Today’s reading: “the heavy car must be discontinued”

[Rob]

One question I’m frequently asked when “defending” the reputation of the Ford Model K; “if it was a good car why the bad reputation?”

Just as it’s difficult to prove something didn’t happen, it’s difficult to provide evidence when there was no crime (leaning on my former profession).

I’ve read biographies and historical collections about Ford Motor Co. and Henry Ford from the past, and up until the 1940’s reviews of the Model K (and to an extent the Model B) were mixed. Some authors were ambivalent to these Neanderthals of the Ford line (good cars, but not where Ford was going). Then, by the 1940’s to 50’s, the reputation of the “K” took a decided downturn. After that, historical works have been for the most part regurgitations of what was written by the well known (and often well researched) authors like Allan Nevins.

However, just as with this author (W. A. Simonds, whose book was endorsed by Floyd Clymer, giving it a measure of credibility many authors may not have enjoyed), the data was there to give a fair evaluation of the car. As seen here, this author had access to Ford’s fiscal year end audit. In fact, he references the bottom line from the audit, Ford Motor Company’s net profit for 1906.

Possibly to support his theory, the author wrote “the heavy car must be discontinued,” referring to the Model K of 1906 (below):

Only problem being, the Ford Model K actually provided the majority of Ford’s new car profit for 1906 (see spreadsheet below):

To add insult to injury, the Model K proved to be the “bridge” between the Model F (and lesser extent Model “B”) and the future of the company, Model N financially, carrying the load in net gain. The Model K of 1906 actually kept the company profitable. The Model K generated $102,314 of net profit proved to be almost to the dollar the amount of profit the entire company generated for “06.” Had there been no 1906 Model K, the company may not have posted a profit for the first time in its short history. Shareholders may have questioned the direction of the company. Highland Park may not have been purchased, and development of the Model T may have been delayed, or worse.

Below. The red arrows point to the audit profit of the Model K (top arrow) and overall company profit for 1906 (bottom arrow). It’s time credit goes where credit is due…
Cheers, and happy holidays.

Below, Henry Ford with his 1906 Model K at his Dearborn farm. In the background is the “square house” he built for he and Clara years earlier in their young married life.

[TXGOAT2]

Ford realized sooner than most that the future of the automobile depended on a practical, reliable vehicle adapted to economical, efficient mass production so as to be both useful and affordable for great numbers of people, not just the wealthy and limited "carriage trade". Packard realized this around 1930, and brought out a "junior" line of cars that allowed it to survive the Depresssion, which most independent luxury car builders did not.