1956 Monarch Richelieu Model 3-57A Phaeton

Engine: Ford, V8, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 5.1 L (312 ci)
Bore and Stroke: 97 x 87 mm (3.8 x 3.4 in)
Power: 167.8 kW (225 hp)
Transmission: 3-forward, 1-reverse, automatic
Weight: 1682.8 kg (3,710 lb)
Capacity: 6 passengers
Original Cost: C $3,509

The Monarch was a separate brand introduced by the Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1946. Based off the Mercury Eight, Monarchs were designed specifically for the Canadian market with different model names, distinct trim, grilles and taillights to differentiate them from Mercury. The Richelieu was Monarch’s top-of-the-line model with high-end features like extensive chrome trim and power-steering, windows, seats and antenna. Production of Monarchs ended in 1958 with the introduction of the Edsel; ironically, the Monarch was then re-introduced due to the Edsel’s poor performance. This red and black 1956 Monarch Richelieu Model 3-57A phaeton was sold new in Wetaskiwin, and is one of only 700 produced.

Henry Ford built his first automobile, which he called a quadricycle, in 1896 in Detroit, Michigan. He attempted to break into the automobile manufacturing business by founding the Detroit Automobile Company (later called the Henry Ford Company) in 1899, but a falling out with his financial backers lef Ford to leave the company in 1902. He subsequently partnered with Alexander Y. Malcomson to found another company which, with the backing of John and Horace Dodge and John S. Gray, the president of the German-American Savings Bank, was incorporated as the Ford Motor Company in 1903. The Model A was introduced that same year. In 1908, the Model T was introduced. While earlier Ford automobiles, including Models A, K and S, were produced at a slow rate - only a few a day - over 10,000 Model Ts were manufactured before 1909. As demand for the Model T grew, the company was forced to adapt their manufacturing process. This led to Ford's introduction of the world's first moving assembly line in1909, which reduced chassis assembly time from 12.5 hours to approximately 1.5 hours and boosted the annual output to over 200,000 units. By 1920, production would exceed one million automobiles per year.

Henry Ford is reported to have said, "Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black." Before the assembly line, Model Ts were available in a variety of colours. However, the speed of the assembly line meant that the drying time for paint created a production bottleneck; only Japan Black (also called Japan Lacquer or Brunswick Black) dried quickly enough until Duco reintroduced other quick-drying colours in 1926.

Chronology:

1901 - Henry Ford started the Henry Ford Company.
1902 - Henry Ford left the company and took the rightsto his name when he left. This company became Cadillac.
1903 - Ford Motor Company founded.
1903-1908 - Ford Models A, B, C, F, K, N, R and S produced.
1908 - Ford introduces the mass-produced Model T.
1922 - Ford purchases the Lincoln Motor Company to compete with Cadillac and Packard for the luxury market.
1927 - Ford replaces the Model T with the Model A - first car with safety glass in the windshield.
1929 - Opened factory in Soviet Union.
1932 - Ford introduces first low-priced car with V8 engine.
1939 - To compete with General Motors mid-priced Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick, Ford created Mercury - a higher-priced companion to Ford.
1939-1945 - Ford is picked by the US Department of War to mass-produce the Consolidated B-24 Liberator Bomber. Ford's French and German subsidiaries produce vehicles for Nazi Germany.
1946 - Ford of Canada introduces the Monarch brand, a mid-range line of cars, a step above the Ford line.
1955 - Ford establishes the Continental Division as a separate luxury brand.
1956 - Ford introduces optional safety features including front and rear seat belts and padded dash.
1957 - Ford introduces child-proof door locks and first retractable hard top on a mass produced six-seater car.
1958 - Ford introduces Edsel and drops the Monarch line.
1959 - Monarch re-introduced after Edsel's poor sales.
1961 - Last year of Monarchs.
1964 - Ford Mustang introduced.
1970 - Ford introduces the Pinto.
1973 - Lastyear Ford makes convertibles until 1983.
1977 - 100 millionth car produced in US and worldwide production reached 150 million.
1979 - Lee Iacocca leaves Ford and goes on to be president at Chrysler.
1981 - Ford Escort introduced and becomes their best selling model immediately.
1982 - Escort surpasses Chevrolet Chevette as highest selling model in US.
1984 - Lou A. Campbell acquires this Model T and brings it to Alberta.
1987 - Ford introduces the Taurus which became the best-selling American designed car.
1989 - This Model T is added to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum Collection.
1990s - Several popular models intrduced during these years.
1999-2004 - Financial troubles for US car manufacturers caused by increased health care costs from an aging workforce, higher fuel prices, declining sales and decreased market share.
2005 - Ford and General Motors bonds collased.
2006 - Ford introduces "The Way Forward" their fiscal recovery plan which included resizing, dropping unprofitable models and consolidating production lnes which led to closing 14 factories and cutting 30,000 jobs.
2007 - Introduced new vehicles including Crossover SUVs and hybrid vehicles.
2008 - Financial crash in US caused further financial issues for the Big 3 auto manufcturers in US, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. While GM and Chrysler asked for loans to rebound, Ford was solvent enough to ask only for 9 billion dollar line of credit as a safeguard if needed.
2012 - Ford's corporate bonds rebounded.
2017 - Ford suffers financial troubles again and cuts global workforce.
2018 - Ford announces that over next four years, it will discontinue production of passenger cars in North America, except for the Mustang.
2020 - Covid-19 Pandemic further affected sales and production of vehicles.