The enduring appeal of the Tin Lizzie

Few cars of the Veteran and Vintage period are as recognisable today as the Model T Ford and, with so much innovation to its credit, the model's legacy is understandable. All the same, a non-car person may well wonder what place there is in the world for the old Tin Lizzie today outside museums.

While all old cars are a demonstration of living history when they take to the roads, nothing is quite so versatile in its applications as the Model T, which underpinned everything from formal landaulet bodies to bare-bones speedsters, and its commercial sister, the one-ton TT. The result is a model that is cherished by all the factions of the prewar car world, from the VCC, via the VSCC and HCVS, to the VHRA. From sedate country-lane tours to hot rod races and hill climbs, there’s a place for the Tin all of them.

The Model T’s far-reaching appeal has won it an eclectic following of thousands of fans, plus a handful of specialists for whom it is their bread and butter. Even with the oldest examples now in their 112th year, their adherents praise them as eminently useable cars. ZackStiling talks to four dedicated drivers, racers and restorers and finds out why the T is so fondly regarded in the September issue of The Automobile, available now.

Words by Zack Stiling. Photograph by Nick Clements.

Published:

Wednesday August 26th, 2020

Grimmo

28 August 2020, 12:50

Four of the first Model T’s on sale in Britain were demonstrated at Brooklands at the time of the November 1909 London Motor show. One was timed at over 40mph.

At the show, as well as a bare chassis were “a four-seated touring car, a three-seated runabout, a landaulette with extension over the driver’s seat, and a single landaulette”. Ford’s declared “Olympia Bombshell” offered quite a choice, given their stated “one-model” policy for 1910.

The 20hp 4-cylinder chassis, with mudguards was £180, an 11cwt runabout cost £190; a 12cwt five-seater double-phaeton was £200; all had oil side and tail lights, and for any of these, £20 added a hood with side curtains, a Stewart speedometer and two headlights with a separate generator. An enclosed coupe with lights and horn was £250, a landaulette for four cost £260 and a landaulette with canopy extension, glass front, lamps, etc., £275.

Steve Diggins

27 August 2020, 02:32

Thought you might like to see how a new Model T Ford arrived in New Zealand. Although I am sure the steering wheel was not on and the column might have been made to lay down.

Larry A. Lewis

26 August 2020, 19:49

There is or was a shop manual about the T. It told you that if it does this, or makes that noise then look at this. If that is OK then look at that. It basically tells owners of Model Ts that there is no problem you will ever have that someone else has had before.

The enduring appeal of the Tin Lizzie

Comments

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.