Early Ford Cars
The Ford Motor Company has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s and has produced hundreds of different vehicles. The era of the early Fords is generally thought of as the time from Ford's inception through World War II. This era immediately brings to mind popular vehicles like the Model T and the Model A, but Ford produced many different types of cars during these years, some more successful than others. Many of these designs revolutionized the way cars were made and continue to impact today's automobile industry.
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The First Fords (1901-1907)
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In 1901, Henry Ford designed an automobile called the "Detroit" while working for the Detroit Automobile Company. Dissatisfied with the company, Ford left Detroit Auto and formed his own company. In 1903, the Model A became the first vehicle to actually bear the Ford name, and over 1,700 Model A's were produced that year. As for Detroit Auto, it was reorganized as the Cadillac Automobile Company. In 1904, Ford introduced three new models: the Model B, the Model C and the Model F. Due to overwhelming demand, the Ford Motor Company relocated to a larger facility in 1905. Ford's 1905 vehicles were essentially the same models as offered in 1904, but Ford did introduce its first production delivery car, the Model E. 1906 brought the introduction of the Model K six-cylinder luxury car. Also introduced in 1906 was the four-cylinder Model N. The Model B and Model C were discontinued in 1906. In 1907, the Model K continued as Ford's luxury car, and a new car, the Model R, replaced the Model F from 1904.
Model T (1908-1927)
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The Model T was first introduced in October of 1908. Tremendously popular, Ford would eventually sell over fifteen million Model T's over the next nineteen years. Because the Model T was introduced so late in 1908, some historians consider the 1908 Model T a 1909 car, although Ford's 1908 catalogs did feature the Model T. In 1909, six standard Model T models were offered from between $825 to $1,000. From 1908 to 1927, the Model T went through many variations, but the same basic chassis was used. Other notable Fords from this period include the Touring Car and the Town Car. Ford also expanded its line to include commercial vehicles, tractors and even fire trucks.
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Model A (1928-1931)
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Ford introduced its new Model A in December of 1927. Like the Model T, the Model A featured a four-cylinder engine, but the Model A's engine design was much more advanced, and drive control was now by way of a conventional clutch and three-speed transmission. For the first time in the automobile industry, safety glass was a standard feature. The non-commercial Model A's were available in five body styles, although a variety of options really resulted in ten styles. By 1931, Ford had sold approximately five million Model A's, but sales were sharply declining due to the more modern appearances of vehicles produced by Chevrolet and the new Plymouth Company.
Fords of the 1930s
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Ford announced in 1932 that a new V-8 that the "common man" could afford would be made available in each of Ford's fourteen body styles. Up until this point, most people could only afford the standard four-cylinder engine. Ford's customer's could now upgrade to a V-8 for an additional $10. In 1933, the first full year of V-8 production, more than a half million V-8 Fords were produced, a complete sell-out. Ford's automobile line expanded during this period and included a variety of vehicles from coupes, luxury vehicles, dump trucks and Ford's first transit bus in 1933. In 1939, Ford introduced the Mercury company, which was designed to expand Ford production line into the middle class price field.
World War II Era (1940-1945)
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Ford expanded its automobile line in 1940 with the introduction of the Business Coupe models to both the Standard and Deluxe lines. That same year, the Convertible Sedan was discontinued, as it was simply too expensive. Ford introduced a new engine design in 1941 that would continue until 1948. Also in 1941, the bodies of all Ford models were lengthened and widened. By 1942, Word War II required that resources be reallocated to the war effort. By the end of 1942, the production of all civilian vehicles was terminated, and Ford began focusing solely on producing vehicles for the military. During 1943 and 1945, Ford produced military vehicles such as the Jeep, the M-8 tank, the M-8 Light Armored Car, the amphibious vehicle nicknamed the DUCK and a variety of airplanes, to name just a few. With the end of the war, Ford began producing civilian vehicles again in 1946, sparking a brand new era in Ford's history.
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