The Ford Motor Company was incorporated on June 16, 1903. The first vehicles built were powered by two-cylinder engines and were called Model A's. These vehicles were produced at Ford's first assembly plant on Mack Avenue in Detroit. In 1904, Ford introduced an improved version called the Model C and by 1905 had introduced yet another similar example called the Model F. By this time, Ford had moved to a larger facility on Piquette Avenue.
In 1906, Ford discontinued producing two-cylinder vehicles and introduced a small four-cylinder vehicle called the Model N, and a large, luxury six-cylinder vehicle called the Model K. Sales of the new Model N were immediately successful. The Model N was the first lower priced, four-cylinder vehicle built in America and proved to be reliable and easy to use and maintain, unlike the Model K, which was unreliable, expensive and difficult to operate. Ford soon realized the market needed small, inexpensive and reliable vehicles and continued to sell the Model N, and upgraded versions called the Model R and S, in large numbers from 1906 to 1908. Henry Ford would discontinue these vehicles in 1908 when he would introduce a new vehicle called the Model T.
This rare 1907 Model S Ford Runabout is powered by an 18 horsepower engine with 149 cubic-inches. It has been driven several thousand trouble free miles since its restoration was completed nearly fifteen years ago.