Were model years released a year early before social media was around?

[Robbieraeful]

Social media (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) wasn't around in the 1990's and before. I saw a MY 2011 car in 2010 for example. Did model years go like this even before social media was around?

[Model Pilot]

The new car model year was traditionally the fall of the prior year...the 1948 Fords were on display in the fall of 1947. These were big deal events in small towns. I remember standing in a crowd along a street to see the very few Ford Edsels to first appear in my hometown as they were taken off the transporter and into the dealership.