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Ford made a good number of cars before the Model T was
introduced. Beginning in 1903 they produced Models A,
followed by Models B, C, F, K, N, R, and S. There were
also a number of "special" cars, sometimes referred to
as still another model, "E" for instance, but more often
just a part of the regular model-letter of the time.
Ford's sales ledger books of the early years are in the
files of the Research Library of the Henry Ford Museum,
and in these the models and serial numbers were listed
as they were sold. Sadly, not all of the ledgers are
extant but from those that do exist a good bit of
information can be gleaned.
These records are, of course, not complete so there are
gaps in the data. From the data we have, the following
might be a guide. Remember, these are the dates of the
sale, not of manufacture.
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Model A First sale July 20, 1903. Last sale January 10,
1905.* Approximately 1750 were made, beginning
with serial number one. (Serial numbers 1, 2,
and 3 apparently were never sold. Perhaps they
were kept by Ford executives.) The Model A was
superseded by the Model AC (a Model A with a
Model C engine) which continued the serial
number sequence of the Model A.** |
|
Horsepower |
8 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
4 by 4 inches |
|
Cylinders |
2 opposed |
|
Wheelbase |
72 inches |
|
Tread |
55 inches |
|
Price |
$750. Tonneau, $100.
Leather top, $50. Rubber top, $30 |
|
Model AC
The Model AC was a later production Model A with
a Model C engine. |
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Model B
The Model B was a four-cylinder touring car.
First sale October 20, 1904. Last sale June 30,
1906.* Approximately 500 were made, beginning
with serial number one. |
|
Horsepower |
24 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
4-1/4 by 5 inches |
|
Cylinders |
4 |
|
Wheelbase |
92 inches |
|
Tread |
55-1/2 inches |
|
Price |
$2000. Gas lamps extra |
|
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Model C
The Model C was an up-dated version of the Model
A. The engine was a bit larger than that in the
A. The Model C sported a front "hood" which the
Model A did not have, giving it a more modern
appearance.
First sale November 17, 1904. Last sale December
14, 1905.* Approximately 800 were made,
beginning with serial number 1751(?)**.
|
|
Horsepower |
10 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
4-1/4 by 4-1/4 inches |
|
Cylinders |
2 opposed |
|
Wheelbase |
78 inches |
|
Tread |
56 inches |
|
Price |
$850. Tonneau, $100.
Leather top, $50. Rubber top, $30 |
|
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Model E
(Delivery Car)
The "Model E" appears in some literature and is
described as a delivery car. In 1905 Ford did
produce a delivery car based on the Model C
chassis. The Ford catalogs described it as
"Delivery Car" but no separate model letter was
assigned. The first sale was on March 4, 1905
(to John Wanamaker). The last sale was November
4, 1905* |
|
Price |
$950. Plus gas lamps. |
|
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Model F
The Model F was an updated version of the Model
C, with a larger body, finders, and with running
boards.
First sale March 4, 1905. Last sale May 22,
1906.* Approximately 1000 were made, beginning
with serial number 2575** (a continuation from
the Models A and C).**
|
|
Horsepower |
|
|
Bore/Stoke |
4-1/2 by 4 inches |
|
Cylinders |
2 opposed |
|
Wheelbase |
84 inches |
|
Tread |
56 inches |
|
Price |
$1000. Plus gas lamps. |
|
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Model K
The Model K was a six-cylinder car available as
either a touring or a roadster. Expensive
($25-2800), and not too good, it was a poor
seller and generally credited for Henry Ford's
dislike for six-cylinder cars.
First sale April 16, 1906. Last sale September
30, 1908.* Approximately 900 were made,
beginning with serial number one.
|
|
Horsepower |
40 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
4-1/2 by 4-1/4 inches |
|
Cylinders |
6 |
|
Wheelbase |
114 inches |
|
Tread |
56 inches |
|
Price |
1905-06, $2500 plus gas lamps
1907-08, $2800, $3000 with top and lamps. |
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Model N
The Model N was a four-cylinder car,
generally a runabout although a few
special bodies were apparently built as
well. It had rudimentary fenders with no
splash aprons or running boards.
First sale July 7, 1906. Last sale
December 21, 1908.* Approximately 7000
were made, beginning with serial number
one. |
|
Horsepower |
15 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
3-3/4 by 3-3/8 inches |
|
Cylinders |
4 |
|
Wheelbase |
84 inches |
|
Tread |
56 inches |
|
Price |
1907, $500.
1908, $600. Gas lamps and top extra |
|
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Model R
The Model R was a up-graded version of
the Model N, using the same engine and
chassis with minor improvements, but
with a somewhat larger body and with
improved fenders and running boards. Its
success resulted in the Model S.
First sale April 1, 1907. Last sale
October 21, 1907.* Approximately 2500
were made, beginning with serial number
one. (The records show a fair number of
Model R's being sold on May 17, 1909.
There were none found between the last
date above and this date, and none after
this date. Where these came from is
unknown.) |
|
Horsepower |
15 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
3-3/4 by 3-3/8 inches |
|
Cylinders |
4 |
|
Wheelbase |
84 inches |
|
Tread |
56 inches |
|
Price |
$750. Gas lamps and top extra |
|
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Model S
The Model S was similar to the Model N but with
a bigger body, fenders, etc. It was sort of a
compromise between the Models S and R.
First sale February 4, 1907. Last sale February
1, 1909.* Approximately 3750 were made,
beginning with serial number one. |
|
Horsepower |
15 |
|
Bore/Stoke |
3-3/4 by 3-3/8 inches |
|
Cylinders |
4 |
|
Wheelbase |
84 inches |
|
Tread |
56 inches |
|
Price |
$700. Gas lamps and top extra |
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* Dates are those of the vast majority of sales, the
dates are from the sales ledger books. There may have
been earlier and later sales. Earlier models were
sometimes sold months after the replacement models were
introduced.
** Ford catalogs show the Model A serial numbers as 1 to
870, Model AC (A with C engine) as 670 to 2570, and
Model F as those above 2570. |
