How did the Model T get its name?

Despite its now-iconic status, the name "Model T" was nothing more than a sequential designation. When Henry Ford founded Ford Motors in 1903 his first car was simply called the Model A, for the first letter of the alphabet. As new models were developed they were assigned the next letter, regardless of whether they were prototypes or actual production vehicles. By 1908 the list reached "T".

The Model T's success was due to many factors. Among others, simplicity, durability, and efficient mass-production techniques allowed Ford to make a car that was attractive and affordable for the growing middle class. The Model T remained in production for 19 years with few exterior changes, presaging in many ways the later success of the similarly durable, affordable, and iconic Volkswagen Beetle.