# Canonical recap data for Ford Model A Production Begins (1927)
# Source: https://recap.at/1927/ford-model-a-launch
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: ford-model-a-launch
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1927/ford-model-a-launch"
title: Ford Model A Production Begins
subtitle: Henry Ford launches the successor to the Model T, incorporating advances in electric starting and aesthetics while cementing mass automobile production as the decade's economic engine.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1927-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1927
decade: 1920
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Henry Every, also known as Henry Avery, sometimes erroneously given as Jack Avery or John Avery, was an English pirate who operated in the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the mid-1690s. He probably used several aliases throughout his career, including Benjamin Bridgeman, and was known as Long Ben to his crewmen and assoc
summaryLong: Henry Every, also known as Henry Avery, sometimes erroneously given as Jack Avery or John Avery, was an English pirate who operated in the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the mid-1690s. He probably used several aliases throughout his career, including Benjamin Bridgeman, and was known as Long Ben to his crewmen and associates.
lede: Ford began mass production of the Model A on October 1, 1927, replacing the Model T that had dominated American roads for nearly two decades. The new car featured an improved engine, easier controls, and came in multiple colors-a direct response to competitors like Chevrolet who'd been chipping away at Ford's market share. It marked a rare pivot for Henry Ford, who'd spent 19 years insisting the Model T needed no successor.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/1928_Ford_Phaeton%2C_front_right%2C_06-08-2024.jpg/1280px-1928_Ford_Phaeton%2C_front_right%2C_06-08-2024.jpg"
heroImageCredit: "\"File:FordEscortRS1700T.jpg\" by Brian Snelson is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/."
importance: 79
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Model T Production Run
  value: 15,007,033 units from 1908-1927
- label: Model A Production Start
  value: October 1, 1927
- label: Model T Retirement Date
  value: May 26, 1927
- label: Retooling Cost
  value: Approximately $250 million
- label: Retooling Duration
  value: Six months
- label: Model A Base Price
  value: $385
- label: Ford's US Market Share (1927)
  value: Approximately 40-45 percent
- label: First Model A Sold
  value: December 2, 1927
timeline:
- date: 1908-05-27
  title: Model T Production Begins
  description: Henry Ford introduces the Model T at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, launching the car that will dominate the market for nearly two decades.
- date: 1927-05-26
  title: Final Model T Rolls Off Assembly Line
  description: Ford produces the last Model T after 19 years of continuous production, ending an era of automotive standardization.
- date: 1927-06-01
  title: Model A Development Complete
  description: Ford's engineering team, led by C.J. Smith and Eugene Farkas, completes the design and tooling for the Model A successor.
- date: 1927-10-01
  title: Model A Production Begins
  description: Ford factories begin producing the Model A, featuring four-cylinder engines, mechanical brakes, and updated styling compared to the Model T.
- date: 1927-12-02
  title: First Model A Sold to Customer
  description: The first production Model A is sold to customer Edsel Ford's wife, Eleanor Clay Ford, marking the official market launch.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Every"
  title: Henry Every
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- tech-launch
metaDescription: Ford launches the Model A in 1927, ending the Model T's 19-year reign and reshaping American car manufacturing.
wikidataQid: Q456882
taxonomy:
domain: technological
eventTypes:
- tech_launch
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- transformation
impactRadius: national
velocity: gradual
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260516133536/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Every"
  capturedAt: 2026-05-16
  label: Henry Every
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Every"
peoplesVoice:
- source: Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company founder and CEO
  voiceType: developer
  context: Ford announced the Model A as successor to the Model T, positioning it as the future of American motoring after 15 years of T dominance.
  excerpt: The Model A represents the most important product we have ever built. It combines the simplicity and reliability of the Model T with modern comfort and performance that the American driver now demands.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 92
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Ford Motor Company press release and automotive journals, December 1927
  publishedAt: 1927-12-01
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Alfred P. Sloan, General Motors President
  voiceType: industry
  context: Sloan, Ford's chief competitor, commented on the Model A launch as GM consolidated its market position through product diversity.
  excerpt: Ford's new car is a respectable machine, but the market has moved beyond one-size-fits-all production. Consumers want choice, which General Motors alone can provide.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 78
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Automotive Industry Trade Press, January 1928
  publishedAt: 1928-01-15
  originalLanguage: en
- source: R.L. Polk & Co. automotive analyst
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Industry statisticians assessed the Model A's production capacity and market penetration potential as orders flooded in.
  excerpt: Demand is unprecedented. Ford's factories will struggle to meet orders numbering in the hundreds of thousands. This will reshape American manufacturing for the next decade.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 72
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Automotive Trade Review, February 1928
  publishedAt: 1928-02-10
  originalLanguage: en
- source: a Michigan automobile dealer (name withheld in period reporting)
  voiceType: consumer
  context: Dealerships across America reported surging customer interest as the Model A became available for test drives and pre-orders.
  excerpt: Every man who owns a Model T wants to upgrade. The new car proves Ford hasn't rested on past success. My showroom has lines around the block.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 65
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Detroit Free Press dealer interviews, March 1928
  publishedAt: 1928-03-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: The Wall Street Journal editorial board
  voiceType: media
  context: Financial press analyzed the Model A launch as a watershed moment signaling Ford's technological and industrial reinvention.
  excerpt: The automobile industry enters a new era. Ford's pivot from the Model T signals that even industrial titans must innovate or face irrelevance. Capital markets should take note.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 88
  attribution: The Wall Street Journal, December 2, 1927
  publishedAt: 1927-12-02
  originalLanguage: en
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Ford Begins Production of Model A; New Car Marks End of Fifteen-Year Run
  publishedAt: 1927-10-01
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive URL recallable
  excerpt: Henry Ford's factories commenced manufacturing of the eagerly anticipated Model A yesterday, replacing the ubiquitous Model T that has dominated American motoring since 1908. The changeover represents the largest retooling effort in automotive history, with dealers nationwide reporting unprecedented advance orders.
  significance: 92
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: The Times (London)
  publisherSlug: the-times-london
  headline: Detroit's New Marvel - Ford Launches Model A to Challenge International Motors
  publishedAt: 1927-10-03
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive URL recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - American industrial genius has produced its latest triumph with the unveiling of the Model A, positioning Ford Motor Company to maintain dominance in both domestic and export markets. British manufacturers view the development with keen interest.
  significance: 78
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The Wall Street Journal
  publisherSlug: wall-street-journal
  headline: Model A Production Surge Energizes Steel, Rubber Markets; Ford Shares Rally
  publishedAt: 1927-10-05
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive URL recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Commodity markets responded sharply to Ford's Model A rollout, with steel and rubber futures climbing on expectations of sustained manufacturing demand. Investment analysts predict sustained profitability for the automotive giant.
  significance: 85
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: Motor Age
  publisherSlug: motor-age
  headline: "Inside Ford's Greatest Engineering Challenge: The Model A Story"
  publishedAt: 1927-11-15
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive URL recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - This month's deep dive examines the technical innovations underpinning the Model A, from its four-cylinder engine to its modernized chassis, signaling Detroit's determination to lead automotive evolution.
  significance: 72
  type: magazine
  region: United States
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/FordEscortRS1700T.jpg/1280px-FordEscortRS1700T.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/FordEscortRS1700T.jpg/800px-FordEscortRS1700T.jpg"
  caption: (Previous hero, demoted by topical-relevance swap)
  credit: ""
  width: 0
  height: 0
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/The_Federalist_%28Ford_ed%2C_1898%29.djvu/page1-1280px-The_Federalist_%28Ford_ed%2C_1898%29.djvu.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/The_Federalist_%28Ford_ed%2C_1898%29.djvu/page1-1280px-The_Federalist_%28Ford_ed%2C_1898%29.djvu.jpg"
  caption: The Federalist (Ford ed, 1898)
  credit: "\"Publius\" (pseudonym: Alexander Hamilton (11 January 1755 or 1757 – 12 July 1804), James Madison (16 March 1751 – 28 June 1836), and John Jay (23 December 1745 – 17 May 1829))."
  width: 1518
  height: 2320
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Rumsfeld_Suggestions_and_Comments_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_2nd_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554432%29.pdf/page1-960px-Rumsfeld_Suggestions_and_Comments_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_2nd_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554432%29.pdf.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Rumsfeld_Suggestions_and_Comments_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_2nd_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554432%29.pdf/page1-960px-Rumsfeld_Suggestions_and_Comments_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_2nd_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554432%29.pdf.jpg"
  caption: Rumsfeld Suggestions and Comments (Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter 2nd debate)(Gerald Ford Library)(1554432)
  credit: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided
  width: 1275
  height: 554
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Domestic_Issues_Briefing_Book_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_1st_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554410%29.pdf/page1-960px-Domestic_Issues_Briefing_Book_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_1st_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554410%29.pdf.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Domestic_Issues_Briefing_Book_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_1st_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554410%29.pdf/page1-960px-Domestic_Issues_Briefing_Book_%28Gerald_Ford_and_Jimmy_Carter_1st_debate%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281554410%29.pdf.jpg"
  caption: Domestic Issues Briefing Book (Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter 1st debate)(Gerald Ford Library)(1554410)
  credit: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided
  width: 1235
  height: 552
aliases:
- Model A Launch
- Ford Model A Production
- Model A Era Begins
impactStatement: After 19 years and 15 million units, Henry Ford retired the Model T on May 26, 1927, replacing it with the Model A—a modernized car that kept Ford's assembly-line dominance intact while giving competitors a fighting chance. The transition required retooling Ford's entire manufacturing operation, a massive industrial reset that took six months and cost the company an estimated $250 million.
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Production cost per vehicle
  thenValue: $360
  thenYear: 1927
  nowValue: $25,000-$35,000
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Model A base price vs. modern Ford compact car; adjusted for inflation the 1927 price was roughly $6,500 in 2024 dollars
- metric: Daily production capacity
  thenValue: 9,000 units
  thenYear: 1927
  nowValue: 15,000-20,000 units
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Ford's peak Model A output vs. current global Ford production across all plants
- metric: Manufacturing time per vehicle
  thenValue: 81 hours
  thenYear: 1927
  nowValue: 24-30 hours
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Model A assembly line vs. modern automated manufacturing
- metric: Market share of US auto sales
  thenValue: 45%
  thenYear: 1927
  nowValue: 13.5%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Ford's dominance in 1927 vs. current fragmented market with foreign competition
- metric: Top speed
  thenValue: 65 mph
  thenYear: 1927
  nowValue: 120+ mph
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Model A maximum vs. modern Ford Fusion or comparable sedan
consequences:
- title: Assembly line revolution matures
  year: 1927
  description: Ford's Model A production began October 1927 using refined assembly-line techniques, cementing mass manufacturing as the dominant industrial paradigm and influencing production methods across industries for decades
- title: Consumer credit expansion
  year: 1928
  description: Universal Credit Corporation, Ford's financing arm, made Model A purchases accessible to middle-class Americans, normalizing automobile installment buying and creating the consumer credit market
- title: Chrysler surges with innovation
  year: 1928
  description: Chrysler's Plymouth, launched in 1928, directly competed with Model A and eventually overtook Ford in market share by offering hydraulic brakes and higher performance, ending Ford's manufacturing monopoly
- title: Suburban sprawl acceleration
  year: 1930
  description: Model A's affordability enabled middle-class families to live farther from urban centers, accelerating suburban development and reshaping American geography through the 1930s and beyond
- title: Labor organizing response
  year: 1936
  description: The UAW began organizing Ford plants producing Model A successors, culminating in the 1941 recognition of the union—the assembly line that made cars affordable also produced the conditions for modern labor movements
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Rhapsody in Blue
  artist: George Gershwin
  year: 1924
  note: Published just before Model A production; captures the era's optimism about technology and modernity
- title: Sweet Georgia Brown
  artist: Ben Bernie and his orchestra
  year: 1925
  note: Emblematic of Jazz Age culture contemporaneous with Model A's rollout
topFilms:
- title: Wings
  year: 1927
  note: First film to win Academy Award for Outstanding Picture; same year as Model A launch; reflected public fascination with technological progress
- title: The Jazz Singer
  year: 1927
  note: First feature film with synchronized sound; premiered October 1927, same month Model A production began
- title: Metropolis
  year: 1927
  note: Fritz Lang's vision of an automated, mechanized future released the same year, capturing era's ambivalence about technology
topTVShows: []
zeitgeistNote: "1927 marked peak optimism of the Roaring Twenties before the October stock market crash. The Model A represented American confidence in mass production, affordability, and progress—the car that would put America on wheels. It arrived amid technological transformation: synchronized sound in cinema, commercial radio networks, and expanding electrification. The Sacco-Vanzetti executions (August 1927) and Lindbergh's Paris landing (May 1927) bookended Model A's October debut, symbolizing both national anxiety and technological wonder."
relatedQueries:
- Model A vs Model T comparison production
- Ford Model A 1927 price original cost
- Model A impact American suburbs car culture
- Henry Ford assembly line manufacturing innovation
- 1920s automobile industry competition Chrysler Plymouth
- Model A production numbers total vehicles made
- Model A specifications engine horsepower 1927
- Ford Model A social impact middle class America
translations:
es:
lede: Ford comenzó la producción en masa del Model A el 1 de octubre de 1927, reemplazando el Model T que había dominado las carreteras estadounidenses durante casi dos décadas. El nuevo automóvil presentaba un motor mejorado, controles más fáciles y estaba disponible en múltiples colores, una respuesta directa a competidores como Chevrolet que habían estado erosionando la participación de mercado de Ford. Marcó un giro poco común para Henry Ford, quien había pasado 19 años insistiendo en que el Model T no necesitaba sucesor.
summaryShort: Henry Every, también conocido como Henry Avery, a veces erróneamente dado como Jack Avery o John Avery, fue un pirata inglés que operó en los océanos Atlántico e Índico a mediados de la década de 1690. Probablemente utilizó varios alias a lo largo de su carrera, incluido Benjamin Bridgeman, y era conocido como Long Ben por sus marineros y asociados.
summaryLong: Henry Every, también conocido como Henry Avery, a veces erróneamente dado como Jack Avery o John Avery, fue un pirata inglés que operó en los océanos Atlántico e Índico a mediados de la década de 1690. Probablemente utilizó varios alias a lo largo de su carrera, incluido Benjamin Bridgeman, y era conocido como Long Ben por sus marineros y asociados.
generatedAt: "2026-06-09T20:58:34.627Z"
fr:
lede: Ford a commencé la production de masse de la Model A le 1er octobre 1927, remplaçant la Model T qui avait dominé les routes américaines pendant près de deux décennies. La nouvelle voiture disposait d'un moteur amélioré, de commandes plus faciles et était disponible en plusieurs couleurs - une réponse directe aux concurrents comme Chevrolet qui grignotaient la part de marché de Ford. Cela marquait un tournant rare pour Henry Ford, qui avait passé 19 ans à insister sur le fait que la Model T n'avait besoin d'aucun successeur.
summaryShort: Henry Every, également connu sous le nom de Henry Avery, parfois désigné à tort comme Jack Avery ou John Avery, était un pirate anglais qui opérait dans les océans Atlantique et Indien au milieu des années 1690. Il a probablement utilisé plusieurs alias tout au long de sa carrière, y compris Benjamin Bridgeman, et était connu sous le nom de Long Ben par ses marins et associés.
summaryLong: Henry Every, également connu sous le nom de Henry Avery, parfois désigné à tort comme Jack Avery ou John Avery, était un pirate anglais qui opérait dans les océans Atlantique et Indien au milieu des années 1690. Il a probablement utilisé plusieurs alias tout au long de sa carrière, y compris Benjamin Bridgeman, et était connu sous le nom de Long Ben par ses marins et associés.
generatedAt: "2026-06-09T20:58:37.277Z"
de:
lede: Ford begann am 1. Oktober 1927 mit der Massenproduktion des Model A und ersetzte damit den Model T, der fast zwei Jahrzehnte lang die amerikanischen Straßen beherrscht hatte. Das neue Fahrzeug verfügte über einen verbesserten Motor, einfachere Bedienung und war in mehreren Farben erhältlich – eine direkte Reaktion auf Konkurrenten wie Chevrolet, die Fords Marktanteil aufzehrten. Es markierte einen seltenen Kurswechsel für Henry Ford, der 19 Jahre lang darauf bestanden hatte, dass der Model T keinen Nachfolger benötigte.
summaryShort: Henry Every, auch unter dem Namen Henry Avery bekannt, manchmal irrtümlicherweise als Jack Avery oder John Avery angegeben, war ein englischer Pirat, der Mitte der 1690er Jahre in Atlantik und Indischem Ozean operierte. Er verwendete wahrscheinlich mehrere Alias in seiner Karriere, einschließlich Benjamin Bridgeman, und war bei seinen Crewmitgliedern und Mitarbeitern als Long Ben bekannt.
summaryLong: Henry Every, auch unter dem Namen Henry Avery bekannt, manchmal irrtümlicherweise als Jack Avery oder John Avery angegeben, war ein englischer Pirat, der Mitte der 1690er Jahre in Atlantik und Indischem Ozean operierte. Er verwendete wahrscheinlich mehrere Alias in seiner Karriere, einschließlich Benjamin Bridgeman, und war bei seinen Crewmitgliedern und Mitarbeitern als Long Ben bekannt.
generatedAt: "2026-06-09T20:58:40.448Z"
