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I think, but I'm not 100% sure, that the Model T Ford was assembled in India, possibly in the 1920s. Does anyone know if it was? Do any Model T Fords still exist in India?

After much research since my last post I’ve finally established that the Model T Ford was not assembled in India. I think the first one arrived in India sometime between 1913 and 1916.

All Model Ts being supplied to India (a total of 22,000) came from Canada, not the USA.

Does anyone have any information on Model T Fords in India? Are any of the 22,000 still there?

We can be quite sure that the T was not Indian assembled, and yes, all that I have seen are of Canadian origin.

Here are the T's that I know of in existance.

APU 1009 was recently entered in a rally here in Pune by Pervez Vora.





MH 01 MA 7450 is a regular at rallies, part of the Fali Dhondhy collection.







BRN 1763 was also captured at a rally in Bombay, entered by Rishad Kundanmal.







WPB 1833 was spotted at an event in Calcutta



This T, also in Calcutta, belongs to the uncle of one of the members here, unfortunately no other pics.



MLS 4883 is in Shillong, Assam (Im told) and was also used in the movie "Gandhi", then black in colour.







NLK 9999 was part of the late Ravi Kumar's collection, Im told it is now with Ravi Prakash.



Th Bhogilal collection has this one, and their maybe a second one too.



There was one more car that came from Dehradoon to Pune last year, it was in long term ownership there (over 60 years!) till it came to Pune. I remember it being DLJ regd I think, and was in very original condition, requiring minor work. Im not sure on its current whereabouts.

This picture is courtesy xoticars, and could well be one of the above cars themselves.

Karlosdeville,

What a beautiful reply! Thanks for the info.

I’m currently preparing a major upgrade to my Carhistory4u.com web site’s Model T entry. I should have it ready by early August.

May I have your permission to use some of the photos you attached on my web site?

A rather far-fetched number, that of 22,000 Ts coming to India. Could be in the sub-continent at the most.

Right hand drive US Fords have been produced (rather, assembled initially) in Canada, since 1904. It started with the Model C first, followed by the Model T. All RHD American Fords ever since have been manufactured by Ford Canada. Besides going to the RHD markets, the final assembly of some LHD versions also gave Ford Canada, a member of the Commonwealth, a huge commercial benefit. Canadian manufacture enabled them to avail of tariff rebates in all the British colonies, some of which drove on the 'wrong' side. Ford Canada drove in more than 40 countries.

The US Model T (LHD), by the way, had a non-opening driver's side door. The door pattern was simply embossed on the metal sheet but never cut, to give visual symmetry. Henry Ford feared that drivers would walk out and into traffic (or trip over the emergency brakes right next to the door) and so the opening was not cut for the driver. I guess with the pedal arrangements being what they were, and the overall crudeness of the Tin Lizzie, drivers were quite likely to be in a daze, so clever Henry was probably right!

Anyway, since the passenger-side had to be open, RHD versions got a door on both sides. I wonder if there are any comparative accidents statistics of the two versions available:)?

Nice pics there, Karl. Both the black cars, APU 1009 and NLK 9999, look really nice. Wonder what Henry would have to say about the colours of the other ones, and the white tyres of NLK 9999?!!

All the pictures havent been taken by me, PM me your email address and Ill send across high res versions of what I have taken.

Enjoyed the trivia Prabal, thanks!

We all know Henry Ford's famous line about any colour as long as its black, but was this applicable to the entire production run? I would think by the end contrasting colours might have been offered. What say?

And regarding the white tyres, they certainly were popular on American cars back in the day (1900s) but Im not sure if they were still in vogue in the model T days.

You're very right, Karl. Model Ts were offered in many colours other than black, but only in the period between 1908-1914 and then again between 1926-27. So, this thing about Henry Ford only giving it in black, is fiction. But it's such a popular quote, I thought I'll just rake it up:D! Even white tyres were available, from 1913/14 at a cost.

Basically, black was put on most of the Model Ts, because, A) it was cheaper and more durable and B) it dried faster than the other colours available at that time. The black itself had more than 25 variations over the production life of the T, on the body as well as on the other components. This was not just in the shade, but also in the chemical composition.

By the way, most people credit haughty Henry as the creator of the assembly line. Well, it should actually go to a gent called Klan or Klein, don't remember exactly now, who got the brainwave from a similar process at an abatoir he visited. The morbid joke goes that it was a disassembly line that gave birth to the assembly line!

Well, in my post before, regarding the closed driver-side door in the US-made LHD models, I ommitted to add that it was made openable from the 1910/11 model.

Hi Prabal. I read your posts with much interest. Nice info. My recent research into the colours of Model T’s has revealed the following:

Between the start of US production in October 1908 and June 1909 Model T cars were produced in three colours: Red, Green and Gray: Touring (Red), Runabout (Gray), Town Car, Landaulet & Coupe (Green). Between July 1909 and during 1910 all US cars were Brewster Green (very dark, almost black). In 1911 and up to the start of the moving production line in 1913 all US cars were Blue (again very dark, almost black).

Between the start of the moving production line in 1913 and 1926 the US Model T was only available in Black.

In 1926, when closed models became available, the US Model T was available in Windsor Maroon and Channel Green. Later in the same year open cars were available in Phoenix Brown and Gunmetal Blue. From 1924, in addition to Black, the Model T was available in Empire Grey in Great Britain and Grey in Denmark. From 1926 Danish models were also supplied in brown/red.

What I’m still trying to find out is the exact colours of the Canadian produced Model Ts (which is where the Indian ones came from).

Regarding numbers: Ford Canada’s export figures indicate India (22,000), South Africa (30,000), Australia (100,000), New Zealand (37,000), Java
(7,900) and Singapore (12,000). By 1921 Model Ts represented almost 57% of the world’s automobile production.

I think the 22,000 figure for India is more than possible for the 14 or so years it was sold there.

On speaking with a friend, Im told of atleast 8-10 more Model Ts accounted for, (2 being owned by him himself). Apparently Dr Prakash has another one as well.

Also, the T under restoration in one of the pics I posted earlier is indeed APU 1009 itself.

Very nice info on the colours, historyman. Let me see if I can dig up something on what was sent to India.

The numbers again, I know that's what Ford Canada says, but I still find it difficult to digest. Assuming that the influx was steady right from the beginning, it would mean an average of more than 1500 cars every year! Secondly, The Model T has survived in large numbers around the world, but so very few in India now are known to be around. There are more Austin 7s to be seen in fact, by a huge gap! Just because Herbert made his more fuel-efficient?!

Prabal,

I've been trying to find out how many Model Ts still exist. The figures I've come across vary a lot; from 100,000 to 300,000.

What I did find out was that in the 1920s the overall life of a car in the USA was 6 years and above averge, at 8.3 years, for the Model T.

Have you every seen any figures for how many Model Ts still exst?

I remeber that Ford had introduced a novel buyback scheme, where the company would buy back the Ts after a certain period and crush them. I wonder how many they themselves destroyed. I will never forget seeing footage of Ts being crumpled in huge crushers in the 30s!

Harit is keen to share his views on this figure of 22,000 Model Ts supposed to have come to India.

Plus I found this photo of what appears to be a T from the Pakistani website covering Indian cars. I assume the picture is shot in Delhi.

Wow, a Hyderabad registered model T! :eek:

Thats intriguing to know! Pity it isnt here now though!

Some more lovely pics of Model Ts.







I would be very keen to see the car in the last picture after restoration is complete!:)