Description
The Ford Model R Roadster was introduced in 1907 as an evolution of the successful Ford Model N, and it represented a slightly more refined version of Ford’s affordable runabout formula. While the Model N had been praised for its low cost and reliability, the Model R was intended to offer buyers a bit more style, comfort, and practicality without moving too far away from the affordable market niche that Henry Ford was targeting.
Mechanically, the Model R was nearly identical to the Model N. It used the same 149 cubic inch (2.4-liter) inline four-cylinder engine, producing about 15 horsepower, with a top speed of around 35 mph. The engine was mounted at the front, water-cooled, and connected to a two-speed planetary transmission—simple to operate and robust, just like in the Model N. The car’s wheelbase was also 84 inches, and the basic chassis layout with transverse leaf spring suspension was unchanged.
What distinguished the Model R Roadster from the Model N was primarily its bodywork and appointments. Instead of the bare-bones runabout look, the Model R featured a slightly larger and more stylish body with a curved dash, full fenders, running boards, and a standard rear tonneau, allowing for four passengers instead of just two. The car also came with oil lamps, a horn, and other small refinements as standard equipment, which on the Model N had been optional. This gave the Model R a more polished appearance and greater practicality, appealing to customers who wanted an inexpensive car that still looked like a proper motorcar rather than a stripped-down machine.
The price reflected these changes. While the Model N sold for $500, the Model R Roadster was priced at around $650, placing it slightly higher in Ford’s lineup. Even at this cost, it was still considered affordable compared to many other four-cylinder cars of the era, which often sold for over $1,000.
Production of the Model R was limited, with only about 2,500 units built during its single year of availability in 1907. It was soon replaced by the Model S, which was another refinement of the same basic platform and continued to broaden the appeal of Ford’s early four-cylinder cars.
Today, the Ford Model R Roadster is remembered as a transitional model—less famous than the Model N or the later Model T, but important in showing how Ford was learning to balance low cost with customer expectations for style and comfort. Its brief production run makes it rarer than the Model N or S, and surviving examples are prized by collectors as an important piece of Ford’s pre-Model T history.