A new car took the place of the Model T in 1928 , the Ford Model A. Although he started with the Model A , there were not 19 production models ( A through T ) ; some were only prototypes . The production model immediately before the Model T was the Model S , an upgraded version of the company 's largest success to that point , the Model N. The follow-up was the Ford Model A and not the Model U. Company publicity said this was because the new car was such a departure from the old that Henry wanted to start all over again with the letter A. As it happens , the first Plymouth car ( 1928 ) , built by competitor Chrysler Corporation , was named Model U.