Ford Model T Touring
The simple, rugged car that helped turn motoring from a luxury into everyday transportation.
Ford Model T - Serial No. 220, Built December 1908.jpg · Jackdude101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and delivered the first customer car on October 1. This page follows the five-passenger Touring offered at that launch, commonly treated as a 1909 model. Its light chassis, flexible suspension, planetary transmission and one-piece four-cylinder block were designed for rough roads and straightforward operation. The famous moving assembly line came later, but the Model T's design was ready for production in enormous numbers.
Look a little closer.
The first 1,000 or so Model Ts used a lever for reverse; Ford soon changed to the better-known three-pedal control layout.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Launch year and model year are different
Ford began deliveries on October 1, 1908, but the launch Touring is normally catalogued as a 1909 model. Joyride keeps both dates visible instead of pretending the calendar and model year were identical.
Source: Ford Motor Company · The Model T ↗Mass production came after the car
The early cars were built at Piquette Avenue. Ford's moving assembly line at Highland Park arrived later and made the already production-friendly design far cheaper and faster to build.
Source: The Henry Ford · Ford's Model T ↗A rare early control layout
The Henry Ford's preserved 1909 Touring is among the first thousand cars and uses a hand lever for reverse. It also belongs to the first 2,500 fitted with a gear-driven water pump.
Source: The Henry Ford · 1909 Model T Touring Car ↗Where these facts come from
- Ford Motor Company · The Model T
- The Henry Ford · 1909 Model T Touring Car
- The Henry Ford · 1908 launch advertisement
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.