Model T Museum

Just about everybody knows the history of the famed Ford Model T. It was the first car to be mass produced making it affordable, finally, for the masses to begin to purchase one of these new means of transportation. The Model T Ford Club of America was established to preserve all things about this important line of automobiles. As part of that they operate the Model T Museum in Richmond, IN (http://www.mtfca.com/clubpages/museum.htm).

According to Jay Klehforth, chief operating officer of the club, the museum shows not only the history of the Model T but also a number of the various ways the car has been used. Starting even before the Model T is the top most car pictured, a Model N which, along with the Models R and S preceded the T. Next is a 1909 Model T Touring, serial number 337. It is the oldest Model T known to still exist, older than anything at the Ford Museum.

This is an exact replica of the 1909 Model T Racer that won the very first transcontinental race. Drivers started in New York City on June 1, 1909 and ended up in Seattle, WA on June 23, 1909. Though the original car did not survive it managed to give Ford and the Model T worldwide recognition as being a fast, durable and quality car.

The museum has a cutaway example of a Model T on display to demonstrate how this car looked under its skin. This display was put together by two Model T clubs to celebrate the car's 100th anniversary and to show off what was originally involved.

While the Model T is associated with the moving assembly line, the earliest models were not built that way. It wasn't until cars such as this 1914 Model T Touring that they came together on the assembly line. Notice that the wall between the driver and the engine is orange but the rest of the car came in the classic, durable black which, in the beginning, was the only color offered by Ford.

With the advent of the moving assembly line Ford began only offering cars in black but in 1926 they once again started giving buyers more color options. One example of that is this red 1926 Model T Touring. This car has had a number of aftermarket changes and enhancements (note the wire wheels - they were originally wood) but the color scheme is authentic. Tomorrow we will keep working our way through the Model T Museum.