Ford Model T (1926) – Into the Wild

Ask anyone to name a car from the early 20th century and chances are you’ll get the Ford Model T as the answer. The Model Model T has not only become very famous and become an icon because of the enormous number of copies that have been built (more than 16 million), but also because of the production process. The Model T was the first car to be built according to the modern mass production principle. Ford founder Henry Ford streamlined the production process with assembly line work – revolutionary at the time – that one came off the line every three minutes. That was unprecedented and changed car production forever.

As a result, the Model T was extremely affordable and became the first ‘car for the masses’. Not only the production process ensured a low price, also the fact that all Models T were basically identical for a long time. ‘You can get it in any color, as long as it’s black’ was a popular saying. It is also a misconception that black was the only color available, because the Model T (built from 1908 to 1927) was available in other colors before 1914 and after 1925. Various coach shapes have also appeared on the market during the 19-year production period and considerable external changes have been made regularly. The example that we have here in front of us, thanks to AutoWeek forum member Peter Olthof, is the last appearance of the Model T. If you put it next to the Model T from 1919, for example (photo below) you will see that the Model T is in the had undergone a clear evolution over the years. So much so that the spotted copy was known as ‘new Model T’.

In 2016 AutoWeek reader Rolf Mak spotted this Model T from 1919

What has remained the same over time is the power source. That has remained a 2.9-liter four-cylinder engine from start to finish that put in 23 horsepower. So you can say that considerable steps have been taken in the ratio cylinder capacity / power since then. Although the development of the car in general went very fast after the disappearance of the Model T, the Model T managed to keep an absolute lead for a long time. Until 1972, it was the best-selling model ever, because only in that year did the Volkswagen Beetle take over from the Model T. In 2022, the Model T is still in eighth place. To give you an idea of ​​the absurd amount of Ford Model Ts out there at the time, in 1914 it was estimated that 90 percent of all cars in the world were Fords, with the Ford Model T being the biggest driver of that success.

Although there are certainly a lot of Models T left, given its age, it is of course an extremely rare appearance in the Netherlands. Especially on the public road. Incidentally, the spotted specimen can only recently be admired here, because it came to our country in October 2020.