Concept Cars Home
1905 Model B Image Right
 

1904 Ford Model B Four news, pictures, and information

The Model B Four represented a dramatic shift in direction for Ford. With a four-passenger body accented by polished wood and brass trim, the Model B was truly elegant. It was also expensive. Mechanically, a shaft drive and rear hub brakes set this $2,000 vehicle apart from other Fords. Very few Model Bs were manufactured, making it one of the rarest of the Alphabet Ford Cars. This car is serial number '1' and made its debut, amidst much excitement, at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Source - AACA Museum
Debuting in 1904, the Ford Model B was a classy touring vehicle that was the first model by Ford to use the front-engine layout. The large 24 hp 4-cylinder engine was placed at the front behind a conventional radiator.

The Ford Model B was the upscale high end vehicle that cost $2,000. Three years into production, Ford had to face facts. Sales were unfortunately much slower than the Model C, which was ironic since it was priced 1/3 less than the Model B. In 1906 the Model B was deleted and replaced by the derivative Model K.

In 1932 Ford introduced the new Model B, basically an updated version of the Model A that was replaced by the 1935 Ford Model 48. The Model B was basically a four-cylinder model with a Ford Model A engine. At this same time in history, Ford began producing a vehicle with Ford's new Flathead V8 engine that was very similar to the Model A. This mode was named a Model I8, though today it is better known as the Ford V-8.

In 1932, two version of the Ford Model B were debuted, the V8 flathead engine one, and a four-cylinder model. Both models came in two different body styles, the rare ‘3-window' Deluxe Coupe; featuring front opening doors, and the ‘5-window'; two door windows, two quarter panel windows and the rear window. The Model B was the less popular four-cylinder model and was a much more updated version of the four-cylinder Model A.

The 18 Model was the first time the V-8 engine was successful placed in a low-priced vehicle. The cost of some models with the 65-hp engine was around $460. The roadster peaked at only 520 units for the first year, and 28,904 for the two-door cope.

Popular today by the world's standards, the 1930's model B is a highly rare model for collectors.

By Jessica Donaldson
For more information and related vehicles, click here

blog comments powered by Disqus

Arrow Right 1904 Ford models
Ford Model A/C

Similar Automakers
CadillacChevrolet
ChryslerDodge
GMCHummer
JeepLincoln
MercuryPontiac
Saturn
Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1904
White Model D ($2,000-$2,275)

Tags
flathead, 1904, 1904 Ford, Model B Four
 
Ford: 1901-1910
Similar Automakers
Ford History
Other models by Ford
Manufacturer Website

Related Articles and Event Coverage
AACA Antique Auto Museum at Hershey

Ford
Monthly Sales FiguresVolume
April 2012174,042 
March 2012214,615 
February 2012172,207 
January 2012131,589 
December 2011201,737 
November 2011160,560 
October 2011161,709 
September 2011168,181 
August 2011167,214 
July 2011173,051 
June 2011186,753 
May 2011184,703 
(More Details)

 
Anglia
Bronco
Capri
Comète
Cortina
Country Squire
Crestline Sunliner
Crown Victoria
Custom Deluxe
Customline
DeLuxe
E-Series
Edge
Escape
Escort
Expedition
Explorer
F-Series
Fairlane
Fairmont
Falcon
Fiesta
Flex
Focus
Focus ST500
Freestyle / Taurus X
Fusion
Galaxie
Granada
GT 350 Hertz
GT40
Mainline
Maverick
Mercury Speedster
Model 18
Model 40
Model A
Model B
Model F
Model N
Model R
Model S
Model T
Mondeo
Mustang
Pinto
Probe
Ranchero
Ranger
RS200
Shelby Cobra
Streetka
Taurus
Thunderbird
Torino
Transit Connect

1905 Model B Image Right
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.