What was the original Ford car?
The earliest Ford car was Henry Ford's Quadricycle, built in 1896, and is widely considered Ford's first automobile.
What people mean by the "original Ford car" varies. The Ford story begins with a private prototype, moves to the first production car from Ford Motor Company, and culminates in the Model T, the vehicle that defined mass production in the auto era. This article outlines those milestones and clarifies the terminology.
First steps: Ford's earliest vehicles
The timeline below highlights the key early Ford cars—starting with Ford's first prototype, moving to the company's initial production model, and ending with the mass-produced icon that followed.
- Quadricycle — 1896: Henry Ford's first completed automobile, built in a shed behind his Detroit home. It was a small, gasoline-powered four-wheeler with a single-cylinder engine and roughly four horsepower; it was experimental and not intended for sale.
- Model A — 1903: The first car produced by the newly formed Ford Motor Company after its incorporation. It was a simple, affordable two-seat runabout that demonstrated Ford's ability to mass-produce basic automobiles.
- Model T — 1908: The breakthrough mass-market car that introduced modern assembly-line production and transformed Ford into a global automaker.
Together, these early vehicles show Ford's evolution from inventor to mass-production pioneer and lay the foundation for an industry-changing era.
Clarifying the term: what counts as the "original Ford car"
To avoid confusion, historians distinguish among three milestones: the first vehicle Ford built (Quadricycle), the first production car from Ford Motor Company (Model A), and the iconic mass-market car that defined Ford's early success (Model T).
Quadricycle (1896)
Ford's very first completed vehicle, a prototype built to test his ideas about gasoline power. It demonstrated Ford's engineering potential but was never sold as a model.
Model A (1903)
The first Ford car produced after the company was formed in 1903. It launched Ford's entry into serial production and set the stage for later investment in more capable, affordable cars.
Model T (1908)
The car that transformed mass transportation. With simplified design and assembly-line manufacturing, the Model T made car ownership affordable for a broad segment of the public and defined Ford's success for decades.
Summary
In short, the "original Ford car" can refer to the Quadricycle as Ford's first vehicle, the Model A as the first production car from Ford Motor Company, or the Model T as the pivotal mass-market model. Each represents a different stage in Ford's evolution from inventor to industrial powerhouse.
What was the very first Ford car made?
1896 Ford Quadricycle Runabout, First Car Built by Henry Ford. The Quadricycle was Henry Ford's first attempt to build a gasoline-powered automobile.
What was Ford's second car?
Soon after Henry Ford built his first automobile, the 1896 Quadricycle, he sold it to finance construction of his second car, this 1898 runabout. Ford's second car improved on the Quadricycle in almost every respect. It was sturdier and more sophisticated.
What was the name of the old Ford car?
The Model T. The Model T is Ford's universal car that put the world on wheels. The Model T was introduced to the world in 1908. Henry Ford wanted the Model T to be affordable, simple to operate, and durable.
Was the Model A or T first?
The original Ford Model A came first in 1903. The more famous and long-running Model T was introduced later in 1908. A new Model A was then released in 1927 as the successor to the Model T, which can cause confusion between the two models.
- First Model A (1903): The very first car produced by the Ford Motor Company was a Model A, which was sold until 1904.
- Model T (1908): Following a series of other models, Henry Ford introduced the Model T, which became a massive success and was produced until 1927.
- New Model A (1927): When production of the Model T ended, Ford started the alphabet over for the new model, calling it the Model A to represent a rebirth for the company. This second Model A was produced until 1932.
