Ford Quadricycle

The Ford Quadricycle was the first Ford vehicle ever developed, which led Henry Ford to build his empire.

On June 4, 1896 in a tiny workshop behind his home on 58 Bagley Avenue, Henry Ford put the finishing touches on his gasoline-powered motor car. After more than two years of experimentation, Henry Ford at the age of thirty-two, had completed his first experimental automobile. He dubbed his creation the "Quadricycle," so named because it ran on four bicycle tires. The success of the little vehicle fueled Ford's automobile ambitions, leading ultimately to the founding of Ford Motor Company in 1903.

The quadricycle was driven by a chain, the primitive transmission only had two gears (first for 10mph, 2nd for 20mph) and did not have a reverse gear. The tiller-steered machine had wire wheels and a three gallon (ten liter) fuel tank under the seat. Ford test drove it on June 4 1896, after various test drives, achieving a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h).

Today the Quadricycle resides at The Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan.

References

• Ford.com - Henry Ford and Family. Retrieved on August 24., 2006.