Driving a Ford Model T Is a Lot Harder Than You’d Think!
Starting in 1908, Henry Ford sold his novel Model T cars as the first to be really accessible to the masses. What’s more, he marketed them as easy to handle for casual drivers and (gasp!) women since they started with a button rather than a crank. Thing is, those old Model Ts were still pretty complicated to drive. Bloomberg Pursuits’ Hannah Elliott took a 1914 Model T for a spin but first she needed a driving lesson. What did you think of the Model T? Please let us know in the comment section below and remember to share the video and sign up for our free newsletter!
April 7, 2016 @ 1:43 pm
I believe the first electric starter was the 1912 Cadillac. Who can forget the three foot pedals on the early Fords- the middle one was for reverse gear. Except for the Chrysler products, most cars until the late 1930’s had vacuum windshield wipers. In a rainstorm, when I started driving up a hill in my 1936 Cadillac, the wipers would stop, Also, most cars until the late 30’s had mechanical brakes instead of hydraulic. Who can forget the 1940’s Mopars where the speedometer changed colors from green to orange, and then finally to red? Heaters were optional – my 1947 Studebaker Land Cruiser, a Florida car, had no heater. Sure liked the overdrive which gave six forward speeds. The hill-holder which kept the brakes on at the top of a hill, made starting up from a stoplight much easier. On the 1951 cars, the optional heater was $55-&75. Radios were $90-$100.
Today, at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento, you can still learn to drive a
Model A in regular moderately priced classes. They also have a little-known fine research library. You can contact them at 916-442-6802
April 2, 2016 @ 5:15 pm
My friend’s father had an old Model T in their front yard and on my 16th birthday in 1942, Leo MacKenzie chased my
around and gave me my first kiss, memories, Anita Dwyer
March 29, 2016 @ 10:42 am
I owned and used a 1922 Model T for work and pleasure. I cut a cord of wood for it, and a neighbor helped me get it running. It was a touring, no top, floor boards rotted out, hand crank, extra choke wire where I could adjust the choked as I needed while I cranked. I drove it to Hi School, and to work. While I was away in WW II, my dear ole’ Dad took it out of the garage and parked it on the North side where it weathered more and more. I sold it in 1947 and have regretted doing so ever since.
March 27, 2016 @ 10:14 pm
Wonderful video. I never did get to drive one. I’m from Australia and many T Fords came out here and some are still going in the hands of collectors. My wife & I have been to the US many times, and have driven Route 66, and if we come again will have to make it a MUST to visit the Henry Ford Museum
March 1, 2021 @ 9:17 pm
You can also take a driving class on the Model T at The Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners, Mich.
March 10, 2016 @ 6:57 am
This is very nice, and interesting. My FORD is more comfortable I believe after many years of engineering.
March 4, 2016 @ 12:01 am
Thanks…I am a T driver for over 50 years and they are my favorite OLD car….. So many people today do not know much about these cars…and they learn there are a lot of myths or fantasies about them. For instance…many people think they are limited to 10 mph or so….videos like this explain more than thousands of words can describe….my thanks for a job well done….
February 13, 2016 @ 10:35 am
This is VERY neat! I would LOVE to drive one!
February 7, 2016 @ 3:26 pm
You can drive this car today at The Henry Ford (museum) in Dearborn, Michigan. I have and it’s really fun and interesting. An experience that should be undertaken while it’s still possible. These are newly assembled (maybe 10 – 15 years old) cars made by the Henry Ford people out of parts they had and some newly made ones.
January 26, 2016 @ 5:51 pm
Amazing and very nice car. The all black with black rims with the gold trimming is off the chain! Meaning it looks Good. Very old school classic. I agree, that is a weird way to drive a car. With 20 hp is not bad for the first car made. I thought it was going faster than 8 mph. Some nice cars in the beginning also.
January 26, 2016 @ 1:54 pm
Thanks to Henry Ford for putting America on wheels.
July 11, 2016 @ 11:24 am
The first real production gasoline powered auto was an Oldsmobile .
R.E. Olds also had the first assembly line almost 5 years before Ford .