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Ford and the Birth of the Model T

Ford’s status as a large-volume car producer began with the predecessor to the Model T: the Model N, a four-cylinder, two-seater car initially priced at $500. At the time, the average car in the US cost more than $2,000, and it seemed nearly unimaginable that a car with the capabilities of the Model N could cost so littl

Similarly, it was only by virtue of its large volumes that Ford could afford to purchase dedicated steel-stamping presses to churn out pressed-steel crankcases, which were cheaper and used less material than the cast iron employed by other manufacturers. With high-precision machining, Ford was able to manufacture highly accurate parts that resulted in a better, more reliable car, required less work to assemble, and used less-skilled labor. The Model T would change the world, both by making the car a ubiquitous feature of American life and, more subtly but no less significantly, showing what could be achieved with large-volume production and a cascading chain of improvements.

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