How the Ford Model T Gained Prominence in American Car Culture

Derrick Wojcik-Damers is a Denver, Colorado, professional with leadership experience in the transportation sector. Passionate about collecting and restoring antique cars, Derrick Wojcik-Damers owns a 1927 “Tin Lizzie” Ford Model T that he restored from a rusted frame.

The Benz Patent-Motorwagen marked the start of the commercially available automobile when it was produced in 1886, but it was not until the advent of the Model T Ford in 1908 that mass production made cars affordable for most middle class Americans. From that point, it still took several years for Model Ts to become common outside of the larger cities.

The year 1914 proved a turning point, with the assembly process having become so fine-tuned that an entire vehicle could be assembled in just over 90 minutes. Ford’s dominant market share reflected this, with the manufacturer producing more vehicles than all the other US automakers put together. By 1917, Ford no longer needed to purchase advertising in order to sell cars. This break from marketing lasted a full 5 years.

At its peak in 1925, approximately 10,000 Model Ts came off the assembly line each day, with annual production of the $240 car reaching 2 million. Ultimately, it was the introduction of Ford’s “A-Rod” Model A in 1927, as much as any outside competition, that led to a decline in sales of the Model T. At that point, the car had had its basic design and black color unchanged for 18 years. The total number of Model Ts sold remained the highest of any car model until 1972, when the Volkswagen Beetle surpassed its mark.