The History of the Model T

First sold in 1908, the Model T was not the first car ever sold in the United States, but as the world’s first mass-produced car, it was the first affordable option. In fact, due to the company’s assembly line manufacturing, Ford was able to sell the car for just $260 (roughly $8,000 today). By the 1920s, over half of the registered cars in the world were Fords. Notably, the Model T was the first car to have its steering wheel on the left side (rather than in the center). It was also the first car to offer a windshield, to have its engine block and the crankcase cast as one unit, to have a removable cylinder head, and to use vanadium steel extensively. From 1914 – 1925, the car was only offered in black, but before and after that time, it was available in several colors, including blue, red, gray, and green. Over 15 million Model T cars were sold until Ford ended production in 1927 (the Model T was replaced by the Model A in 1928). While the Model T is generally only seen in car shows these days, it single-handedly revolutionized the car industry, helped popularize driving, and remains a recognizable icon to this day.