why were all model T cars black?

Question

i watched a documentery about the making of the model T and there was a reason behind this but i can not remember what it was.

Answer 1

The earlier posters are correct: it is cheaper and more efficient to paint the Model T's black. However, while black was the only color available on model years after 1913, earlier cars were available in Brewster Green, Red, Blue and Gray. In fact, in the first year, Model T Fords were not available in Black at all, but only in Gray, Red and Brewster Green.

Answer 2

i cannot recall the year that the switch was made to black only but it was some time after the tin lizzie was in production, the reason was that black dried the fastest and anything to speed up production was welcomed , also cost , DuPont was able to give Henry a better deal on 1 colour , then ,as now , anything to drop the cost per unit was done. PS. he did not invent the automobile , he was responsible for the moving assembly line , advancing the art of mass production .

Answer 3

The paint used to finish the Model T was called Japan Black. It had an asphalt base dissolved in turpentine, which evaporated very quickly once it was applied and left the base dry before it left the line. It was used because in the assembly line process it dried more quickly than any other paint and it was the cheapest paint available at the time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_T

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Black

Answer 4

Originally, Ford offered them in several colors. The paint at that time would take up to 14 days to dry, making painting a car rather difficult. However, chemists came up with a new sort of paint called Japan Black that dried in only two days - trouble was, it wasn't possible to add colors to it. It wasn't until the mid '20s that fast drying colored paint became available.

Answer 5

Because back in the 12th century the only color they had for cars was black. They didn't learn till 1740 that there were other colors for their Buicks. When Henry Ford came out with the V19 in the 30's, they were maroon and black. He gave the idea to GM and they made orange cars called Chevies. Thus, Chevie Orange.

Answer 6

Marketing decision by Henry Ford to keep prices down. His famous quote was "You can have a Model T in any color you like, as long as it's black."

Answer 7

The reason for the success of the T was the low cost.. the Assembly line made it cheep and any changes including paint color raised the price...sorry no options.

Answer 8

Ford was once quoted saying "you can have it in any color, as long as it's black"

It was simply a cost issue. He wanted to make as many cars as possible for as cheap as possible.

Answer 9

All cars were, without exception, black at one time and were a lot more expensive if you wanted another colour.

Answer 10

It was just easier if they only had one color to worry about and could speed through the process line with it