Ford Model T
The history of this unpretentious, but popular car began in 1906, when the Ford Motor Company factory in Pickett began to create a model that was to be available to any American. Henry Ford attracted to the promising project of the best designers of those years — engineers child wells and Aegina Farkas, as well as Vice-President of the plant John Casens.
The key task of Ford was to create a reliable and simple in its device car, and the head of the company has made a lot of effort to this, crowned with a genuine triumph. After two years of intense work, in September 1908, the public was presented to the revolutionary at the time the car Ford Model T. the Car is rapidly gaining success, and Ford Motor Company stopped production of other models, freeing up all the power for new items.
The car was built on a steel frame with two longitudinal beams. Body future owner ordered at its discretion: universal frame combined with several types of bodies. So, initially they were designed six types, but later for the optimization of production stopped only two — Touring and Runabout. However,for nineteen years, the company has released many versions of the Ford Model T - from a luxury convertible to a delivery van.
One of the many advantages of the car was its weight: it weighed only 540 kilograms. In those years, it was very difficult to make a light, but relatively strong car, but Henry Ford, the envy of competitors, it happened. The secret was in a special steel mixed with vanadium - the frame of the legendary machine was made of such material. As a power unit used time-tested inline four-cylinder engine capacity of 2.9 liters. Having sufficient for the beginning of the last century, the power of 22 horsepower, the motor cheerfully accelerates the Model T to 70 kilometers per hour. However, some sports versions of this model could reach "crazy" 150 kilometers per hour.
Today, this seems unthinkable, but in 1908, an unpretentious car was asked for $ 825, which was quite affordable for the American middle class. Moreover, every year its price fell, reaching a record $ 265 by 1924.
This reduction in cost contributed to the launch in 1914, the world's first conveyor, which significantly reduced the cost of Ford. But at the same time the design of the machine was simplified as much as possible: the front wheels were not equipped with brakes, and the windshield, speedometer, mirrors and manual wipers were listed in the list of options. In addition, the fuel system was not present any pump-gasoline came from the tank to the motor only due to the force of gravity. The two-speed transmission also did not cause problems to the owners because of the exceptional simplicity and reliability.
The emergence of Ford Model T provoked a strong economic boost in the United States-after the automotive industry began a rapid growth of the metallurgical and chemical industry, as well as the service industry and the production of spare parts. Having provided North America with mass cars, Henry Ford did not forget the rest of the world: the Ford Model T was produced and sold in Australia, Germany, France and the UK. Only from 1908 to 1927 produced 15 175 868 cars, which is still in the course of a few thousand. The price of this well-respected in the circles of collectors of cars-well-groomed and completely original copy - today ranges from 20 000 dollars in the US to 50 000 euros in Europe.