was finishing design work on two wildly innovative new models, K and N. Both would be priced well below competitors in their class. Model K, based on Henry Fords six cylinder racer boasted one of this countries first six cylinder production motors. At 40-50 hp, the new model was priced well below other new for 1906 six cylinder domestic cars, including Franklin, National, Stevens-Duryea and Freyer-Miller. The K also featured a futuristic first ever capacitive discharge ignition system, dual ignition, as well as advanced metallurgy making it the lightest six on the market.
The Model N created an instant sensation, the first four cylinder runabout on the market below $800, it was priced at $500. Both cars were presented at the 1906 auto shows, beginning with the N.Y. show at the 69th Armory.
When the dust settled at the end of Fords fiscal year, September 30, 1906, this is how the numbers looked (below):
Although automotive historians would later write otherwise, the Model K “carried the water” for FMC in 1906, generating over 85% of the company’s new car profit. The “K” was also the world’s largest six cylinder seller for 1906 (as well as 1907). A few Model C, over 38% of Model F (almost 400 of the 1,000 “F” produced were sold in 1906) and almost 10% of Model B sales were completed as well.
While the Model N was the company’s future, production delays and underpricing (the “N” price was raised 120% to $600 in February 1907) caused the model to be a non factor financially for 1906. The attached spreadsheets were taken from FMC’s 1906 independent audit, indicating the number of each model sold in FY 1906, as well as the profit each car generated.
Below are spreadsheets showing production numbers and net profit for each model sold by Ford in FY 1906. We only have actual numbers for models K and N, as March is the first month surviving. However, year end totals allow a good estimate of the total for models B,C and F.
