After successfully building and selling nearly 10, 000 Model T Fords during the first model years, Ford continued its success in 1910. The Model T’s for 1910 were largely similar to the 1909 models but had a number of mechanical improvements made to the rear axle.
Ford built the Model T using components supplied by many outside manufacturers. A large portion of the engines and chassis were built by the Dodge Brothers and the bodies were built by a variety of manufacturers including the Pontiac, Beaudette and Hayes.
Six different body styles were available in 1910, including a touring car, a tourabout, a runabout, a town car, a landaulet and a coupe. In addition to these offerings, Ford also sold a bare chassis to customers that wanted to build their own special-purpose bodies. Of the six styles offered, the touring car was the most popular and contributed to nearly seventy-five percent of all vehicles sold that year. At the end of the 1910 model year, Henry Ford had built and sold nearly 20, 000 vehicles, which was double his 1909 production.
This 1910 Model T Touring car sold new for $950 fob Detroit.
This car was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. The Model ‘T’ was introduced to the public in December of 1908, selling over 15 million units thru May of 1927. During this production period there were very few design changes, there was a saying ‘you can get any color you want as long as it is black.’
The car has a foot brake which stops the drive shaft, the transmission had 2 forward and 1 reverse gears which were speed controlled by three pedals and a lever. The engine is a 4 L-Head cylinder unit with 176.7 cubic-inches, generating 22 horsepower. The wheelbase is 100 inches and the weight is 1200 lbs. Total production of the model was 16, 890 units, with a selling price of $950.
The Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford were involved in racing from the earliest days. It was Ford’s way of promoting the company – and it worked.
Between 1901 and 1912 his race cars, including the famous ‘999, ‘ broke records across the U.S. and made legends of drivers such as Barney Oldfield.
This Model T is an exact re-creation of the modified Ford Model T that was driven to several record-breaking victories by Frank Kulick. When Ford tried to enter Kulick and his Ford in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1913 he was told by race officials that in order for the entry to be accepted the weight of the car would have to be increased by 1, 000 pounds. Ford’s reply was ‘We’re building race cars, not trucks’ and withdrew from factory-sponsored auto racing.
The Ford Motor Company did not revive its ‘factory’ racing program until years after Henry Ford’s death in 1947, other than the unsuccessful Miller-Ford entries in the 1935 Indianapolis 500.
Touring
This year marks the beginning of mass production. Note the lack of front doors and extensive use of brass – features found only on early Model T’s. Contrary to popular belief, all Model T’s were not black. From 1909-1913, Ford offered six different colors.
