1913 Classic Cars for Sale
Ford's moving assembly line launches at Highland Park, Stutz dominates American racing, and the closed body remains a rarity
Ford's moving assembly line began operation at Highland Park in the spring of 1913, and its consequences were felt immediately. Model T production climbed to roughly 170,000 units that year. The price of a Model T Runabout dropped to $525. For every other manufacturer, this was either an inspiration or a death sentence depending on their cost structure and target market.
High-end coachbuilders barely noticed. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost touring cars, Lozier Type 82 models, and the new Stutz offerings were sold to customers for whom a $525 Ford was irrelevant. These cars were specified with individual attention, fitted with bodies from independent coachworks, and delivered months after order. Production numbers for most luxury makes in 1913 remain estimated at under 500 units per model, often far fewer.
The closed body was still uncommon in 1913. Most Americans of any income drove open touring cars or roadsters because closed coachwork was expensive and the roads, particularly outside cities, were rough enough that a broken spring on an enclosed car was a more serious inconvenience than getting wet. That pragmatism shapes what survives today. Open cars are more plentiful. Closed 1913 examples are correspondingly rarer and typically more valuable.
- Ford's Highland Park plant introduced the moving chassis assembly line in the spring of 1913, reducing Model T assembly time from over 12 hours to roughly 93 minutes by year end
- Stutz factory cars finished in the top ten at the Indianapolis 500 and dominated American road racing circuits throughout 1913, establishing the Bearcat's reputation among performance buyers
- The Society of Automotive Engineers adopted standardized thread specifications for automotive hardware in 1913, a quiet reform that made repair work meaningfully less frustrating and accelerated parts interchangeability across makers
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Browse Pre-War ClassicsMarket: Ford Model T examples from 1913 in restored driving condition trade between $18,000 and $30,000 depending on body style, with original brass fittings adding measurably. Stutz and Mercer sporting cars in documented condition regularly exceed $175,000, and an authenticated Simplex or Lozier with known ownership history can approach $250,000 or more at specialized auctions.
Buyer's note: Inspect the frame rails on 1913 Stutz and Mercer cars for welded repairs, as hard use on unpaved roads was common and original owners often had local blacksmiths make field repairs that are not always obvious under later paint.