The cars Henry Ford drove

[Rob]

Found these in a folder at Benson Library, THF last year. I'll add a few others after. This first should be a crowd pleaser:

Henry and Edsel Ford, 1905 Model F:

This is an early 1906 Model K. The back of the photo lists the passengers in addition to Henry and son Edsel Ford, Leroy Pelletier (sales manager), Merle Clarkson, who is also listed on the photo as "telephone operator and office manager," and Clara Ford:

Henry Ford with Detroit Automobile Co. Delivery Car:

Detroit Electric:

More to follow. All photos courtesy of THF, all rights apply. Colorizing by me.......

[Rob]

Maybe a 1912 Packard Model 30:

Six cylinder Renault:

Model T Coupe:

1905 Ford Six racer at New Jersey beach races:

I believe these are all the photos in the file of Henry Ford's cars at THF (all rights apply, THF Benson Library). Next I'll add a few others. If anyone has any to include, please do.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Interesting stuff! Notice that the 'Model T Coupe' is one of the 1914 build prototypes. Not only the acetylene headlamps, fancy fenders, and no louvres hood, but the doors open at the back, rather than suicide style like all the production T model coupes and couplets from 1915 through 1922.
Curious who the lady is seated next to Henry n the early speedster?

[Wayne Sheldon]

I don't like to admit it, but I am not familiar with that speedster photo. It does not appear to be one of the Ford special racers. Nor does it appear to be early enough to be a test chassis. The seat appears to be permanently mounted a bit low, and the gasoline tank can be seen behind the seat. I am fairly certain (suppose I could be wrong here?) that the radiator neck is the higher 1911 and later style. Can't see for sure, but appear to be later 'two piece' spindles. One can clearly see the rear crossmember bolted on cast body mounting brackets. And again, although not clearly shown, the rear end appears to be the late 1912 through early 1915 twelve rivet version (the shape of the pumpkin gives it away, earlier pressed steel centers were narrower and had a larger diameter rib all the way around from and to the pinion bearing and drive shaft mounting).
It actually looks to be a nicely built early speedster. I would guess it to be a late 1912 (based in part on the earlier brass headlamps?).

[Wayne Sheldon]

Although I am a died-in-the-wool B&W photo fellow, I do have to admit that this colorization does add a bit of life, sort of a breath of fresh air, to these early images. That seems especially true for the speedster, and the 'Henry and Edsel in the model F' pictures.
Thank you Rob and THF for sharing these.

[Rob]

Thanks Wayne, a lot of good points. I'm not sure who the woman with Henry Ford in the speedster is either. At first I thought maybe Myrle Clarkson, seen in the 1906 Model K photo, but the speedster and K pics are probably 5-7 years apart.
Thank you for your posts,
Rob

[Wayne Sheldon]

I don't see a lot of photos of Clara, however, I would tend to believe that the older woman nearest the camera was Clara. If that being the case, the smaller younger woman seated behind Henry (at the wheel) could very well be the same one in the speedster. Certainly does look like it could be her. At that age, seven years one might not change much. The older (beg pardon?) woman in the back of the model K could not be the young lady in the speedster. Born in 1866, Clara would have been 40 when the model K photo was taken, and approaching 48 when the speedster photo was taken.

[John Heaman]

Henry driving an 'automobile plow' as he called it.
Since automobile is in the description, I think it's okay to post here.

[Chris Barker]

I believe Henry Ford bought a Lanchester, maybe a 1905 model. Certainly before 1913.
Is there any sign of that?

[KiwiFordGuy]

Seems Henry liked a seat on speedsters....

[Rob]

Good pics guys. Yes, I think the tractors count. He was astride them (there's another one if I can find it). There's also a Model K partially in a shed to the right of the tractor too. I believe there are two K in the uncropped version.

This 1912 article and wire wheel ad describe Henry Ford owning a large Minerva:

When the Ford family travelled to England, this story surfaced in 1912 (Automobile Topics, Jan 1913). Seems the Fords purchased a Rolls Royce to tour in, and Ford advertising promoted the story he "try to buy a Ford - but they were all sold, for several months in advance."

"And so," he (Ford) said, "I decided to buy the next best car that was immediately available."

A cut from a RR publication describes Ford buying a later Silver Ghost in 1924, and that a representative from Rolls showed up for an annual check of the car. It appears Henry Ford may have owned two Silver Ghosts over the years, unless this is the 1912 Rolls years later, or mistakenly described.

And, a 1915 publication in which the author reports the Fords own, in addition to the Detroit Electric and Rolls Royce, an enclosed Cadillac.