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Automobile Evolution - 108th Anniversary of the Model T

Created on Sep 29, 2016 by Kathy Pinna

On October 1st 1908, Henry Ford's first production Model T was completed in the Ford Piquette Avenue plant in Detroit Michigan, where they would eventually build around 15 million cars.

While it wasn't the first car produced, it was the first car "made for the masses" making transportation easier than ever.

Costing $500 by 1917, the average middle class family could finally afford a car and the race to building highways and infrastructure was on! The Model T (1908 - 1927), contrary to popular memory, was built by Henry Ford before the Model A (which was built from 1927 - 1931). But Ford wasn't the only automobile producer during the first half of the 20th century. This collection of photos shows various models and our love of cars throughout history.

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Automobile Evolution - 108th Anniversary of the Model T

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Circa 1905 - a horseless carriage

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Sleek - and fast?

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Andrew Wilson
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shared on 03/07/2015

South Africa, 1941

Showing off his 1921 Model T

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In 1938, this man drove his old model T to the White House. Click on the photo to find out why.

1914 Buick

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Bought used in 1919

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Really miss those old running boards!

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1913

United Kingdom, 1940

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His "$50 car"!

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1920 France

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Sunday drive?

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Do you remember when entertainment was the whole family going on a Sunday drive?

Stolen car!

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He bought it, drove from Cleveland to Detroit, then found out that the car he bought was stolen!

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Model A or T?

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1924 - Gotta be a model T

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Photo of Cathy Johnson Cathy Johnson
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shared on 02/15/2015

New-fangled delivery car 1915

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1920 Ford with middle door

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1938 - look at that grille!

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Photo of Trixie Ryzlewicz Trixie Ryzlewicz
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shared on 01/16/2015

Cars are for driving?

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John Emmering
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shared on 03/31/2013

They used to be pretty good as chairs, too - 1927

Do you know the make/model?

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Changing a tire

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So - is that a birdcage on the front fender??

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A Maxwell-Briscoe, 1913

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A 1938 Nash - "with air"

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Sales ad for a new Nash with air - a new feature was a heater!

Hastings Hospital bus, 1930's

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Has to be in the studio but great photo!

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Vada Martin
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shared on 01/20/2015

Cherry!

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Christoph Ebner
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shared on 03/05/2015

1952 Cadillac

The long history of auto building: It may surprise you that the first (recorded) car was built in 1769 (it was steam powered). In 1807 France, the first internal combustion engine (fueled by hydrogen) car was built. This was followed, in 1864, by several iterations of the gasoline powered combustion engine car. Electric automobiles also appeared early on (around 1900), but didn't gain much popularity until just recently.

Click "next page" below to see a video showing early cars and horse drawn carriages on the same streets in the early 20th century.

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