The Flivver King: A Story of Ford-America

Life continues along the same course: the Ford Company prospers, Abner receives his biweekly bonuses, and the family even manages to save a bit. Meanwhile, the war continues to rage in Europe, and the American economy prospers as a result.

Abner’s dream of buying a secondhand car resurfaces, especially since his and Milly’s new home is three miles away from work. Abner has never given up on his dream of taking the family to the country on the weekends. There is now a large market in used cars because those who can afford to do so buy updated Model Ts, and Abner buys a 1910 model with the help of a loan. Abner and Milly’s social status increases when they bring the new car home, and the project of building a garage for it takes some of Abner’s spare time and bonus money.

Abner and Milly’s worries about money are unfounded: as long as the war rages, the Ford Motor Company’s profits increase. Ford himself understands that he is profiting from bloodshed; since he hates war, his conscience gnaws at him. He begins to spend more time denouncing the war in interviews and writing. Some businessmen find him unpatriotic, while others view him as a moral leader and a potential source of funding for pacifist and social causes.