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!
March 10, 2017 @ 4:32 pm
We had friends and neighbors who owned Model Ts and as I remember there were some Model As – right? My family did not have one because they simply would not hold 2 adults and 6 to 8 kids depending on who went off to college or got married and left home. Everyone I knew who owned one kept them polished and drivers always dressed to the T and looked mighty smart behind the wheel. My boyfriend occasionally got to drive his dad’s and took me for rides – fun! Neat car!
September 17, 2016 @ 8:24 am
It would be great to drive one of these cars for the experience and to appreciate the improvements of todays cars. My friend has a 27-29 Model A with a newer drive train yet it still did not have a heater. It has an engine transmission and rear axle from a 1980s Ford Mustang so the power and dependability is there. So is the quiet and smoothness of the engine.
August 29, 2016 @ 11:45 pm
I have a 1923 Model T that I’m going to restore soon. I rebuilt the engine & drive train when I was a senior in high school in ’73. Since then it’s just sat in a shed and deteriorated. Any help with where to purchase parts or businesses which handle restoration for the “T’s” would be welcomed!
August 30, 2016 @ 9:39 am
John Miller, I suggest that you join the Model T Ford Club of America. MTFA.com They have a great Forum where you can connect with many model T owners and ask questions. They also have lots of literature available to buy. Also, there is a Facebook Group, “Model T Ford Club on Facebook” where I am sure you can ask questions and get lots of feedback. I know of 3 companies that carry parts for Model T’s, MacsAutoParts.com and Snydersantiqueauto.com. Have fun!
August 30, 2016 @ 9:48 pm
Thank you for the info! I’ll be looking into those suggestions. Many Thanks!
August 10, 2016 @ 8:53 pm
Few may know that the early Fords had wooden spook wheels. Mr. Ford, never wanting to waste anything, came up with the idea of turning the wasted wood into charcoal, hence, Kingsford charcoal. I was in the tent business for 35 years and the strongest stakes were the old axles out of the old fords. Cold rolled steel! They never bent.
July 22, 2016 @ 11:32 am
Vanaf 1908, verkocht Henry Ford zijn nieuwe Model T auto’s als de eerste echt toegankelijk zijn aan de massa. Wat meer is, verkocht hij hen als gemakkelijk te hanteren voor casual bestuurders en (snik!) vrouwen sinds ze met een knop in plaats van een krukas begonnen. Ding is, die oude Model Ts waren nog vrij ingewikkeld om te rijden. Bloomberg bezigheden Hannah Elliott nam een 1914 Model T voor een spin, maar eerst heeft ze een drijvende les nodig. op het ijs hahaha 🙂
March 1, 2021 @ 9:26 pm
Translation:
Starting in 1908, Henry Ford sold his new Model T cars as the first truly accessible to the masses. What’s more, he sold them as easy to handle for casual drivers and (gasp!) Women since they started with a button instead of a crankshaft. 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 needs a driving lesson. on the ice hahaha
July 11, 2016 @ 9:06 am
A few years ago there was a program / offer that for a price, you could actually drive one yourself. I did and it was really worth it!! I don’t know if that is still offered, but I sure hope so. 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.
July 11, 2016 @ 9:43 am
I believe that the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan also has a class to teach how to drive a Model T.
July 11, 2016 @ 10:34 am
Jim,
That must have been QUITE a few years ago! The program is no longer in operation. The cars we have are usually restorations performed by private owners. But we have assembled a few here too. The depot hacks, for example were made by our skilled carpenters.
And yes, the Gilmore has a class in driving the cars. The cars are mostly privately owned but a few are owned by Gilmore.
Jerry
July 10, 2016 @ 8:11 pm
I liked the video even though some facts were wrong. Others have corrected them though, like the starter issue.
I “work” at The Henry Ford as a Model T driver. We don’t let folks drive the cars but we DO offer rides in them. The video’s author got a special lesson due to her position but that was unusual. Lisa, the instructor in the video, is one of the supervisors at the Village and is a great person. And BTW, I didn’t stall the car on my first lesson either, but Lisa wasn’t my instructor. One of the mechanics taught me. The cars are a ball to drive but when the Village is full of guests, it’s a full time job to watch out for pedestrians. There are no brakes on the front wheels and the rear wheels only have a brake on the transmission. Not great for rapid stops, but adequate for our 15 mph (often less due to the horses and people) Village speed limit. If you folks from Australia ever DO come to Dearborn, look me up!
Jerry Poniatowski
May 21, 2016 @ 3:34 am
I had a ’29 model A with rumble seat. it was a Shea model with Volkswagen engine. we all loved it, except my husband. I miss the car and the fun we had I ended up selling it to a most undeserving collector.
May 4, 2016 @ 1:29 pm
The 1921 indicates my Birthyear. I learned to drive in a Model-T. It was during the Depression and my older brother was out of work. He was very resourceful, so he bought Old Model T’s for $15 . He then took 1 car , took the body off, cut the frame and put the back wheels up to the front seats. He the then took another Model T and took every thing off leaving the back wheels on the frame.He put that on the back of the first car and made a Semi Trailer with which we could haul the Oak wood which we had cut for our fuel for stoves.I might be wrong about cutting and moving the frame up. He took the engine, Mounted it on a frame and made a Buzz Saw. He took another Model T and cut this frame down and made a tractor out of it for farming.
April 9, 2016 @ 11:41 am
I bought a 1929 Model A in 1950…..it was a great car, and fun to drive. If I got stuck in snow, I would get out and push while holding the accelerator lever down. (It was attached to the steering wheel post.) Worked every time!!