Ford Model T

The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie, T‑Model Ford, Model T, or T) is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car that opened travel to the common middle-class American; some of this was because of Ford's efficient fabrication, including assembly line production instead of individual hand crafting.

The Ford Model T was named the most influential car of the 20th century in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, ahead of the BMC Mini, Citroën DS, and Volkswagen Type 1, and with 16.5 million sold it still makes the top ten list of most sold cars of all time (ranked eighth) as of 2012.

Although automobiles had already existed for decades, their adoption had been limited, and they were still mostly scarce and expensive. Automobiles were considered extreme luxury for the common man until the Model T. The Model T set 1908 as the historic year that the automobile became popular for the mass market. The Model T was a complete success among the population; in a matter of days after after the release, 15,000 orders were placed. The first production Model T was produced on August 12, 1908 and left the factory on September 27, 1908, at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan. On May 26, 1927, Henry Ford watched the 15 millionth Model T Ford roll off the assembly line at his factory in Highland Park, Michigan.

There were several cars produced or prototyped by Henry Ford from the founding of the company in 1903 until the Model T was introduced. Although he started with the Model A, there were not 19 production models (A through T); some were only prototypes. The production model immediately before the Model T was the Model S, an upgraded version of the company's largest success to that point, the Model N. The follow-up was the Ford Model A (rather than any Model U). The company publicity said this was because the new car was such a departure from the old that Henry wanted to start all over again with the letter A.

The Model T was Ford's first automobile mass-produced on moving assembly lines with completely interchangeable parts, marketed to the middle class.

Henry Ford said of the vehicle:  "I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one – and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces".

1909: Touring: red or green. Runabout: gray. Town Car, Landaulet, and Coupe: green.
1910: All cars were painted a very dark green.  
1911: A few Red Open Runabouts and green Town Cars were built in April, otherwise all cars were painted a very dark blue.
1912: All cars were painted a very dark blue with the exception of delivery cars which had red bodies and dark blue fenders.
1913: Initially all cars were painted a very dark blue, with either blue or black fenders. Black became the standard color early in the year.
1914: Factory papers show that touring bodies were painted blue until October, otherwise all cars were painted black.  Reportedly, red, green & gray could be had as special orders through 1914.
1915-1925: All cars were painted black.
1909-1925  Fenders, aprons, running boards, chassis and running gear were painted body color.
1926: Initially, all cars were painted black.  Then the Fordor was available in maroon and the Tudor and Coupe in green.
1927: All cars had black fenders. Green, brown, maroon, gray, blue available on all models. Black no longer available except on special order.