History of the Model T Timeline

Promotion for the Model T began well in advance of its introduction, with advertisements appearing in newspapers in January 1908, building anticipation for the new automobile.

In 1909, the cost of the Model T Runabout started at $825 (equivalent to about $29,560 in 2025). The figures from 1909 to 1920 were reported on Ford's fiscal year basis.

The savings from mass production allowed the price of the Model T to decline from $780 in 1910 (equivalent to $26,952 in 2025), continuing to fall over the following years.

In 1914, Ford produced more cars than all other automakers combined, demonstrating the extraordinary scale of the company's mass-production success.

The Model T was so successful that Ford did not purchase any advertising between 1917 and 1923; instead, the Model T became so famous that people considered it a norm.

By 1918, half of all the cars in the United States were Model Ts, an astonishing level of market dominance for any single model of automobile.

In the inaugural 1923 race, a Model T entry finished 14th, showing that even the humble family car could compete on the track.

By 1925 the Runabout price had been lowered to $260 (equivalent to about $4,770 in 2025). That same year, production reached 9,000 to 10,000 cars a day, or 2 million annually, more than any other model of its day, and exports from American factories reached 303,000 units.

In the first years of production from 1908 to 1913, the Model T was not available in black, but rather only in gray, green, blue, and red.

From 1909 to 1914, the Model T was characterized by a nearly straight, five-sided hood with a flat top containing a center hinge and two side sloping sections containing folding hinges.

By 1912, all Model Ts were being painted midnight blue with black fenders, transitioning away from the multicolored offerings of earlier years.

Only in 1914 was the famous "any color so long as it is black" policy finally implemented. It is often stated that Ford suggested black from 1914 to 1925 due to its low cost, durability, and faster drying time in that era.

For 1915–1916, the hood design remained nearly the same five-sided shape, with the only obvious change being the addition of louvers to the vertical sides.

Electric lighting powered by the magneto was adopted in 1915, replacing acetylene gas flame lamps and oil lamps, though electric starting would not be offered until 1919.

During the Model T's production run, particularly after 1916, more than 30 manufacturers offered auxiliary transmissions or drives to substitute for or enhance the Model T's drivetrain gears.

From 1917 to 1923, the Model T's hood design was changed to a tapered design with a curved top, marking another evolution in the car's appearance.

An armored-car variant called the FT-B was developed in Poland in 1920 due to high demand during the Polish-Soviet war, demonstrating the versatility of the Model T platform.

The Aeroford, an English restyled version of the Model T, was manufactured in Bayswater, London, from 1920 to 1925, selling from £288 in 1920 and dropping to £168–214 by 1925.

Between 1923 and 1925, a hood design change occurred during the 1923 calendar year, meaning models built earlier in the year had the older design while later vehicles had the newer design.

Balloon tires became available on the Model T in 1925, offering improved ride comfort compared to the original narrow tires.

The 1926–1927 design change made the greatest difference in the appearance of the Model T, refreshing the aging design in its final years of production.

While wheels were traditionally wooden artillery wheels, steel welded-spoke wheels became available in 1926 and 1927, near the end of Model T production.

On May 26, 1927, Henry Ford watched the 15 millionth Model T roll off the assembly line at his factory in Highland Park, Michigan. Henry Ford and his son Edsel then drove the 15-millionth Model T out of the factory together.

The Model T engine was produced for replacement needs as well as stationary and marine applications until August 4, 1941, well after production of the car itself had ended.

In 1949, more than twenty years after the end of production, 200,000 Model Ts were still registered in the United States, a testament to the car's durability.

With over 15 million sold, the Model T was the most sold car in history before being surpassed by the Volkswagen Beetle on February 17, 1972. The Ford F-Series, itself descended from the Model T roadster pickup, has since surpassed the Model T as Ford's best-selling model.

The Ford Model T was named the most influential car of the 20th century in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, finishing ahead of the BMC Mini, Citroën DS, and Volkswagen Beetle.

In 2002, Ford built a batch of six Model Ts as part of their 2003 centenary celebrations, honoring the company's 100th anniversary.

In 2008, it was estimated that about 50,000 to 60,000 Ford Model Ts remain roadworthy. The car's durability was phenomenal, and some Model Ts and their parts are in running order over a century later.

In the UK, the Model T Ford Register of Great Britain celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010, reflecting enduring enthusiasm for the historic automobile among collectors.