Ford also introduced the exotic GT-40 in 1964, and the GT-40 would go on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans four straight times from 1966 through 1969. Ford added the sporty Thunderbird to its lineup in 1955, and 1964 saw the introduction of the best-selling Mustang. In the meantime, Ford entered the luxury market by purchasing the Lincoln Motor Company in 1922, and started the mid-priced Mercury brand in 1939. In 1932, Ford became the first auto manufacturer to offer an affordable V8-powered car. By 1927, the Model T was losing sales to more modern cars from other companies, so Ford replaced it with the more competitive Model A, producing four million Model As in just four years. In 19 years, Ford manufactured more than 15 million Model Ts. Key to its huge production was Ford's pioneering use of the moving assembly line. The Ford Model T, introduced in 1908, revolutionized the mass-production of affordable automobiles. ' Ford Motor Company was incorporated in 1903 and rapidly grew into a major force in the fledgling automobile industry.
