Which 1896 vehicle did Henry Ford build as his first successful automobile?

Henry Ford built the Ford Quadricycle in 1896 as his first successful automobile.

The lightweight vehicle used a simple four-wheeled frame, bicycle-style wheels, a small gasoline engine, and a two-speed transmission. Ford tested it on Detroit streets and later sold it to finance further experiments.

The Quadricycle was not Ford’s first attempt at engineering, but it was the first of his designs to operate successfully and attract commercial interest. It predates the Model T by more than a decade.

People sometimes confuse it with Ford’s later racing cars or the Model A. Those vehicles came after Ford established the Ford Motor Company in 1903.