The Ford Model T, introduced on October 1, 1908, was the car that made motoring affordable for ordinary people. Simple, tough and easy to repair, it became dramatically cheaper after Ford introduced the moving assembly line at its Highland Park plant in 1913, cutting the time to build a car from about half a day to around an hour and a half. Before production ended in 1927, more than 15 million Model Ts had been built, and the car had transformed American life.

At a glance
Introduced October 1, 1908
Production ended May 1927
Built More than 15 million
Engine 2.9-litre four-cylinder, about 20 hp
Nickname “Tin Lizzie”

Designed for everyone

Henry Ford wanted a car for the great multitude: light, strong, simple and cheap. The Model T used vanadium steel for strength, a high ground clearance for rough rural roads, and a two-speed planetary transmission operated by foot pedals. Farmers used them to power machinery and haul goods.

The moving assembly line

In 1913, Ford introduced a moving assembly line for the Model T chassis, bringing work to stationary workers. Assembly time fell sharply, production soared and the price fell year after year — making the Model T affordable to millions.

The $5 day

The repetitive work caused high staff turnover. In January 1914, Ford roughly doubled pay to $5 a day, reducing turnover and allowing workers to afford the cars they built.

Any color so long as it is black

Henry Ford wrote that customers could have a Model T painted any color “so long as it is black”. From about 1914 to 1925, black was the only option, largely because black paint of the time dried fastest, suiting mass production. Read why black cars are black.

Its impact

The Model T helped create paved roads, gas stations, suburbs and roadside businesses. It put rural Americans in touch with towns and cities and set the pattern for mass production across industries.

The end

By the mid-1920s, rivals like Chevrolet offered more modern cars with more features and colors. Ford ended the Model T in 1927 and replaced it with the Model A. Read the history of General Motors for the other side of that rivalry.