1908–1927
Introduced in 1908, the Model T combined practical engineering with a manufacturing strategy that made the automobile accessible to a much larger market. Ford's expanding production methods, including the moving assembly line, helped transform both factory work and consumer expectations.
More than fifteen million Model Ts had been made when production ended in 1927. Its significance extends beyond sales: an increasingly mobile public needed roads, fuel, repair shops, and places to stop. The car belongs to the history of American landscapes as much as to the history of machinery.
What to look for
- Practical engineering and relatively low cost
- Standardized production on a vast scale
- A growing market for roadside services
Sources and further reading
Explore more
- Back to Automobiles
- The Jeep
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Ford Mustang
- The Lincoln Highway — related topic