Ford Model T, uni piece.

The Ford Model T

The first Model T was built by Henry Fords’ motor company on the 27th September, 1908. It has since become an icon for the automotive industry by leading the way in the mass production and availability cars to the public. Whilst its basic construction and angular looks may be a far cry from today’s streamlined techno cars, the Model T must surely be considered the most significant motor vehicle of all time.


Henry’s Vision
Before the emergence of the Ford, cars had previously been painstakingly built by hand and had been extremely expensive to buy, meaning only the very wealthy may own one. But Henry Fords’ vision was to “build a car for the great multitude….the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise….low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one.” In order to achieve this goal, Ford began producing the Model T in a way that no previous vehicle had ever been made- a production line. His Detroit based factory employed a number of skilled workers who were each assigned a different task. By dividing up the jobs, the car could be assembled considerably faster than had previously been considered, thus allowing a greater volume to be sold. Such was his thirst for speed that even the signature black paint was selected because it had a shorter drying time than other colours!

Popularity
In order to appeal to the masses, the Model T was designed to be very basic in its construction. This meant everyday mechanics could service and repair it, making it cheaper to maintain than previous vehicles of its kind. The price was, of course, the main selling point and the reduction in price each year made it more and more popular as time went on. Such was the popularity of the Model T that within five years of its initial introduction it was being built and sold across five continents. It is also known as the car that put “America on wheels.”

Icon
The Model T became iconic even whilst it was still being manufactured thanks to its various roles in Hollywood films. The medium of film gathered pace at around the same time as the Ford was first mass- produced and the car was regularly used by filmmakers to capture motion and movement, adding another dimension to the movies. An entire century on, the car is still held on a pedestal by many, with a number of clubs and societies of enthusiasts attending rallies in its honour. Hundreds of Model T’s still exist today and an Australian club even holds a worldwide rally every three years.

The Model T will forever stand as a true goliath in the world of cars. Its classic square nosed, bicycle-wheel design, may have been replaced by aerodynamic speed machines, but without this affordable workhorse the industry would not be where it is today.