MTFCA Forum

In 1908 the Model T cost $850, or around $21,340 in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation. In 1916, the prices had dropped to only $360 for the most basic Model T, or around $7,020 in today's dollars. Dec 20, 2012

I'm not so sure they can't do better nowadays, considering what you got for your money in those days.
I've seen electric cars from China that cost $900 US shipped and are road-legal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEigaJ6 ... =RestoGear

The Model T must have been a good value for the money when it was built. Sure were a lot of them sold.

If you want to compare Model T's to something today, you would have to factor in money exchange rates with the country of manufacture, scale of production, and monetary policies of the selling country. In some cases, countries financially underwrite some of their industries in order to build international market share and drive foreign competition out of business.

Dick

Quickm007 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:53 pm

Greg the electric car from China that cost $900 US shipped it is a scam. A guy in USA said he finally paid more than $30,000 for it and hereceived it 8 mounts later. We have to be very carefull with parts and cars coming from China... I will prefer driving my T as well.

The information on the Internet about a guy in the USA paying $30,000 for a car from China as a scam is true but it wasn't the $900 Chinese car
Scam The car he got was different from what he was expecting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTSfOLhIo4o
The $900 car, battery extra (really) + shipping is reported at $1,750. Not sure if that includes import fees which are on the cost of the car & shipping.
https://jalopnik.com/heres-an-update-on ... 1842492123
Here is what you get https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjqhYNgbP3Q
Rid & Drive experience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxl_vgYP3Rg

Well, the point I guess is that cars are about as affordable now as they were in the 1920s.

The other point is about China itself...DON'T TRUST THEM! How quickly we forget they are COMMUNIST.
And of course, look what they "gave" us last winter!

TWrenn wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 14, 2021 3:22 pm

The other point is about China itself...DON'T TRUST THEM! How quickly we forget they are COMMUNIST.
And of course, look what they "gave" us last winter!

Calm down, they make good stuff, in fact nearly everything is made there.

TWrenn wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 14, 2021 3:22 pm

And of course, look what they "gave" us last winter!

A virus could randomly become zoonotic anyplace in the world at any time. It’s as easy to understand as the Model T ignition system...

I think that's a good comparison. Some people understand it, some don’t, some don’t care, some people will understand it after decades of not.

"Calm down, they make good stuff, in fact nearly everything is made there."

Certainly true. Of course, that is why half the middle class in this country cannot get a decent paying job these days.

After thirty years in high tech contracting, I was earning $25 per hour. Family and health issues made me get out of that work a bit over ten years ago. Family issues restricted me to working close to home. For the last six years of my working life, I worked hard for one dollar over minimum wage. I could have gotten just as much money if I had made a case for disability (which with my knees I could have done!), but I was just not wired to do such a thing.
What is reasonable pay scales for work is a very complicated issue. Over past decades, millions of people were paid way too much for the basic work they did. Too many other people didn't get paid nearly enough for the important work they were doing. However, sending all our manufacturing overseas so that most people can only get a few bucks over minimum wage was NOT the right answer!

To if only my mind our country went to hell when nixon opened china! All of a sudden we could buy cheap and too hell with Joe who made hammers in the next town!! Well many years later we are getting just what we payed for cheap junk and Joe is on welfare!! Bud.

This is getting political so I'll stop, but blaming others for our problems won't accomplish a thing.
We need to remember that our powers of innovation are unsurpassed.

Ford's $5/day pay in Today's dollars would be $15.50 an Hour . The 2020 pay range for Ford assembly line workers range from $15.50 to $32 hour. But in 1916 there were no deductions for Taxes (federal, state, social security, medicare), union dues and other deductions. On the other side Today they get matching amounts for 401K, health insurance, discounts on Ford cars and trucks and etc so... So who's dollar went further? Just think about what didn't exist or was a luxury in 1916 that we pay $$$ for Today (TV, Internet, cable, phone, travel)

In 1926, my coupe sold for $520.00, new. $1.00 in 1926 in today’s dollars is worth $14.62 x $520.00 = $7,603.49 (www.usinflationcalculator.com). I’d say that is a great deal. Who wouldn’t pay $7,603.49 for a “snazzy” mint condition 1926 coupe? Jim Patrick

It can be hard to make a direct comparison by adjusting prices as many things are not direct comparisons. In general, housing prices have gone up while food and clothing prices have gone down. Other things have come and gone. (I checked 1909 advertised prices. A new player piano could be $800, a Victor Victrola was $250. Often with real estate, painting and furnishing the house was more expensive than building it.)

What I do often is compare the T list price with the competition. I'll do 1925 because I have those prices handy:

Touring cars:
Chevrolet $510
Dodge $885
Durant $890
Ford $394 (with demountable rims and a starter)
Maxwell $895
Oldsmobile 6 $875
Overland $530
Star $540

I picked 1925 because, frankly, 1925 Chevrolet was the first of the decent ones when they finally abandoned the cone clutch and strengthened the rear axle. You can see, though, that T was a good $100 cheaper than Chevrolet, Overland, and Star. None would have had Ford's dealer and aftermarket support. However, they were all slightly bigger cars that were more stylish, had distributors, two wheel brakes, three speed transmissions, a driver's door, and were probably more comfortable. The best way to answer "Was the T good value for money" would be to ask if you were buying a new car, would it be worth paying another 25% to get a modern car with more safety features versus the tried and true old Ford. The T was a damn good car by horseless carriage standards, but the competition improved faster than Ford. By the mid-1920s, I would say that other cars were better value for money for most people. (I don't know the brass car market to really comment well, but I would to hear other people's comments on T versus Overland, EMF, Buick, and other popular cars of that period.)

I have a copy of 'Ford Dealer and Salesman' from 1922. In it is a snake oil ad which claims that some device will effectively make gas cost 15c instead of 25c. I conclude that gas cost 25c in 1922.
I think $1 in '22 is $15.5 now, so that means fuel then was the equivalent of $3.88 now.
So be thankful for 2021.

(Note, in the UK it's almost $6/US gal)

If the Model T was not of good value could over 15,000 000 been sold??? Bud.

Chris Barker wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 18, 2021 4:29 am

I have a copy of 'Ford Dealer and Salesman' from 1922. In it is a snake oil ad which claims that some device will effectively make gas cost 15c instead of 25c. I conclude that gas cost 25c in 1922.
I think $1 in '22 is $15.5 now, so that means fuel then was the equivalent of $3.88 now.
So be thankful for 2021.

(Note, in the UK it's almost $6/US gal)

I love Ford Dealer & *etc* (they changed names numerous times), huge source of info, from what to charge by the job to a discussion on flywheels and magnets to an interview of Arthur Chevrolet (by Murray Fahenstock) on what it takes to win...

Seems some things never change - gas at our local station is $3.79, so yeah, about right. Then again, I don't know any shop where you can get what cost 2 bits back then for $3.75...

The inflation calculators do not give a very clear picture of the story in comparing prices of things then & now. In recent years we have been told there is close to no inflation. Anyone who has shopped for groceries knows that isn't so! Sure, big screen TVs & computers are cheaper but how often do we buy those things? We buy groceries every week.

As Bud pointed out, the real story lies in the sales figures. Real people spending their own hard earned money thought the Model T was good value. These folks were comparing the car Ford offered with all of the others being offered at the time and choose Ford. They "voted" with their own money. What more convincing answer to the question could there be?