Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-04
FORD INTRODUCED
LOW-PRlCED CAR
BUILT BARNEY OLDFIELD'S
FAMOUS "999"
Latest Achievement Is Model Made Of
Vanadium Steel, Recognized
as Toughest Metal
of Today

Besides being one of the first expert
menters in the field of gasoline automo-
biles, Henry Ford, president of the
Ford Motor company has the distinc-
ton of accomplishing several other
feats during the growth of the industry
which put him in the front rank of pio-
neers. His first effort, a two cylinder
vehicle resembling a carriage, forms
one of the interesting exhibits OF. the
early days. 80.
Tis world famous Ford 1898" built in
the late nineties, was the first four Cyl
inder car built in America. 1t was ms
first car Barney Oldt1eld ever uroNe'
and the one with which he made ms
reputation by breaking worlds records
that had previously been held by Ger
man and French machines In l9O3 the
Ford Motor company was formed, anu
Mr.. Ford then put on the market inc
first automobile to sell for less than
$1,000 1t was two cylinder detachable
tcnneau car
In 1905 he brought out a larger ana
more powerful car, with an improved
side entrance body. In January of this
same year he showed the first six cyl
inder car built in America at the races
at Ormond beach. In 1905 he also put
ON the market the first four cylinder
direct drive car to sell for anything
less than $500. 1t was the Ford mod
el B.
At the 1906 automobile shows he pre-
sented to public view for the hrst tline
his six cylinder touring car and MS
four cylinder runabout. The latter was
the first car with a four cylinder engine
that had ever been offered to the pup
lie for less than a thousand dollars.
The car created more talk among peo-
pie interested in things pertaining TO
the automobile than anything that hau
previously or has since been put on the
market. Competitive manufacturers
said II was impossible to build a car at
the price, that he never intended to de-
liver any, that it was a big advertising
dodge. and many things equally un-
necessary and undeserVed. Mr.. Ford
quietly continued on his way building
cars at a price within the reach of the
majority of the people, and by educat-
ing them to the possibilities of the au-
tomobile, has not only built up tre-
mendous business for himself, but has
made thousands of automobile enthusi-
asts Today more manufacturers are
paving tribute or complimenting Mr.
Ford by emulating him in an endeaVor
to bring out a practical low priced car
than Is represented in any other branch
of the business.
Mr.. FOrd'S S latest aCnlcNeHlelI IS Inc
model T car. This is the first machine
in the world to be made entirely of
vanadium steel, acknowledged by all
steel experts to be the strongest and
toughest metal known to the industry
The fact that most all of the foreign
makers use this steel in the most i'm
portant portions of their machines, and
that most American makers are follow
ing their example, would seem to show
that Ford's contention that some day
they will use it entirely is we'll based.
The use of this steel entirely by him
before any of the other manufacturers
have adopted it entirely marks another
first to his credit, in addition to the
many that are already credited to him
in the pages of the history of automo-
bile manufacturing.