The Ford Model T in San Antonio and South Central Texas
Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio
1912 Ford Oval
Although Ford had been in San Antonio for year before the introduction of the Model T in 1908 it
was this remarkable vehicle that made the company's presence in the city a bricks and mortar reality.
Until this time folks wanting to buy the most popular car in America, the Ford Model N, had to order
from brokers either in Texas or out of state. To back up his faith in his new product, Ford
cancelled all other Models, including the almost $3,000.00 6 cylinder Model K, which was never
popular, particularly with Henry Ford himself. He opened outlets across the country and staffed them
with factory trained employees to assemble Ts from crated deliveries, plus sell and service them.
The building acquired or possibly even purpose built in San Antonio was at 720 E. Houston, just
behind the Alamo. When Ford created a network of independent dealers, the operation was acquired
by Clifton Ford. He held the franchise until the mid 1920s when, for whatever reason, it transferred to
Heppel Gillespie. By 1922 were three other franchises in the city, The baker Motor
Company at 1515 Main Avenue, Morgan-Woodward at 234 South Flores and the Universal car Company
at Avenue C and Fourth Street. The original operation stayed in place until the mid 1930s when
the Alamo grounds were extended.
Click on thumbnails to see larger images
Ford at Alamo plaza & Pleasanton newspaper adverts
In 1923 another Ford dealership, owned by the Jordan Brothers, took up temporary residence on
South Presa Street until its permanent address on South St. Mary's at the
three way intersection with South Alamo and Presa was opened in 1924. This
operation originally opened in Boerne in 1919, making it the longest continuously operated Ford
dealership in San Antonio. (The oldest Ford dealership in Texas, Sames Ford, opened in 1910 in
Laredo.) Jordan Ford now occupies a large lot on IH 35 near Loop 1604 in Live Oak.
The first three locations of Jordan Ford, the oldest
continuously operated Ford dealership in San Antonio
An old joke about the Model T was that it would take you anywhere you wanted to go, except into
society. Back when America was far stricter about social movement than
it is today, it is hard to say if getting through the poor roads that dogged the area
was more difficult than being owned by the right people but as these pictures show, the T
was indeed able to accomplish both.
Model Ts took everything in their stride
The T was both strong and versatile. It transformed how people moved across the
landscape, from the Hill Country to brush country to the fertile fields towards the valley. With individual
transportation folks in the country could bring their produce into town far more efficiently. Ford
himself came from farming stock. He deplored the vast amount of work farmers put in for so little
reward. The desire to bring relief and prosperity to what was still very much a rural country
was part of his motivation to build not a cheap car but a great car inexpensively.
Model Ts in or near Bandera
Model Ts in or near Kerrville
Model Ts in or near Comfort and Boerne
Model Ts in or near Seguin
Model Ts in Devine
Ford introduced the TT version of the T in 1917, just in time for World War One. Some 400,000 were
used by allied forces before the end of the conflict. The vehicles had a longer and stronger wheel
base, were more heavily sprung and had a different, reduced ratio, rear end to allow the same four
cylinder, 20 HP engine move up to one ton of cargo. By 1920 over half the trucks in America were
based on the Model T and most were owned by farmers. Ford sold the cars as rolling chassis. Engine,
transmission, fuel tank and steering wheel was just about all you got. San Antonio and surrounding
towns had a number of truck outfitters who could make you just about any kind of body you might need.
Ford Model TTs
In 1924, Ford began producing a very basic cab for the TT though the vehicle could still be had
without it. In 1927, with over 15 million Model Ts of all types produced, production of the car that
put the world on wheels finally came to an end. they had been sold across the world with 36
production facilities in the USA alone. Many cars bought in Texas were built at the Dallas plant
which would stay open until 1970. Today there are still many thousand Model Ts left. The Texas
T Party, hosted in different towns each year, has been known to attract over 100 Model Ts
of all types. here in San Antonio the T Fords of Texas host a show every year that attracts
nearly forty. The T is not really dead. It's legacy lives on. Few machines in the history
of the world have had anywhere close to the impact of this simple yet brilliant vehicle.
For pictures of the 2007 "Texas T Party" in Uvalde, click
•"Texas T Party, 2007"•
For information about San Antonio's Ford Model T club, click
•"T Fords of Texas"•
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