Thursday 11th March 2021

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BOOK REVIEW  By Peter Baker 

FORD MODEL T - AN ENTHUSIAST’S GUIDE - 1908 TO 1927 (ALL MODELS AND VARIANTS) 

I love everything about this book, because Chas Parker, along with contributors Chris Barker (Archivist for the UK Register) and Neil Tuckett (UK’s top restorer), have left me wanting to own one.

The Ford Model T, perhaps better known colloquially to its 16.5 million owners as the ‘Tin Lizzie’, was introduced in late 1908 and Henry kept churning them out, 8,000 a day until mid-1927, when loyal followers finally went in search of something more modern. Secret to his success was multi-fold; keep it simple, easy to drive and reliable, and then sell it for at knock down price.

In 1904 Henry Ford owned just one factory, a pokey, single-storey building in Detroit. By 1926 his empire had grown somewhat, with manufacturing plants spread around the world. The list included India, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Canada and, of course, Trafford Park in the UK where, in 1912, the mass-produced Model T retailed for a modest £175, undercutting the opposition by some £65. One more thing. Black was the preferred factory finish, because the paint dried quicker.

Two chapters really appealed. ‘The driver’s view’ took me through the controls, start up, and the how it actually feels out on the open road. For a moment I was thrust back in time, trundling along dusty roads and honking my horn at wayward chickens. Just for the record, the 2.9-litre engine produced 20bhp. Maximum speed 45mph, with fuel consumption, on a good day, hovering around 20mpg.

And there’s a chapter on ‘Competition history’. By all accounts, Henry was a bit of a weirdo, but he did recognise the value of racing. Did you know that Stirling Moss’ father Alfred finished 16th overall at Indianapolis driving a Model T-based special? Stirling later drove the Frontenac during the 2003 Goodwood Festival of Speed. At Le Mans, a Ford finished 14th and Henry also entered a pair of cars in the 1909 Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest, the number two car won outright, taking an almighty 20 days to cover just 4,000 miles. Nearer home, in 1912, he witnessed the Golden Ford win at Brooklands. Mind you, it was an all-Ford race.

So, what we’ve got here is a fantastic book, loaded end to end with facts relating to design, production, and ownership, all crammed into 160 pages. That it costs just £30 makes it bargain of the year. Use our exclusive discount code - RETRO10 - to make it even cheaper.

Recommended. Five stars.

FORD MODEL T - AN ENTHUSIAST’S GUIDE - 1908 TO 1927 (ALL MODELS AND VARIANTS)
Written by Chas Parker
ISBN 978-1-913089-22-1
Available from Porter Press International
Price £30.00