When one thinks of the first car that was manufactured in the United States, Henry Ford’s Model T instantly comes to mind. The Model T, also known as the Tin Lizzie, T-Model Ford, or just plain T, was manufactured in 1908 through 1927 by Henry Ford’s Ford Motor Company.
The Model T made it possible for the middle class Americans to be able to travel using an affordable automobile. Instead of creating the car by hand crafting, Ford was able to cut down the cost of the car by using the process of assembly line production. Another way Ford made the Model T affordable to the American public was by paying his workers a wage proportionate to the cost of the car.
The first Model T was produced at the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan on August 12, 1908. The car left the plant for sale on September 27, 1908. The Model T was the first automobile to be mass produced during that time.
The Model T competed against cars that sold for around $2000-$3000. That is an equivalent of approximately $48,267-$72,400 today. Henry Ford believed that was way too much money the American people could pay for a dependable automobile at that time. He vowed to make a more affordable automobile. Thus in 1909 when one purchased the 4-seat open tourer Model T, he/she paid only $850.00, equal to $20,513 today. In 1913, the price of the Model T went down to $550 (equal to $12,067 today); in 1915 the car sold for $440 ( equivalent to $9, 431 today). The sales of the Model T continued to increase year after year. The sales figure for 1911 was 69,762; 170,211 cars were sold in 1912; 202,667 cars were sold in 1913; in 1914 308,162 cars were sold; and by 1915 501,462 cars were sold. The car was so popular and so cheap that by the 1920s the Model T sold for only $290 (equal to $3,258 today).
During the lifetime of the Model T it underwent thirteen body style changes to the original form. From 1909-1911, the automobile produced was the 2-door touring. Next came the 3-door touring from 1912-1925. Then came the 4-door touring in 1926-1927. From 1909-1911, the no door roadster was produced. Second came the 1-door roadster in 1912-1925, and the 2-door roadster in 1926-1927. Next came the roadster pickup in 1925-1927. The 2-door coupe was produced in 1909-1912 and in 1917-1927. The town car was manufactured in 1909-1918. In 1912 the C-cab wagon was produced. The 2-(Center)door sedan was built in 1915-1923. Next came the 2-door sedan in 1924-1927. The last body style of the infamous Model T was the 4-door sedan manufactured in 1923-1927.