Henry Ford was down to his last pennies in July 1903 when three buyers sent deposits for his first car, the Ford Model A. Only one of those three cars that launched Henry Ford's empire has survived the 109 years since — long enough for his great-grandson to buy back the oldest surviving Ford, albeit at a bit of a markup.
Ford chairman Bill Ford Jr. revealed today he was the anonymous bidder who purchased the Model A when it sold at auction in October for $264,000. Even though it's quite a gain from the car's original price of $880, the 1903 Ford Model A Rear Entry Tonneau had sold for $630,000 in 2007 -- thanks to the care of its five owners who preserved the machine and key documents since it last left Ford. The Model A will be part of the celebrations by the Ford family and Henry Ford museum marking Ford's 150th birthday next year.