By Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of Ford Motor Company Archives/Norman Rockwell Museum
Published 1.7.2026
The Ford Motor Company introduced the automobile that made automotive history - the popular Ford Model T. One of the most well-known factories to manufacture the Ford Model T was the three-story Piquette Avenue plant in Detroit, Michigan.
1914 Model T Ford Highland Park Moving Assembly Line
1926 Ford Model T Assembly Line
Introduced in October 1908, the Model T represented a complete departure from Ford’s previous models. Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) and his management team spent nearly five years refining the design and engineering that made the Model T both durable and practical. Early versions featured a lightweight chassis made from vanadium steel, giving the car exceptional strength for its time. This was a great chapter in automotive history that helped “put the world on wheels”.
Henry Ford and the 10,000,000th Model T
By 1909, Ford expanded its lineup, offering models priced from $825 to $1,000. Production increased rapidly, reaching 100 vehicles per month by June of that year.
In 1913, the Ford Motor Company revolutionized the automobile manufacturing process with the introduction of the popular assembly line at the Highland Park, Michigan plant. Here, workers assembled radiators, wheels, and other components with improved efficiency—an innovation that increased production and provided steady, attractive wages. That year, Ford produced 168,000 vehicles for the growing motoring public.
By 1915, Ford celebrated the manufacture of its one-millionth automobile.
Design updates continued throughout the decade. In 1916, Ford discontinued features such as the small brass radiator and box-type hood—changes phased out after the first 800 units that year. The 1916 Center Door Sedan became the most expensive Model T at $640.
1925 Ford Model T $5 Dollar Plan
The new 1927 Ford models were identical to the previous 1926 Ford models. The wood spoke wheels were no longer offered to the customer.
The Model T’s journey started in 1908 and after 19 years more than 15 million Model T vehicles that were on the road ended their name plate in 1927.
During the 1920s, Ford’s advertising increasingly featured women, reflecting their growing presence in the workforce and behind the wheel. The final Model T rolled off the assembly line on May 26, 1927. Henry Ford believed that with proper care, the Model T could provide a lifetime of dependable service—a testament to his vision of practical, long-lasting transportation.
1926 Ford Model T Tudor Sedan Ad
As designs evolved and competition intensified, Ford eventually moved on from the Model T. Yet its legacy endured, captured beautifully in Norman Rockwell’s 1952 painting of a family visiting a farm in their early Model T touring car. The artwork reflects the pride, independence, and joy the Model T brought to American families.
Norman Rockwell painting featuring a Ford Model T
Visit the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum to walk through the original factory floor where the Model T was built before tranferring assembly to Highland Park.
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