The year 1903 was a major one in the development of the motor industry. No history of the car is complete without a mention of one of 1903’s key events – the birth of the Ford Motor Company, with Henry Ford at the helm filling the roles of both Vice President and Chief Engineer. Ford also held 25.5% of the company’s stock. The first Ford factory was located on Mack Avenue in Detroit and produced several cars each day, initially built by teams consisting of two or three men. July 23rd 1903 saw the sale of their first car, and history was made.
Henry Ford became President the same year, and in 1906 Controlling Owner. For years, Ford had dreamt of producing a reliable, efficient, and reasonably priced car. This dream was realised in 1908 with the production of the Model T – it was an instant hit, and marked a new age in the manufacture of motor vehicles. Ford and his son Edsel became the sole owners of the company in 1919 when they bought out the shares of every minority stockholder. The very same year, Ford stepped back and Edsel took the reins of the company, filling the role of President until 1943. At this time Ford had to return, and then retired for a second time in 1945 to be succeeded by his grandson, Henry Ford II.
In 1946, Ford was honoured at the American Automotive Golden Jubilee for his contributions to the motor industry. The same year, the American Petroleum Institute awarded him their first ever Gold Medal, which recognises outstanding contributions to the welfare of humanity. Ford outlived his son Edsel, retired from the company he started, not once, but twice, and played a huge role in revolutionising the motor industry. He died in 1947, aged 83. If you want to see the range of the Ford models visit www.motors.co.uk.