The Ford Model K was an upmarket automobile introduced in 1906 to replace the Model B. Built at the Piquette Avenue plant, it used Ford’s only inline-six until 1941 and was aimed at the top of the market while staying the lowest-priced six-cylinder car on sale.
Ford Model K at a glance
| Maker | Ford Motor Company, Piquette Avenue plant |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1906 |
| Replaced | Ford Model B |
| Engine | inline six, 40 hp |
| Significance | Ford’s only six until 1941 |
| Wheelbase 1906 | 114 in |
| Wheelbase 1907–1908 | 120 in, 20% more power, stronger frame |
| Bodies | touring and runabout |
| Sales record | about 500 in 1907, the world’s best-selling six |
| Production | 1906–1908 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only.
History of the Ford Model K
Ford at the top of the market
The Model K was introduced in 1906 to replace the earlier Model B, and it was built at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. It featured an inline six giving 40 hp — the only Ford six until 1941 — and, in typical Ford fashion, it was the lowest-priced six-cylinder car, with one of the best power-to-weight ratios in its class. The 1906 car had a 114-inch wheelbase; for 1907 and 1908 it was significantly improved with a 120-inch wheelbase, 20 per cent more power and a stronger frame, and it was offered as both a touring car and a runabout.
More profitable than folklore admits
Popular stories say the Model K was a failure that pushed Ford towards the Model T. In fact it was a good seller: in 1906, its first year, it produced over 85 per cent of Ford’s new-car profit according to the company’s internal audit records, and in 1907 nearly 500 were sold, making it the best-selling six-cylinder model in the world.
The single-model decision
As period journals reported, Ford then went in another direction, moving to one chassis and a mid-priced car, the Model T, and abandoning the multi-line business model used by most makers of the period. The K helped Ford become the largest automaker in sales in 1907, and together with the Model N it was one of only two Ford models sold over three model years, 1906 to 1908, before the Model T arrived.
Design and features
- Ford’s only early six: an inline-six of 40 hp, unique in the range until 1941.
- Cheapest six: the lowest-priced six-cylinder car on the market.
- Improved from 1907: longer wheelbase, more power and a stronger frame.
- Profitable: over 85 per cent of Ford’s 1906 new-car profit.
Ford Model K versions
- Touring (1906–1908): the open five-seat body.
- Runabout (1906–1908): the smaller open body.
- 1907–1908 cars: 120-inch wheelbase, 20 per cent more power.
The Model K was replaced in Ford’s plans by the cheaper Model T, which went on to sell in far greater numbers. More Ford vehicles are in the Ford collection.
Sources
- Ford Model K, English Wikipedia: engine, chassis, sales, profits
