date the engine by its serial number, stamped on a boss above the water inlet from 1912 on; year-by-year number ranges are published by Model T enthusiast references.
• Remember the engine number dates the engine, not necessarily the car — engines were often replaced over a century of use, so check that body, frame and engine features agree with the claimed year.
• Confirm the finish and features match the year (for example, black-only paint on 1914–1925 cars).
• Ask for title and registration history; a Model T has no 17-digit VIN, so paperwork usually references the engine number.
• For research beyond the car itself, Ford Motor Company's historical archives are held at The Henry Ford's Benson Ford Research Center.

Ford Model T prices and values

Launch price was $825 in 1908 per Ford's corporate history ($850 per The Henry Ford); by 1925 Ford sold the car for $260.[1],[3]

How to verify a Ford Model T's factory options

The Model T predates 17-character VINs, which became standard for model year 1981 (49 CFR 565). Model Ts are identified by their engine serial number instead.[12]

For cars built before the 17-character VIN, identification rests on the car's own serial or chassis number and its documented history. The Henry Ford's Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan, holds extensive Ford Motor Company historical collections and offers research by appointment as well as remote research services.[8]

Researching a later Ford? Start at the Ford research hub or the Ford history timeline.