Ford Model T Facts (a Legend in Its Time and After)
No matter what decade you were born in, you’ve probably heard about the Ford Model T since childhood. That’s how legendary and influential this vehicle is. With its wooden wheels and gearbox, it has its own history and is fascinating enough to bridge the gap between generations.
The Model T was a legend then and there.
During this time, Ford produced an astonishing number of motorized vehicles, more than 15 million Model Ts (quite an accomplishment, considering that the number of cars on the roads before the Model T peaked at 200,000).
For decades, it maintained its position as the longest-producing automobile brand. The Model T made owning a car affordable for everyone. It wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t impossible either.
As time went on, the price became more and more affordable as Ford focused on the Model T, and the Model T only. It was a truly innovative move by Ford, one that drivers today can appreciate.
His performance? A solid 22 horsepower. His engine? None other than a four-cylinder made from heat-treated steel that no one had ever put on a public road before. This type of steel made the engine weigh just 1,200 pounds, lighter and stronger than its competitors.
And his top speed? An astounding 40 miles per hour, but only if you treated yourself to a Speedster model. Everyone else had to settle for 30 miles per hour.
I’d give you transmission specs, but the Model T didn’t actually have a transmission. Instead, it had a single-speed transmission that allowed the driver to take the vehicle out of neutral and move forward.
Did you know?
1. The Ford Model T was originally designed to run on gasoline or hemp fuel, the latter of which was taken out of circulation when oil prices dropped significantly.
2. The manufacturer set the price of the first Model T at $825, which is about $18,000 in today’s inflated currency. This wasn’t too bad, since most vehicles on the road at the time cost a few thousand dollars.
3. Wood was a fairly large part of the Model T’s construction. This includes the body, interior, and wheels.
4. Some high-end Model T variants actually had four doors, but most were equipped with only one door for ingress and egress.
5. The Model T did not have a speedometer, but it did have a glass thermometer just above the radiator cap to monitor the engine temperature.
6. Ford built the last Model T on May 26, 1927, after customer demand shifted from simple, practical, and accessible driving to cars that were fast, luxurious, and versatile.
The Model T is still making waves
Decades after it went out of production, the Model T is still a car that everyone knows, even if they’re not a car enthusiast. With such a rich and unique history, who could blame them?
