Ford Model A (1903–04)

The first Ford Model A was the first car to the Ford Motor Company produced.

On 16 June 1903, the Ford Motor Company was formally launched. This was Henry Ford's second company. The first, the Henry Ford Company, was on the verge of insolvency and the investors brought Henry M. Leland as a restructuring. The reorganization resulted in the renaming of the company, Henry Ford Company. The collaboration worked poorly and Henry Ford left his company with $ 900 in his pocket, the construction plans for his next car and mutual agreement that Ford was allowed to continue to use his name as a brand name and that the company would change the name again. So it was the Cadillac Motor Company. Because both Ford as well as Leland ableiteten their first production model from Ford's design, there was a great similarity between the first Cadillac and the Ford Model A.

The new car was made in rented premises at the Mack Avenue in Detroit. At the beginning stood model names like " Daisy" ( one of the shareholders was the manufacturer of a same air rifle ) and "Ford Mobile " in space; the latter has actually been used for a short time before to " Model A " prevailed. It was the first automobile that was produced by the newly formed Ford Motor Company in 1903. Dr. Ernst Pfenning of Chicago, Illinois was on 23 July 1903, the first owner of a Model A. Model A cars from 1750 and his successor AC were built from 1903 to 1905.

The car was offered as a two-seater runabout or four-seater tonneau model, with optional canopy. The tonneau-shaped building with a door at the rear was removable. The 2- cylinder boxer engine was centrally located in the vehicle and produced 6 kilowatts ( 8 hp). About a 3 - speed planetary gearbox, the rear wheels were driven, as later in the model T. The car weighed 562 kg and had a top speed of 72 km / h The wheelbase was 72 inches (1.8 m). It cost $ 750 and could be equipped for $ 100 with a rear seat and a canopy made ​​of rubber for $ 30 or leather for $ 50.

For the development of Ford had spent almost his entire initial investment capital in the amount of $ 28,000. The bank account was only $ 223.65 remained when the first Model A was sold. The success of this car model brought the Ford Motor Company profits, Henry Ford's first successful company.