Henry Ford was once responsible for half of the world's automobiles! Which of his many models allowed his brand reputation to thrive and why?

Henry Ford was the spark the auto industry needed in the early twentieth century, his introduction of the moving assembly line saw his automobiles constructed in a record-breaking three minutes!

Henry Ford's ruthless business techniques saw him dominate automotive sales globally at a time when the "horseless carriage" was considered a luxury, the complicated, albeit controversial businessman changed the world with his bullish approach to manufacturing. However, which of his many cars made the most significant impact and why?

No, the Model T was not the first Ford, The first Ford car created by Henry Ford himself was the Quadricycle, powered by a single-cylinder 4-stroke engine. Ford's budding innovation sent a whopping 4 hp to its bicycle wheels, producing a mind-warping top speed of 20 mph!

Aged 32, Henry Ford created three Quadricycle models selling for $200 apiece. The Quadricycle set the foundations for the Detroit Automobile Company founded in 1899, later renamed the Henry Ford Motor Company in 1901. Henry reportedly bought back his original Quadricycle from Mr. Charles Ainsley for $60, setting the tone for rip-off trade-in value across the board!

Henry Ford was an aggressive businessman, and arguments with stakeholders forced him to abandon his own company in 1902, taking with him $900 in funds and schematics for a race car deemed appropriate for marketing purposes. Henry Ford's actions saw his company renamed the Cadillac Motor Company led by Henry Leyland. While an angry Henry set up the Ford Motor Company we all know today.

Those racing schematics he took with him materialized into the Ford 999, named after the land speed record-holding locomotive, the "Empire State Express NO.999". Collaborations with Tom Cooper saw a front-engined RWD race car that produced between 75-100 hp! Unfortunately, the 999 was a deathtrap, lacking rear suspension or any form of differential. Furthermore, the vehicle forced drivers to use a steering system similar to a bicycle.

Although Henry Ford remained true to character and abandoned the project two weeks before it was due to race, he held the naming rights to both the 999 models. He later retook ownership as a 999 broke the land speed record on the ice running at an astonishing 91.37mph in 1904. The Ford 999 was the perfect marketing tool for Henry Ford as the Motor-Car was gathering pace.

The first Ford car was the 1903 Model A. Advertised as the 'most reliable machine in the world,' Henry Ford's $28,000 ($952,000 today) investment had left him close to broke as his Model A car went on sale for $800 at the dawn of the 20th century.

With a top speed of 28mph from its 1.7-liter flat-two, the original Ford Model A produced 8 hp and came with an optional two, or four-seat configuration. A resounding success that put the Ford Motor Company on the map selling 1,750 units, the Model A got the ball rolling for old Henry.

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Henry Ford's front-engined inline-six-producing 40 hp, this line of luxury cars set punters back $2,000 in 1906. That's $67,000 today; with 900 sales across two years of production, the Model K saw Ford become the most profitable automaker in the world and the K made up 80% of the company's profits in 1906.

Filling Ford's coffers was essential as Henry Ford was planning a large-scale revamp of his production methods. The Model K alongside its peasant brother, the Model N, were the last Ford multi-line production vehicles as Henry yearned for a mid-priced single chassis construct.

The Model N was the essential working-class car sitting beneath the luxurious Model K. However, multiple trim levels came with Ford's base vehicle. The Model R was the top-level trim, with larger wheels and fuel tank partnered with an uprated mechanical oiler from McCord, fancy stuff.

The Model R trim costs $650 compared to the Model N, which retailed at $500. However, both arrived with the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines producing 15 hp. Between 1906-1908, the Model N range saw 7,000 sales during the same period as the Model K, and both models saw Ford become the most profitable automaker in the world.

Named after the twentieth letter in the alphabet, Henry Ford's twentieth design, The Model T, was known colloquially as 'Tin Lizzie' and Lizzie amassed over fifteen million sales over her eighteen years of production. The Model T led the Ford lineup alone, seeing the invention of the moving assembly line, which saw each unit produced in just three minutes!

The Model T initially cost owners $825, but as production times plummeted with the advent of the moving assembly line, the Model T eventually retailed for $260; this astounding level of accessibility mobilized America's working class.

The 2.9-liter 20-hp Model T achieved the car of the century award in 1999 thanks to its record sales and industry-defining production methods. Furthermore, by 1924 half of the words automobiles wore a Ford badge thanks to the vibrant Model T.

RELATED: This Is How The Ford Model T Changed The Automotive Scene Forever

America's first production truck was a rework of the ever-present Ford Model T. Sporting an extended wheelbase and extra gear known as the 'Creeper gear,' the Model TT set the foundations for Ford's coolest pickup trucks.

Between 1917-1927 Ford amassed 1.4 million sales of its pickup trucks, with 12,000 units sold to American and British militaries. The wily old pickup came Armed with a 3.3-liter four-cylinder engine launching it to a top speed of 15mph! The Model TT initially sold for $600, with later models reduced to $325.

The Model A returns replacing the record-breaking Model T. Designed in tandem with his son Edsel, Henry Ford's second stab at the Model A became known as the 'A bone' in the hot rod community. Edsel's innovative approach was unique to the 1927 Model A, equipping it as standard with four-wheel mechanical drum breaks, a visual fuel gauge, and an optional aftermarket cast iron cover for the exhaust manifold providing warm air to the cabin in colder climates. Unlike the exclusive black Model T, Ford's Model A arrived in four colors across nine body styles and maintained an accessible price tag of $500.

The Model A was an instant hit, but not without competition; Edsel's innovation paid off, selling 4,858,644 units across five years of production while managing to open manufacturing plants globally in countries such as Argentine, Denmark, German, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

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The previously mentioned Model A arrived in a truck form known as the Model AA, this early evolution of the pickup would attract attention from the Soviet Union. The Red Army Paid Ford a cool $13 million for 985,000 chassis between 1931-1938.

Renamed the GAZ-AA, the Russians reinforced the bodywork and increased horsepower from 40 hp to 50 hp. The GAZ-AA saw Ford shift 60 units per day in 1932, as chassis were sent across the ocean and reconstructed into the GAZ-AA.

Sources: Corporate Ford, The Henry Ford

An automotive writer based in the UK, suffering with an unhealthy obsession for cars and Formula One. ​​​Providing commanding content that attracts attention and entertains all at the same time is key. At the weekends, you can find him Driving past Williams Racing making high pitch V10 noises with his mouth.... daring to dream...