Sound of Model T engine
Henry Ford made a car that beat the best car manufacturer of his time. Ford was thirty-three years old when he spent his job earnings on his first automobile prototype. Ford named this machine the "Quadricycle". On June 4, 1896, he made his best quadricycle prototype after years of trial and error. In 1901 he raced Alexander Winton, owner of the Winton Motor Carriage Company (WMCC). WMCC was one of the best car manufacturers in the late 19th century according to Encyclopedia Britannica. "He built a gasoline-powered car in 1896 and in 1897 formed the Winton Motor Carriage Company", "..... he made the first sale of a regularly produced American automobile, and for some years he remained one of the leading U.S. automobile manufacturers". Therefore chances of Ford becoming the victor of the race were minute, yet he still prevailed. As stated by Automotive News, "The Quadricycle featured a light metal frame fitted with four bicycle wheels and a buggy bench seat. It was powered by a two-cylinder, 4-hp gasoline engine. There was no steering wheel, brakes or a reverse gear".
As a result of his success, Henry Ford promptly started to sell his product. His first customer was Charles Ainsley and the automobile was sold for $200. With his growth and understanding of entrepreneurship, Ford finally established the Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903. As maintained by the article History, "He received backing from various investors over the next seven years, some of whom formed the Detroit Automobile Company (later the Henry Ford Company) in 1899. His partners, eager to put a passenger car on the market, grew frustrated with Ford’s constant need to improve, and Ford left his namesake company in 1902", ".....The following year, Ford established the Ford Motor Company". The birth of the Ford Motor Company was the beginning of Henry Ford's prodigious success and launched him on to a whole new level of automotive industry capitalization and business opportunities. This proves the fact that he as an inconsequential man became a consequential man through his innovation of the car.
Credit: Audio Above - Henry Ford Museum and Noah Isirimah
Credit: Picture 1 Above- Hemmings.com
Credit: Picture 2 Above - Library of Congress
Credit: Picture 3 Above- PBS.org
