How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

The car that brought motoring to the masses

B

y today’s standards, Henr y Ford’s

Model T has many unusual

characteristics. Before you can

jump into the driver’s seat, you have to

turn a hand crank at the front of the car

to start it. This is a hazardous process as

the hand crank can break your thumb if

the engine backfi res, and if the throttle

lever on the steering column is not set

properly it will run you over as soon as it

starts. Fortunately, an optional electric

starter was introduced in 1919.

The Model T has three foot pedals and

a fl oor lever. To drive off, you increase

the throttle lever, move the fl oor lever

for wards from its neutral position and

depress the clutch foot pedal on the left.

A s you pick up speed, you can move from

fi rst to second gear by releasing pressure

on the clutch pedal. To stop, drivers

would simply have to reduce the

throttle, press down the clutch pedal,

depress the brake foot pedal on the right

and put the fl oor lever into neutral. To go

back wards you keep the fl oor lever in

neutral and press dow n the middle

reverse foot pedal.

Early versions of the car had brass

acet ylene lamps, and its ten-gallon f uel

tank was mounted under the front seat.

As this fed petrol to the carburettor

using grav it y, the Model T could not

climb steep hills if the tank was low on

f uel. The solution to this was to drive up

hill in reverse.

Its engine is front mounted, and

features four cylinders in one en bloc

casting. This simple engine is relatively

The Model T

The 1910

Model T Ford

Manufacturer:

Ford Motor Company

Year introduced: 1908

Dimensions: Length: 2,540mm,

width: 1,422mm, height: 2,387mm

Engine: 2896cc

Top speed: 45mph

Horse power: 22.5

Required fuel: Petrol

Unit price: $850

The statistics...

Model T

© In f rogmation

Early Model T st yles

included this popular

open-top touring car

Steering wheel

The throttle and ignition levers

are positioned on the steering

column just under the wheel.

Glass windshield

This is divided into two parts.

The top part can be sw ung

down over the bottom half

when the hood is lowered.

Starting handle

T wo or three turns

are needed to get the

engine started.

Paraffi n lamp

This holds a wick

burner fuelled by

paraffin (kerosene).

Passenger door

On this model, only the rear passengers get side

doors. Without a door, the driver can easily

jump into the car after starting it, but is more

vulnerable to the elements.

Hood

Folds out to offer

limited protection

from the weather.

Brass horn

The rubber bulb is

squeezed to warn

other road users of

your presence.

Acetylene generator

When switched on it produces gas

that is piped to the headlamps. Each

Floor lever headlamp is then lit by a match.

Early models had

t wo floor levers and

t wo foot pedals. The

reverse control foot

pedal replaced one

of the floor levers.

Running board

Acts as a step to gain

easy access into the car.

It also protects the car

body and passengers

from dirt and splashes of

mud from the wheels.

HISTORIC