Ford's Model T

In 2008, America will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the car that made automotive transportation a part of everyday life - Henry Ford's Model T.

The Model T wasn't the first automobile....or even Henry Ford's first creation. However, it was the first automobile that was easily affordable. Its creation helped "put America on wheels," and created much of the American auto industry as we know it.

Ford was an early believer in the potential of automobiles, but suffered several setbacks in his efforts to form his own automobile manufacturing company. He was finally able to establish the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with himself as vice-president and chief engineer.

At first, Ford's progress proved slow. His men were only able to turn out two or three cars a day, because they had to order certain components from other companies and work on individual cars as the parts became available.

That's when Ford hit onto an idea that would change the world - mass production. He became determined that every aspect of every car would be produced in-house, with as little reliance on outside sources as possible.

Ford's dream of expansion might have sounded crazy at the time - but it worked. In October 1, 1908, his company unveiled the Model T Ford - the first automobile that was easy to operate and affordably priced. The Model boasted a 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine that could reach up to 45 miles per hour. Its mileage was about 13 to 21 miles per gallon, and the whole thing weighed 1,200 pounds.

There weren't many variations on the Model T - it boasted nine body types, all with the same chassis. Some individuals have claimed that Ford once said, "It can be any color, as long as it's black," though this has never been formally proven.

Even with the lack of variety, Ford's mass-production model allowed for advantages he passed on to the customers. The initial Model T cost $850, though later on, their cost went as low as $260, because of the lowered production costs.

In addition, Ford's determination to do everything in-house resulted in a $5-a-day wage for his employees, nearly double what other automobile companies offered. It also led to the creation of the world's largest industrial complex in Dearborn, Michigan, which helped establish that state as one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers.

America couldn't get enough of what Ford called "the universal car." Ten years after its premiere, nearly half of all Americans owned a Model T. Over the course of its 19-year history, 15 million Model T Fords would be manufactured, the longest production of any car until the Volkswagen Beetle.

Though the Model T has been gone for decades, it's still remembered as the car in the history of automobiles. In 1999, the Model T was declared "The Car of the Century" by a group of more than 100 automotive experts from 32 countries. Its legacy lives on in the millions of Ford automobiles still driven every day - and, of course, in the fact that cars caught on in the first place. Here's to you at 100, Model T!

Convert Your Automobile To Run On Water

Many vehicle drivers dream of having their cars running on water, since that can result in a lot of costs savings. Many people think that this possible because they have heard of rumors of cars running with water. But does such technology really exist, or is it just a myth?

How Does Powering An Automobile With Water Work?

Water is made of 2 elements which are hydrogen and oxygen. When an electric current is passed through water (this process is also known as electrolysis), the hydrogen and oxygen and split up and form O2 and H2 molecules.

Hydrogen had already been discovered as a source of power about 20 years ago. This simple and abundant element has been proven to be able to provide more power than gasoline when used to power automobiles.

However, powering your vehicles completely on water has not yet become reality. You still need to buy some gasoline to power your car, but by making slight modifications to your car engine, you can use a mix of water and gasoline to run your automobile. All these can be done easily without having to purchase a new hybrid car.

There has not been much discussed by the media about this kind of technology, because it would seriously affect the profits of oil companies if people started to use water to run their automobiles. It has been kept from being released to the public by world leaders for this reason.

How To Convert Your Own Car To Run On Water?

This system can be easily accessed and built today with DIY guides available for download. Usually, beginners only need a small budget to get started, which should cost less than $100. Once modified, this water power engine system can also be easily reversed, thus making it easy to remove.