First model T Ford goes on sale

On 1st October 1908, the Ford Model T automobile is introduced to the American market. Henry Ford and his engineers struggled for five years to produce a reliable, inexpensive car for the mass market. The fledgling automobile company settled on a promising design with their 20th attempt; the car was christened the Model T after the 20th letter in the alphabet.

Affectionately known as the Tin Lizzy, the Model T revolutionised the automotive industry by providing a cheap, reliable car for the average American. The Ford Motor Company’s use of revolutionary mass-production methods such as the assembly line eventually enabled it to turn out a Model T every 24 seconds. By the time the Model T was discontinued in 1927, over 16 million of the automobiles had been sold.