On 1 October 1908, Ford made the Model T available to the American public, beginning one of the most consequential chapters in automotive history. Developed at Ford’s Piquette Avenue plant in Detroit, the Model T was conceived as a practical, durable and relatively affordable car for ordinary Americans. Its 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, simple controls, high ground clearance and robust construction suited the country’s often difficult roads.
Priced initially at $850, the Model T quickly generated demand beyond Piquette Avenue’s production capacity. Ford moved manufacturing to Highland Park in 1910, where the company later perfected the moving assembly line, dramatically reducing production time and cost.
More than 15 million Model Ts were ultimately produced between 1908 and 1927. Its combination of engineering simplicity, manufacturing efficiency and falling prices helped turn the automobile from a luxury into a practical form of mass mobility.
