<P> The popularity of both four - track and eight - track cartridges grew from the booming automobile industry . In September 1965 , Ford Motor Company introduced factory - installed and dealer - installed eight - track tape players as an option on three of its 1966 models ( Mustang , Thunderbird , and Lincoln ) , and RCA Victor introduced 175 Stereo - 8 Cartridges from its RCA Victor and RCA Camden artist 's catalogs . By the 1967 model year , all of Ford 's vehicles offered this tape player upgrade option . Most of the initial factory installations were separate players from the radio ( such as shown in the image ) , but dashboard mounted 8 - track units were offered in combination with an AM radio , as well as with AM / FM receivers . Muntz , and a few other manufacturers , also offered 4 / 8 or `` 12 - track '' players that were capable of playing cartridges of either format , 4 - track or 8 - track . With the backing of the US automakers , the eight - track format quickly won out over the four - track format , with Muntz abandoning it completely by late 1970 . </P>
<P> The popularity of both four - track and eight - track cartridges grew from the booming automobile industry . In September 1965 , Ford Motor Company introduced factory - installed and dealer - installed eight - track tape players as an option on three of its 1966 models ( Mustang , Thunderbird , and Lincoln ) , and RCA Victor introduced 175 Stereo - 8 Cartridges from its RCA Victor and RCA Camden artist 's catalogs . By the 1967 model year , all of Ford 's vehicles offered this tape player upgrade option . Most of the initial factory installations were separate players from the radio ( such as shown in the image ) , but dashboard mounted 8 - track units were offered in combination with an AM radio , as well as with AM / FM receivers . Muntz , and a few other manufacturers , also offered 4 / 8 or `` 12 - track '' players that were capable of playing cartridges of either format , 4 - track or 8 - track . With the backing of the US automakers , the eight - track format quickly won out over the four - track format , with Muntz abandoning it completely by late 1970 . </P>
when did the first 8 track come out
when did the first 8 track come out
September 1965
September 1965