100 years of motoring for the masses

On this day in 1908, the Ford Motor Company introduced their Model T - the Tin Lizzie, "strong, sturdy, with a will of its own". A car was made every 10 seconds, and this model was produced until 1927. Ford's innovations were using an assembly line instead of handcrafting, and paying workers a wage proportionate to the cost of the car - so that they could afford to buy one.

Why Model T? Ford started making cars in 1903 with Model A, and worked his way through the alphabet till he got it right. After that, he made a fortune - £190 billion at today's prices.

One is currently on display outside the Design Museum. Fascinating recollections by members of the Model T Club here, and vintage video footage here (goodness, the state of the roads!).

There's even a Model T Snowmobile Club (in New Hampshire) - this video proves it.

Apparently Henry Ford never did say "you can have any colour as long as it's black". It needed saying, though.