About This Quiz
Horse-drawn carriages have their charm, but who really wants to spend all day clip-clopping across town when a car can do it much more quickly? Indeed, society truly owes a debt of gratitude to Henry Ford for helping to propel the modern automobile to the point where it could be made quickly and affordably. Although he wasn’t the world’s first car manufacturer (that honor is debatably bestowed upon Carl Benz, who in 1886 applied for a patent for a “vehicle powered by a gas engine), Ford is credited with taking vehicle production to heights never seen, or probably even imagined, before.
Much of Ford Motor Co.’s history is charmed, but it hasn’t all been sunshine and roses. A number of vehicles unceremoniously flopped in the marketplace, plus escalating prices and industry unrest have left Ford and other major manufacturers struggling to maintain a healthy bottom line. In 2009 Ford managed to sidestep bankruptcy (just barely), unlike fellow auto giants General Motors and Chrysler. They continue to stay in business by trimming the fat in unprofitable areas. In fact, 2018 saw an announcement that the company is phasing out passenger cars (except for two popular models) in North America, in favor of trucks, SUVs and the like. This is ironic, of course, because passenger cars are where the company got its start.
Ford revolutionized manufacturing and helped make Detroit the one-time industrial center of the world. How much do you know about the history of the Ford Motor Co.? Take this quiz to find out.
Henry Ford built his first automobile in 1896, and in 1903 he launched Ford Motor Co.
In 1908, the company opened a branch in Paris, giving the brand a foothold in the European market.
Twelve investors joined the venture, and 1,000 shares were divvied up between them, with Ford and Alexander Malcomson getting the lion's share.
Advertisement
Ford needed every penny of that $28,000 and spent most of it before finally producing his first vehicle.
His first attempt was called Detroit Automobile Co., which he left after disagreements with investors.
At $2,800 it was pricier than some other competing models, but it was also Ford's first six-cylinder model.
Advertisement
The 1927 Model A was the first to display Ford's trademark oval badge.
The company's concept worked, and it started raking profits right from the start.
The moving assembly line debuted in 1913. The time needed to build the Model T's chassis dropped from nearly 13 hours to less than two hours, transforming the entire manufacturing world.
Advertisement
The boring and difficult labor meant too many people were quitting. The increased pay and shorter hours helped turn Ford into a hotly desired workplace.
In the early 20th century, cars were more difficult and time-consuming to build. The company made around 70,000 cars in 1912.
With around 15 million cars sold, it is still regarded as one of the best-selling cars in history.
Advertisement
In 1920, less than a decade after starting assembly line production, the company shot from 70,000 to 1 million cars manufactured in a single year.
Introduced in 1917, it was the company's first pickup. It was based on the Model T car.
Henry Ford wasted no time going international, creating Ford Motor Co. of Canada in 1904.
Advertisement
The Mustang, which would become one of the company's most recognized models, was launched in 1964.
Not only did Ford hire disabled veterans, but it also made sure their work environments were accommodating to their special needs.
At a loss of $250 million (in the early 1960s) the car cost too much and was too ugly for American consumers.
Advertisement
Ford initially offered multiple colors, but painting was a challenge in the assembly line environment, meaning that for a time Ford used only black paint.
In 1998, the Focus replaced the Escort model, which had worn out its welcome.
The V-8 engine was reliable and powerful, making it one of the most popular engines for decades to come.
Advertisement
The Fiesta was built at a factory in Spain and immediately became a hit in the European market.
It lost about $13 billion. To stem the bleeding, Ford sold Land Rover and Jaguar and refocused on its core brands.
Edsel Ford commissioned the Detroit Industry Murals, which are official national landmarks.
Advertisement
The aluminum construction cut down on weight but raised concerns about durability.
The F-Series, which is still one of the most popular trucks around, was introduced right after World War II in 1948.
Ford ended the Mercury brand in 2011, with a few final Grand Marquis.
Advertisement
Crash testing is now one of the most important tasks that engineers perform as they build new cars.
Decades later, it is hard to understand just how innovative the Taurus' styling was in the mid-1980s.
The Bronco was superseded by the Explorer, which helped fuel the current craze for SUVs and crossover SUVs.
Advertisement