The Ford Motor Company has been creating iconic cars since Henry Ford sold his first car, a Model A, to a Chicago physician in July 1903. The two-cylinder engine could reach speeds up to 30 miles per hour on smooth roads. The Model A was followed by the Model K, the “Gentleman’s Roadster,” and the Model S, the last model with the steering wheel on the right side.

In 1908 came the famous Model T, or Tin Lizzie, which turned the United States into a nation of car fanatics. Nineteen years later, the 15 millionth Model T rolled off the assembly line.

In 1922, Ford bought luxury car manufacturer Lincoln Motor Company out of bankruptcy, and began producing cars for the well-to-do, including the iconic 1939 Lincoln Continental (with its signature grilles), and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Sunshine Special.”

Following the Great Depression, and the death of founder Henry Ford in 1947, FoMoCo continued under the leadership of his grandson, Henry Ford II, or “Hank the Deuce.” In 1955, the company created the 1955 Futura concept car that became the original Batmobile, which recently sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction for $4.2 million. 1955 also saw the introduction of the Thunderbird.

In 1964, Ford introduced what many car enthusiasts consider the greatest American-made car of all time: the Mustang. The coupe, with its long hood, short rear deck and powerful 260-cubic inch V-8 engine was the company’s most successful new-car launch since the Model A. Among its many original competitors, the Mustang is the only “pony” car to remain in continuous production since its introduction, and it remains a favorite among classic car enthusiasts around the world.

Although the Ford family currently owns a smaller stake in the company than ever before, they remain as influential as ever. And with 40% voting power (through a special class of stock), they helped keep Ford out of bankruptcy in 2009, when GM and Chrysler were getting bailed out by the U.S. government in the recent economic downturn.

Needless to say, whether you’re a Ford or Chevy guy, you have to respect the enduring Ford Motor Company.