Latest news with #FordModelT
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ford Plans Business Revolution With Low-Cost Electric Vehicles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Billed as a "Model T moment" by the company, Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley today announced that the automaker will invest $5 billion into its electric vehicle future, creating 4,000 jobs. The Ford Model T was produced from 1908 to 1927 and is noted as being the first mass-produced, affordable vehicle. Its low cost was greatly attributed to its assembly line construction, which produced the vehicles faster than their paint could dry. The mass assembly of the Model T drove down costs to Ford, the savings from which were passed on to the consumer. Today's announcement comes as the company has faced criticism for the cost of its recalls and lack of public information regarding its electric vehicle strategy, as other automakers have been transparent about their plans, and competition is growing. At an event staged inside the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, Farley took the stage to defend Ford's strategy to date and spell out details of the company's electron-rich future. Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley speaks at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley speaks at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Newsweek A new, midsize, four-door battery-electric pickup truck will be added to the company's lineup, which currently includes the small Maverick, midsize Ranger, full-size F-150 and heavy-duty Super Duty pickup trucks, in 2027. The new electric truck will be built at the Louisville plant and Ford aims to have it start at under $30,000. The only other battery-electric truck announced around that price point is Slates's smaller first model, which is expected to have a starting price around $25,000. Slate's truck is scheduled to come to market ahead of the Ford. No electric trucks are currently sold for that amount. The F-150 Lightning is the company's all-electric, full-size pickup. Lightning was the best-selling electric truck in America in the second quarter of 2025 and is the best-selling electric truck in the region through mid-year. "The F-150 Lightning proudly holds its position as America's best-selling electric truck, a testament to its enduring customer appeal and contributing to the Ford F-Series 48 years as the best-selling truck in America. The F-150 Lightning embodies Ford's Built Ford Tough DNA while adding innovative benefits like home power backup, lower running costs, and a spacious front trunk. It's a compelling package and ideal choice for customers ready to embrace electric truck ownership, Rob Kaffl, Ford director, U.S. sales and dealer relations, told Newsweek. Front three-quarters view of the Slate Truck. Front three-quarters view of the Slate Truck. Slate Lightning isn't the only battery-electric vehicle Ford sells in the U.S. The electric Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover is one of the best-selling EVs on the road today, traditionally only overshadowed by Tesla products. Like other Ford products, it is offered to business and government customers as a fleet vehicle as well as in more traditional passenger configurations. Ford plans to sell its new battery-electric truck in the U.S. and overseas. That stands in contrast to its sales of the Maverick, which is only available to customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and some countries in South America. It is built in Mexico. Ford's Ranger is sold in 180 markets and is the best-selling pickup in 21 of them. Ranger is built in Michigan for domestic distribution and Argentina, South Africa, Vietnam and Thailand for global sales. F-150 is available to customers in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as several countries in Central and South America. Its Lightning counterpart is only sold in the U.S. and Canada. A 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning being driven off road. A 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning being driven off road. Ford Motor Company Super Duty is sold extensively throughout the world in numerous configurations. The product announcement was joined by news that Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, located in Marshall, Michigan, will make LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) batteries that will power the new truck. General Motors is betting on LFP chemistry for its future as well, the company told Newsweek in July. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries offer the longest range for battery-electric vehicles, but have a high cost. Lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) battery technology offers high range at a lower cost. LFP batteries are currently widely believed to be the best compromise of performance, cost and range for next-generation EVs across the automotive landscape. LFP batteries are also considered more sustainable than the other two chemistries.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
100 years young: How Model Ts keep on T-icking in northern Michigan
CHARLEVOIX, Michigan — In the 1920s, the Ford Model T transformed America. Bringing affordable, personal transportation to the masses, 'Tin Lizzies' — as Model Ts were fondly nicknamed — established Detroit as a manufacturing colossus, made farming more efficient, replaced the train as the primary means of long-distance transport, and opened rural areas like northern Michigan to tourist travel. A century later, Ford Motor Co.'s Model Ts are still plying the roads — and turning heads — here thanks to its durable design, dedicated repair infrastructure and passionate owners. Mary Carr Leatherman is celebrating the 100th birthday of her family's 1925 T this year by going on long country drives with her sister, Irene, and husband, John Dean. With its two-speed transmission and 40-mph top speed, the four-cylinder Ford can be seen chugging along Charlevoix County's two-lane roads in daily traffic. 'It's a special feeling, because I like antique things,' said Dean, 78, decked out in 1920s-style goggles, flat cap and elbow-length leather gloves. Mary and Irene sit behind him, resplendent in full period white skirts. 'I keep thinking about what (the Model T) was like then, what the people were like, and what they experienced when they were driving it. It's a bit of a reverse time machine.' Made from 1908 to 1927, Model T production revved up after 1910 when it moved to Ford's Highland Park facility, reaching more than 2 million units a year by 1925. Prices dropped from $850 in 1909 (about $30,000 in today's dollars) to $260 in 1925 (about $5,000 today), making it widely affordable with 10,000 cars a day rolling off the line. Henry Ford and his son drove the last Model T — the 15 millionth — off the line in May 1927. Leatherman's grandfather Richard Sr. purchased the T in 1925 in Commerce, Mississippi, where he used it as a daily driver on his cotton farm. Two generations later, his grandson, Richard Jr., moved the car to Memphis, Tennessee, where it made cameo appearances — like transporting Mary and Irene to their weddings. 'I remember as a child my brother and first cousin, Ted, playing around with it — and my grandfather teaching them how to drive it,' said Leatherman, 71. 'They loved cars.' One hundred years on, the Model T's revolutionary design is still remarkably relevant. Its left-side drive makes it easy for passengers to exit curbside (legend has it Henry Ford designed it that way so his wife, Clara, could safely exit to the curb). Its Model T nomenclature has been copied by Tesla Inc., which fancies its popular electric vehicles (Model X, Model 3, etc.) as Ford's 21st-century successor. And its high-riding, good-visibility seating position dovetails with the current craze for high-riding SUVs. In the 1920s, that tall wheelbase was essential to navigating rutted, muddy, horse-and-buggy roads that were suddenly busy with thousands of Fords. It is hard to understate how the T changed life here. Reliable, durable and powerful, Model T proliferated on farms. 'It was called 'the farmer's friend,'' Ford Heritage and Brand Manager Ted Ryan said in an interview. 'Its tall wheelbase was essential to navigating rutted roads, and its versatility made it a tremendous farm tool. Like an F-series platform toy, you could put different top hats on it, from a four-door to a pickup bed.' Farmers used the T for a variety of farm chores, including hooking up wheat thrashers, running grist mills and transporting goods to market. 'The only thing that limited the Model T was the imagination of the owner,' Ryan said. Leatherman and Dean brought their Model T to Charlevoix because their extended family reunions are here each summer. And because it felt like home. 'When my father died, he sent (the T) back to the farm in Mississippi … and no one was caring for it,' Leatherman said. 'My sister and I decided we would put this project in (John's) hands, because he loves a challenge. And Michigan, of course, is the car state.' They follow in the tire tracks of scores of Model T owners who headed north a century ago with their new contraptions. Before the T, northern Michigan had mostly been accessible only to upper-income families who would load their families on trains for long hotel stays. Charlevoix, for example, had some 1,000 hotel rooms in 1920 — and just 350 today. The move away from trains toward automobiles was signified by the closure of Charlevoix's massive, 250-room hotel, The Inn, in 1937. 'The effect of reduced train ridership due to the continued rise of the automobile sealed its fate after 43 seasons,' records a Charlevoix Historical Society documentary. 'It has no room for parking for the large number of cars.' Dean took the Model T to Ed Baudoux, one of Northern Michigan's 'Model T whisperers,' who restored the car to its original mechanical condition. 'People look at these cars and think they are worth a million dollars,' said Baudoux, who works from a barn behind his Grayling home. 'But Ford made 15 million of them. The Model T is the poor man's collector car.' Model Ts today can fetch anywhere from $5,000-$20,000 with good restorations somewhere in between, said Baudoux. Rare models like a two-door Runabout might push $50K. Along with help from Jeff Humble, president of the Northern Michigan Ts (the local Model T club), Dean trained himself to drive the Model T using an original owner's manual as thick as Manhattan's phone book. A Ford poster on his wall prescribes regular maintenance. 'I've driven a modern stick car for a good part of my life, and you have to unlearn that, because the Model T methodology (of) levers, pedals and the tools of the car are not common sense. They're not what you're used to,' Dean said. 'My new best friends Ed and Jeff were very patient with me.' Dean juggles the controls as he drives — an art that he has passed on to Richard Leatherman Sr.'s 16-year-old great-great grandson, Richard. For all its accessibility to average drivers, the Model T required owners to pay attention to mechanical detail. A six-volt battery under the rear seat powers the flywheel magneto ignition system. The nine-gallon gas tank is under the driver's seat, requiring a careful fill lest fuel drip on the hot exhaust running beneath the car. A single carburetor delivers fuel to four pistons, and Dean closes the fuel line valve when the car is not in operation. 'Allow the fuel to run low, and the Model T might stall on an incline due to its gravity-fed fuel line from tank to carburetor,' Humble, who owns three Ts, said in an interview. Should that happen, he explained, drivers would turn the car around, put the T in reverse gear (thus allowing fuel to flow downhill into the carburetor) and drive it backwards up the hill. Sideboards make for easy access to the driver's seat (via the right passenger door only), where operators encountered a blizzard of controls, including a parking brake, three floor pedals (left clutch/first gear, center clutch/reverse gear, right engine brake), floor-mounted starter button, dash key and choke, steering wheel-mounted accelerator stalk and spark plug advance. 'It was a unique system that Ford designed for the Model T,' said Baudoux, 59, who learned to work on Ts at Saginaw's Douglas MacArthur High School at the foot of shop teacher — and renowned Model T whisperer — Robert Scherzer. Scherzer's class built a 1923 Model T pickup that is one of two Ts Baudoux owns today. 'By the time the Model T went into mass production, it was obsolete,' said the Grayling mechanic, citing the relentless pace of automotive development in the early 20th century. 'But Henry Ford was a manufacturing genius and kept making the T more affordable.' The T's successor, the Model A (one of which Baudoux also owns), in 1927, adopted the three-pedal clutch system familiar to stick-shift cars today. But the T was simply designed and repeatable to make — a feature demonstrated by the Model T Club of Greater St. Louis, which publicly assembles a T in 10 minutes every year. With so many Ts still alive today, a global supply chain has grown to support it: tires made in Vietnam, axle shafts from Taiwan, radiators by Brassworks in California. 'The Model T was brilliantly designed,' Humble said. 'It could be put together quickly and reliably. For a public that had never driven a car before, it was a clever, easy introduction into automobiles.' In northern Michigan, the T phenomenon brought a flood of visitors onto an antiquated road system. Among them was Henry Ford himself. 'He loved walking the walk,' said archivist Ryan. 'He loved his Ts and making people's lives easier.' Paved roads were largely exclusive to Metro Detroit in the early 20th century (the first concrete road was built in Motown in 1909) with out-state roads mostly dirt or gravel, co-traveled by horse-and-buggy. The American Automobile Association was formed in 1902 as 23,000 cars joined 17 million horses on the roads. By 1916, Model Ts were transforming travel, and AAA instituted roadside assistance for stranded travelers. Fuel? Travelers carried their own cans, buying petrol at general stores where kerosene was also sold (for lighting and cooking). AAA spearheaded a campaign for better roads, including federal funding for highways. Gas stations began to pop up on heavily-trafficked routes and, by 1919, gas had surpassed kerosene as the best-selling U.S. petroleum product. Each year, Humble said, the northern Michigan Ts get together to make a trip around the region's roads, including through the Tunnel of Trees and over the mighty Mackinac Bridge. It's a trip that Dean and Leatherman want to do someday with their new friends Jeff, Ed … and more. 'Once you start talking about (old) cars in this part of Michigan … it's very different,' Dean smiled.' There's a gentleman in Petoskey that specializes in replacement carburetors. There's this network that just goes all over the place, and every time you turn around, you end up with yet another new friend.' One of Henry Ford's favorite destinations was Lovells Township, just 23 miles northeast of Baudoux's Grayling shop, where the Ford founder enjoyed fishing on the Au Sable River beginning in 1916. The Lovells Township Historical Society recounted to how Ford once met a local, frustrated Model T owner who had stalled his Model T on an incline. Ford turned the car around, put it in reverse, then backed it up the hill.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Family-run rural dealership passes century milestone with Ford
A fifth generation, family-owned car dealership in rural Manitoba still has its foot on the gas. Metcalfe's Garage Ltd. is gearing up to celebrate 125 years in business and 100 years as a Ford dealership. The operation, which sells new and used cars, is located on Highway 2 near Treherne (125 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg). President and dealer principal Neil Metcalfe said he runs the business according to the same values his great-great-grandfather held: treat customers with respect and deal with them in an honest, straightforward way. SUPPLIED Metcalfe's Garage Ltd. president Neil Metcalfe is the fifth-generation owner of the business founded in 1900 to sell farm equipment. 'Unfortunately, in the car business, there's sometimes smoke and mirrors, but we just don't do it that way,' Metcalfe said by phone Wednesday. 'It's nice to see taillights hit the road (after someone buys a car) but I also like to see headlights coming back to do future business with us, too.' Thomas Metcalfe and his son, Clare, started the business in 1900 as a farm equipment dealership. Eleven years later, they started selling new Ford Model T cars. For most customers, it was their first motorized vehicle, so the delivery process included Metcalfe's staff teaching them how to drive. The business stopped selling Fords for about six months in 1925 after Clare had a disagreement with the company, but Metcalfe's regained the franchise that fall. Eventually, Clare's son Hilliard joined the company. Hilliard's sons, Bruce and Jack, joined Metcalfe's in the 1960s. Neil — who is Jack's son — got his start in the business when he was still in school, washing vehicles and doing yard work on evenings and weekends. He worked his way through the dealership's various departments and bought the business in 2009. At that time, the dealership sold 100 vehicles annually and employed 12 people. Today, it sells around 400 vehicles each year and counts 27 full-time staff. Situated on more than four acres of property, the company's headquarters includes a showroom, tire centre, a full line of new and pre-owned vehicles and two Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations. Neil, who served as president of the Manitoba Motor Dealers Association from 2011 to 2013, said he enjoys working with staff and customers. He also likes seeing how people use their Fords in their daily lives. 'It just gives me the satisfaction that we're keeping the wheels turning and keeping (customers) going where they need to go.' Metcalfe's Garage will celebrate its 125th anniversary and 100 years of continuous partnership with Ford with a private event on Friday at the Adam Lee Arena in Treherne. About 600 guests are expected, including Bev Goodman, president and CEO of Ford Canada. SUPPLIED Today, Metcalfe's Garage Ltd. is a long-running Ford dealership that sells about 400 vehicles annually. Metcalfe's Garage is believed to be Manitoba's oldest Ford dealership, as well as Canada's oldest family-owned Ford dealership. When the company started selling Fords, Neil's great-grandfather occasionally took grain and livestock as downpayments on vehicles. The Metcalfe family has long been known for its service to the community, said Gilles Guertin, reeve of the Municipality of Norfolk Treherne. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'When I first arrived here in the early '80s … everybody always spoke very, very highly of the Metcalfes,' Guertin said, noting Neil has served as a volunteer firefighter and assisted with local community development committees. 'We applaud the success that the Metcalfes have (had) over 125 years.' At a time of significant consolidation in the car industry, it's unusual to see a family-owned dealership still operating after more than 100 years, said Geoff Sine, executive director of the Manitoba Motor Dealers Association. 'It's amazing … to see a rural dealer that's stood the test of time — 125 years — still be a force within rural Manitoba.' Neil's son, Brett, now works at the dealership and may take the driver's seat someday to steer Metcalfe's Garage through a sixth generation of family ownership. 'We're very, very proud of our long, long history and heritage, and (we're) looking forward to an exciting future,' Neil said. Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Retro 111-year-old Ford which starred in THREE iconic TV series hits the market for surprisingly cheap sum
A RETRO 111-year-old Ford which starred in three iconic TV series has hit the market for a surprisingly cheap sum. The classic motor has featured in both Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders and has starred on the big screen too. 1 The Model T was Henry Ford 's first "mass produced" motor with this particular example made in 1914, just months before the start of World War One. And it has emerged for sale for just £20,000. After being shipped to Britain in 1983, it was bought from a Ford dealership showroom 14 years ago. Since then, the classic motor has starred in several period dramas including Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders and Mr Selfridge. It's also made an appearance on the big screen including the films Lady Chatterley's Lover and 1917. The black vehicle has a 2890cc side-valve four-cylinder engine and it can reach a top speed of 45mph. Between 1908 and 1927, over 15 million Model Ts were built and sold. Over half of the world's registered cars were Fords by the early 1920s. And because of this mass production, they were on the market for as little as $260 by 1925. Henry Ford said of their popularity at the time: "There's no use trying to pass a Ford, because there's always another one just ahead.' Ford is forced to immediately shut down factories and halt car production as CEO admits 'day to day' struggle for brand The car is set to go under the hammer at auctioneers Historics, of Iver, Buckinghamshire, for between £15,000 and £20,000. John Tomlin, a specialist at Historics, said: 'The Ford Model T is such an important landmark in the history of personal mobility. "With 15 million produced in 19 years, the figures speak for themselves. "We are delighted to be offering this wonderfully collectable example with its excellent film and TV star credentials, and at a very inviting estimate.' Those looking to get their hands on this motor can do so on July 19 when the sale takes place. But if a £20,000 Model T isn't quite within your budget, The Sun has recently revealed the top 10 classic cars to buy for under £3,000. And classic car fans will be excited to see Top Gear's top picks of bargain motors currently up for grabs. We've also looked at ten family car favourites from the 70s to the 90s that still have value in 2025. This includes a Ford Escort Mk2 that's worth thousands. To this day, there's still a lot to admire about the Escort, particularly with the Fast Ford racing and performance versions.
The Advertiser
25-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Ford Model T driver and alleged meth, coke user nicked for multiple offences
Here's one you don't see every day. The driver of a 1923 Ford Model T hot rod was pulled over by Hills Highway Patrol officers after being caught allegedly "accelerating aggressively" in the Sydney suburb of Castle Hill, according to The Hills Police Area Command's Facebook page. While no photos were shown of the hot rod, we suspect it looks quite a bit different from the stock '23 Model T pictured below. The 24-year-old driver of the modified classic was allegedly detected travelling at 83km/h in a 60km/h zone. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. When he was pulled over, he allegedly returned a negative result from a roadside breath test, but on a roadside drug test he returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine. Police collected a secondary oral fluid sample, allegedly confirming the presence of cocaine and THC while also detecting methamphetamine. The driver was issued a 24-hour prohibition notice and a defect notice for the vehicle. Police claim the vehicle had "multiple faults including nonfunctional brake lights and indicators" and "had been modified beyond factory specifications and was deemed unroadworthy". The driver is now due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 14, 2025. Content originally sourced from: Here's one you don't see every day. The driver of a 1923 Ford Model T hot rod was pulled over by Hills Highway Patrol officers after being caught allegedly "accelerating aggressively" in the Sydney suburb of Castle Hill, according to The Hills Police Area Command's Facebook page. While no photos were shown of the hot rod, we suspect it looks quite a bit different from the stock '23 Model T pictured below. The 24-year-old driver of the modified classic was allegedly detected travelling at 83km/h in a 60km/h zone. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. When he was pulled over, he allegedly returned a negative result from a roadside breath test, but on a roadside drug test he returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine. Police collected a secondary oral fluid sample, allegedly confirming the presence of cocaine and THC while also detecting methamphetamine. The driver was issued a 24-hour prohibition notice and a defect notice for the vehicle. Police claim the vehicle had "multiple faults including nonfunctional brake lights and indicators" and "had been modified beyond factory specifications and was deemed unroadworthy". The driver is now due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 14, 2025. Content originally sourced from: Here's one you don't see every day. The driver of a 1923 Ford Model T hot rod was pulled over by Hills Highway Patrol officers after being caught allegedly "accelerating aggressively" in the Sydney suburb of Castle Hill, according to The Hills Police Area Command's Facebook page. While no photos were shown of the hot rod, we suspect it looks quite a bit different from the stock '23 Model T pictured below. The 24-year-old driver of the modified classic was allegedly detected travelling at 83km/h in a 60km/h zone. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. When he was pulled over, he allegedly returned a negative result from a roadside breath test, but on a roadside drug test he returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine. Police collected a secondary oral fluid sample, allegedly confirming the presence of cocaine and THC while also detecting methamphetamine. The driver was issued a 24-hour prohibition notice and a defect notice for the vehicle. Police claim the vehicle had "multiple faults including nonfunctional brake lights and indicators" and "had been modified beyond factory specifications and was deemed unroadworthy". The driver is now due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 14, 2025. Content originally sourced from: Here's one you don't see every day. The driver of a 1923 Ford Model T hot rod was pulled over by Hills Highway Patrol officers after being caught allegedly "accelerating aggressively" in the Sydney suburb of Castle Hill, according to The Hills Police Area Command's Facebook page. While no photos were shown of the hot rod, we suspect it looks quite a bit different from the stock '23 Model T pictured below. The 24-year-old driver of the modified classic was allegedly detected travelling at 83km/h in a 60km/h zone. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. When he was pulled over, he allegedly returned a negative result from a roadside breath test, but on a roadside drug test he returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine. Police collected a secondary oral fluid sample, allegedly confirming the presence of cocaine and THC while also detecting methamphetamine. The driver was issued a 24-hour prohibition notice and a defect notice for the vehicle. Police claim the vehicle had "multiple faults including nonfunctional brake lights and indicators" and "had been modified beyond factory specifications and was deemed unroadworthy". The driver is now due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 14, 2025. Content originally sourced from:
