his 1916 Model "T" touring car represents the key to Mr. Ford's financial success. Vanadium steel made the Model "T" strong , light weight and able to survive the the rough road conditions of the day. Its elegant simplicity enabled people to service their own vehicles.

Henry Ford ' s mastery of the assembly line made mass production of the automobile possible and enabled the Model "T" to be affordable to the average person. The Model "T" originally sold at a cost of $850.00, without the top. With the top, the customer could add another $100.00 to the cost. Through mass production, by the mid 1920s, the cost of a new Model "T" was eventually reduced to a price of $260. 

It was Mr. Ford's profits from the Model "T" that eventually amounted to one of the great fortunes in history and also allowed him to build his grand Fair Lane Estate. This particular vehicle is occasionally started and driven to the courtyard for a photo opportunity. It can be seen running in the annual Dearborn Memorial Day Parade.