Ford Model T

Ford Model T

The Ford Model T made its debut in the US in 1908 and was soon a roaring sales success: it is often credited with being the first car that the ordinary person could afford.

Henry Ford’s famous moving production line was introduced to build the Model T and it meant that build time per car was slashed from 12 hours down to just 93 minutes. When the car stopped being made in 1927, over 15 million had been produced.

There were many models to choose from: a roadster, tourer and town car, plus pick-ups, vans and buses. With its brass radiator, carriage-style lamps, wooden wheels and exposed running boards, the T looks bizarre on 21st century roads - but it would have been a relatively common sight back in its day.

The driving experience is very odd, too - it's nothing like cars are these days. There are three pedals in the usual place, but they don’t do what you’d expect: The right pedal is a transmission brake, the middle pedal selects reverse gear, and the left pedal is used to engage drive to the two-speed transmission.

There's a brass lever on the steering column that controls the throttle, and a tall stick by your right leg is the parking brake, which works via drums on the rear axle. It's incredibly confusing: to pull away, you place the handbrake in the centre position, set some revs with the throttle and gently press the left hand pedal. To increase speed you release the pedal fully and slide the handbrake lever forward to engage high ratio.

The 2.9-litre four-cylinder engine means the Ford hits a respectable speed – and slowing down is a reversal of the process: back off the hand throttle, press the left pedal to select the low ratio – and get some engine braking – then use the right pedal, which constricts the transmission bands to slow the car.

While it doesn’t drive anything like a modern car, its production techniques and mass appeal set the template for every mainstream car on sale today.

  1. Mustang
  2. Corvette
  3. Cadillac Eldorado
  4. Ford Model T
  5. Jeep
  6. Tesla Model S
  7. Oldsmobile Curved Dash
  8. Cadillac Type 53
  9. Ford GT40
  10. Duesenberg Model J

Recommended

Best new cars coming in 2024
Best new cars coming in 2024 - header image
Best cars & vans

Best new cars coming in 2024

There are some big new models from the likes of Audi, BMW, Citroen, Ford, MINI, Skoda and more on the way in 2024
20 Nov 2023
'Once-dominant Ford and Vauxhall could become also-rans in the future'
Opinion - Ford plant
Opinion

'Once-dominant Ford and Vauxhall could become also-rans in the future'

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler thinks Ford and Vauxhall need to get their pricing right in the EV era if they are to remain popular with customers
15 Nov 2023
New Ford Capri spied testing for the first time
Electric Ford Capri - front
News

New Ford Capri spied testing for the first time

Iconic Ford nameplate will return on MEB-based crossover
9 Nov 2023
Cars we can't buy in the UK, but wish we could
Best cars we can't buy in the UK – header image
Best cars & vans

Cars we can't buy in the UK, but wish we could

We choose our favourite cars from overseas
24 Oct 2023

Most Popular

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed
Dacia Duster - front
News

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed

Dacia has taken the wraps off the latest Duster, which arrives with a new look and fresh technology
29 Nov 2023
New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash
BMW Neue Klasse SUV exclusive image - front
News

New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash

BMW’s first Neue Klasse electric SUV could carry the iX3 nameplate and our exclusive images preview how it might look
30 Nov 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023