Ford built its first car, the Quadricycle, in 1896. This wasn't a mass-produced vehicle but a hand-built prototype that marked the beginning of Henry Ford's automotive journey. The Quadricycle ran on a lightweight metal frame with four bicycle wheels and was powered by a two-cylinder ethanol engine. This initial success led directly to the founding of the Ford Motor Company in 1903 and the eventual development of the Model T, which revolutionized personal transportation.
The Quadricycle's creation happened in a small shed behind Ford's home in Detroit. Its first test drive occurred on June 4, 1896. The vehicle was so narrow that Ford had to break down the shed's doorframe to get it out for its maiden voyage. This humble beginning is a stark contrast to the industrial giant Ford would become. The original Quadricycle is now preserved at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, serving as a key artifact of American industrial history.
Understanding this timeline is crucial because it highlights Ford's role as a pioneer, not the inventor of the automobile. Other inventors like Karl Benz had already created motorized vehicles. Ford's genius was in perfecting manufacturing to make cars affordable for the average person, a journey that began with the Quadricycle.
| Early Ford Milestones | Year | Key Fact | Significance |
|---|
| Quadricycle Built | 1896 | 4 hp, 2-speed transmission | Henry Ford's first successful self-propelled vehicle |
| Ford Motor Company Founded | 1903 | First car sold was the Model A | Official start of the corporation we know today |
| Model T Introduction | 1908 | Originally priced around $850 | The car that "put America on wheels" through mass production |
| Moving Assembly Line | 1913 | Dramatically reduced assembly time | Revolutionized industrial manufacturing worldwide |
| 10 Millionth Model T | 1924 | Peak of Model T production | Demonstrated the immense success of Ford's vision |
