Drove a DE today

[wdfifteen]

Not the kind I’m used to. The 911 stayed in the barn.
Mrs. WD got me a scholarship to the “Model T Driving School” at the Gilmore Museum for my birthday. I’ve been around cars and trucks and written about them for 30 years, photographed and written a dozen or so stories about Model T and TT Fords, but I’ve never driven one.
Henry made a very simple vehicle with the Model T, but it is an odd duck to drive. Pushing the pedal where the clutch should be makes it go forward in low gear, hand throttle, weird, multi-function lever by your left knee, etc. Old habits die hard, when I first got in I reached for the shoulder harness. I never stopped pushing on the floorboard to make it go faster (the throttle is a lever behind the steering wheel), and once I needed to stop fast and actually did hammer the “go” pedal by mistake. It was not exactly a NASCAR driving experience or a lap around Mid-Oho in my 911, but a fun time never the less.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Very cool! My grandfather had several Model As, sadly I never drove any of them. I think it was a more conventional experience than the Model T.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, one of the funny episodes of Top Gear they parked a T at the front door of the high dollar casino. It was still up front in the morning because no one could figure out how to drive it.

[Otter74]

I got to drive a Model T a few summers ago, and it was one of the most fun driving experiences I've ever had. I almost broke my face from smiling. The owner/custodian explained the controls to me and it took me about 10-15 minutes to get used to it. I don't know what you're talking about with this "stop in a hurry" thing, though.

[VincentVega]

Cool!

I've never come close to one, would love to give it a shot. I think its one of those things that was second nature to so many a generation or 2 ago and will be all but gone before too long.

[Jims5543]

Wow!! that is super cool, I would love to have the opportunity to drive one.

Several years ago I was at Caesars Head park in SC with a few car friends when we happened upon, I think, a Model T? Maybe it was a Model A, I am not an expert on these cars by any stretch. Just think they are cool.

I found a pic.





Also, if any of you ever find yourselves in Florida, head to Ft. Myers and check out the Henry Ford Winter estate, it is really cool, lots of old cars there, tons of history. Edison also had a house next door and Firestone was there a lot as well. You can tour the properties including the workshops they had set up there that are completely original.

Downtown Ft. Meyers is really neat with some themed restaurants walking distance form the homes.

[cabmandone]

Way Cool! Looks like a good time.

[Porchdog]

My buddy has a couple of T's. One was bought new by his grandfather. It was out of the family for a few decades but my buddy was able to buy it and has mostly restored it. He drives it a lot - club outings and at least once a week.
We breathed on the engine a bit when he rebuilt it and it has a 2 speed Ruxtal rear - it really goes. The local police have clocked him over 50.

His other car was a pretty well known top dollar restoration that he picked up for a relative bargain. Not a lot of demand for those cars any more.

I have driven his T's a couple of times - always an odd experience. I don't go nearly as fast as he does. I haven't found stopping to be such a challenge but you really need to slow down for corners.

[SCadaddle]

3 things I was told multiple times over the course of my life with my Dad, who recently passed away at age 98, regarding operation of a Model T Ford, as his Dad drove the Model T school bus:

1) When you grab the handle of the crank, place your thumb on TOP of the crank in line with the crank. Do NOT wrap your thumb around the crank, else you just might lose your thumb.

2) When it's really cold outside, it's easier to crank up the Model T if you jack one of the rear wheels up off the ground.

3) If you encounter a steep grade (hill), you just might find it easier to go up the hill in reverse.

[wdfifteen]

1 - good advice when hand cranking any engine

2 - yes, between the cone clutch and the planetary transmission the connection between the engine and the drive wheels is tenuous and unpredictable.

3 - reverse is a lower ratio than low range, so more torque is available for climbing steep grades, plus the gas tank is under the driver’s seat and there is no fuel pump, so if you are low on gas you might need to back up a hill just to get fuel to the engine.