1918 Model T Ford

By Vern Parker

Henry Ford often referred to his Model T as a "Universal Car" since it could be adapted to handle any task. From 1908 to 1927 more than 15 million Model T Fords were produced.

By the time the last Model T was built Bob Burke was about to enter his first year in elementary school. Because the Model T was manufactured in such great numbers many of them were still in operation after decades of service. Those survivors always held an appeal for Burke.

Forty years after the Model T production line was halted Burke decided to get himself a "Universal Car" and find out why it was so popular.  In June 1967 he saw an ad offering for sale a 1918 Model T touring car.  It was one of 432,519 manufactured that year and sold new for $360.

Burke went to inspect the Ford in College Park, Md., and saw that it was painted -- what else -- black.  The car appeared to be in good condition for a 49-year-old vehicle so Burke bought the Ford even though the clutch was slipping.

The seller instructed Burke on the intricacies of Model T motoring and then helped him load the 1,480-pound car on Burke's trailer for the trip to its new home in Vienna, Va.

When he got home the five-passenger touring car could not climb up the rather steep driveway because of the slipping clutch.  "All the neighbor kids came out and pushed the car up the driveway," a grateful Burke says.

The clutch problem was addressed and after about five years Burke noticed that his car "didn't have the power it should have."

That is when he had the 176.7-cubic-inch, four-cylinder, L-head engine overhauled so it could once more deliver 20 horsepower as it once did. About the same time he had the planetary transmission rebuilt.

A century ago virtually every motorist in the country knew how to operate a Model T.  The controls and their operation are vastly different from modern automobiles.

Near the hub of the four-spoke steering wheel are two levers.  The left one moves to advance or retard the spark while the right one is the throttle.

Each of the three foot pedals is clearly labeled.  The left one has a "C" stamped in the rubber which stands for clutch.  The "R" on the center pedal is for reverse while the "B" on the right pedal is the brake pedal.

All this can be confusing and even dangerous to driver5s more familiar with modern cars.  In the center of the dashboard is the ammeter. Speedometers came later.

Near the singular guage on the dashboard is the hand choke.  The temperature on the engine coolant is monitored by the Motometer radiator car.

When Burke acquired his Ford it had to be cranked by hand to start the engine.  "I cranked it until I could afford a battery," he recalls.

Occupants of the back seat can enter from either side of the car.  Access to the front seat, however, is through the passenger-side door.  there is no front door on the left side.  If there were a door there the driver would have to climb over the hand brake lever sprouting from the floor by the driver's left knee.  The gasoline tank is beneath the front seat.

The 12-spoke wheels are shod with 30x3.5-inch tires which support the Model T on a 100-inch wheelbase.  At the rear of the car is the spare tire on its demountable rim.

Burke has driven his Model T on several outings approaching 100 miles.  As a courteous driver, he pulls over to the side of the road frequently to let faster modern cars pass.  Of his Ford's performance he says, "It will maybe hit 35.  Downhill it might go 45 to 50."

A trio of three small windows in the back of the top provide scant visibility to the rear.  At the rear corners of the car are metal saddles where the bows supporting the top can be nested when the top is lowered.  Leather straps by each saddle are then to secure the top.

Burke leaves the all-weather side curtains at home in his garage after a foul weather experience years ago.  He explains that when rain started falling he stopped to quickly install the side curtains, a task which turned out to be a time consuming process.

Now, if he gets caught in a rain storm he just keeps on driving.  "I'll get wet anyway," he says.