Designed by Henry Ford, Model T entered production in 1908 and 2008, marks the 100th anniversary of the first production car to be manufactured on the production line. Ford sought to develop a car accessible to the masses, and thanks to this goal, the Model T changed the world and turned America into an industrial economy and a mobile society. Buying a Ford Model T in 1908 was half the price of its competitors and would help change from horse to car. The Model T was released before 1927, and by that time more than 15 million models had been sold.
A car
The early Ford Model T had no doors, the windshield was equipped with leather straps, and the style was typical formal and vertical, as usual with cars of this era. Changes were made, for example, the 1915 model has one passenger side door, but the driver’s side was covered with a spare wheel where the door would be. In addition, the rear seat is installed above the rear axle, which provides sufficient space for the legs, but no allowance for luggage is allowed.
What your money will buy you
With sixteen millions to choose from, you can choose when you buy a Ford Model T. Prices today depend on the condition of the car, and you can expect to pay about $ 5,000 for a project car and more than $ 10,000 for a car in good working condition. Specialized Companies can supply most, if not all, parts that may be required for any restoration or minor maintenance that may be required. In 1910, the model T was worth 220 pounds, and by 1919 the price had decreased to 170 pounds.
It is important to remember that you buy a car with a very small number of accessories with four wheels, a steering wheel, an engine, basic electrical engineering and weather protection. It is hard to believe, however, that leather seats and wood trim have become standard. In 1915, if you were lucky to have a car, the basic equipment with which the Ford Model T came was a luxury!
Driving experience
If you are planning to buy a Ford Model T, forget everything you learned about driving. The controls look standard with three pedals, a handbrake and a two-stem steering column. Despite the seemingly normal setting, the only thing that is vaguely normal is the brake pedal on the right. The other two pedals control two speed and reverse gear. The middle pedal selects the reverse gear, while the left pedal - in combination with the lever in the handbrake - selects neutral, low or high gear. The left handle on the steering column is a throttle without a return spring, and the right control controls the timing of the ignition. The hand lever has three positions: the transmission is completely rearward in neutral, and the rear wheel brakes are engaged. In the middle position, the brakes are disabled and the transmission is neutral. The front position gives the choice of low or high gear - press the left pedal for low gear, release it on the upper gear.
The Ford T model travels at about 20-30 miles per hour. At first, this is a strange experience when you are kicking with pedals. At these speeds, the vertical windshield holds the wind, and the exhaust acts as a heater for drivers' feet in winter conditions.
It is worth noting
When buying a Ford Model T, it’s worth remembering that it was designed and built for a wide variety of driving experiences. The roads at that time were, at best, unpaved roads, there was much less traffic on the roads, driving was a completely new skill, and mechanical mechanics were thin on the ground. The brakes were meant to stop you at your destination, you needed a lot of ground clearance, and your local blacksmith was your local mechanic. Given these details, you must be careful when traveling, because driving a Ford Model T in modern traffic is a challenge and it will not dodge and intertwine with traffic like a modern car. A high driving position provides a good overview, and if you apply anything, the T model is pretty durable.
Eventually
Owning a Ford Model T should give years of satisfaction, as a hobby and a few cars can match this experience, given the age of the car.
