History of Ford Motor Co. Quiz

Henry Ford built his first automobile in 1896, and in 1903 he launched Ford Motor Co.

In 1908, the company opened a branch in Paris, giving the brand a foothold in the European market.

Twelve investors joined the venture, and 1,000 shares were divvied up between them, with Ford and Alexander Malcomson getting the lion's share.

Ford needed every penny of that $28,000 and spent most of it before finally producing his first vehicle.

His first attempt was called Detroit Automobile Co., which he left after disagreements with investors.

At $2,800 it was pricier than some other competing models, but it was also Ford's first six-cylinder model.

The 1927 Model A was the first to display Ford's trademark oval badge.

The company's concept worked, and it started raking profits right from the start.

The moving assembly line debuted in 1913. The time needed to build the Model T's chassis dropped from nearly 13 hours to less than two hours, transforming the entire manufacturing world.

The boring and difficult labor meant too many people were quitting. The increased pay and shorter hours helped turn Ford into a hotly desired workplace.

In the early 20th century, cars were more difficult and time-consuming to build. The company made around 70,000 cars in 1912.

With around 15 million cars sold, it is still regarded as one of the best-selling cars in history.

In 1920, less than a decade after starting assembly line production, the company shot from 70,000 to 1 million cars manufactured in a single year.

Introduced in 1917, it was the company's first pickup. It was based on the Model T car.

Henry Ford wasted no time going international, creating Ford Motor Co. of Canada in 1904.

The Mustang, which would become one of the company's most recognized models, was launched in 1964.

Not only did Ford hire disabled veterans, but it also made sure their work environments were accommodating to their special needs.

At a loss of $250 million (in the early 1960s) the car cost too much and was too ugly for American consumers.

Ford initially offered multiple colors, but painting was a challenge in the assembly line environment, meaning that for a time Ford used only black paint.

In 1998, the Focus replaced the Escort model, which had worn out its welcome.

The V-8 engine was reliable and powerful, making it one of the most popular engines for decades to come.

The Fiesta was built at a factory in Spain and immediately became a hit in the European market.

It lost about $13 billion. To stem the bleeding, Ford sold Land Rover and Jaguar and refocused on its core brands.

Edsel Ford commissioned the Detroit Industry Murals, which are official national landmarks.

The aluminum construction cut down on weight but raised concerns about durability.

The F-Series, which is still one of the most popular trucks around, was introduced right after World War II in 1948.

Ford ended the Mercury brand in 2011, with a few final Grand Marquis.

Crash testing is now one of the most important tasks that engineers perform as they build new cars.

Decades later, it is hard to understand just how innovative the Taurus' styling was in the mid-1980s.

The Bronco was superseded by the Explorer, which helped fuel the current craze for SUVs and crossover SUVs.