The Most Important Car in History: The Ford Model T

As I sit behind the wheel of the iconic Ford Model T, I am struck by its significance and importance in the history of motoring. With over 15 million units sold, it was the best-selling car ever until the Volkswagen Beetle surpassed it in 1972. But what makes this car so special? While it may be considered a relic of the past, the Ford Model T is still an impressive machine that requires skill and knowledge to operate.

The first thing I notice about the Model T is its unusual layout. Instead of the familiar three pedals found on modern cars, the Model T has three distinct pedals that serve different purposes. The left pedal acts as a clutch, while the middle pedal operates the reverse gear and the right pedal is the accelerator. There's also a lever next to the driver's seat that functions as the handbrake and gear selector. It's clear that this car was designed with simplicity in mind, but it requires a different approach to driving than what we're used to today.

As I begin to start the engine, my tutor Ivan explains the importance of proper procedure. "First things first," he says, "make sure the brake is engaged and fully closed." This is crucial, as if the brake were not fully closed, it could fire back and cause injury. With the brake in place, I then need to adjust the timing and give the car a small amount of throttle to get it started. Once the engine is running, I come around to the front of the vehicle and engage the starting handle. When the engine is cold, I need to use my thumb underneath the handle if it's over the top, as using it in any other way could cause injury.

As I pull off with the car, I'm reminded that the Model T doesn't exactly drive like a modern car. The acceleration is slow and deliberate, and the car seems to have an almost magical quality to its movement. But this is where the manual transmission comes into play. With the gear selector in place, I need to shift gears smoothly and precisely, using my foot to adjust the throttle and engage the clutch. It's a gentle art, one that requires patience and attention to detail.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Ford Model T is its history. Henry Ford's aim was to create a car that was affordable, simple, and easy to use for the average person. He achieved this by introducing the concept of the moving production line, where workers added components at specific intervals to produce the car. This innovation cut assembly time from 12 hours to just 93 minutes, making it possible to mass-produce cars like never before. The result was a car that could be bought for a fraction of the cost of other vehicles on the market.

The Ford Model T's impact on society cannot be overstated. It brought motoring to the masses and changed the lives of both those who made and used the cars. For many people, it was their first experience with driving, and it opened up new possibilities for travel and exploration. The car also played a significant role in shaping modern transportation, paving the way for the development of more advanced vehicles like trucks and buses.

As I continue to drive the Model T, I'm struck by its power and efficiency. The 4-cylinder engine produces about 20 horsepower, which may not seem like a lot compared to modern cars. However, this is still enough to propel the car forward with surprising speed, especially when considering the era in which it was produced. And yet, as soon as I hit high gear, the car seems to take on a life of its own, moving effortlessly without any input from me.

One thing that's clear about driving the Ford Model T is that you need to be prepared for the heat. The exhaust pipe runs directly beneath the pedals, pumping out a significant amount of heat that can make the interior unbearable. I have no idea how drivers managed to cope with this in the past, but it's clear that they needed to develop a degree of mechanical empathy and anticipation to drive the car successfully.

Driving the Ford Model T is an experience unlike any other. It requires skill, knowledge, and attention to detail, as well as a willingness to learn and adapt. As I navigate the roads, I feel like I'm getting in touch with something fundamental about driving, something that's been lost in the development of modern cars. It may not be the most comfortable or efficient car to drive, but it's certainly an experience worth enjoying.

As I come to a stop and shut off the engine, I can't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Driving the Ford Model T has given me a new appreciation for the history of motoring and the importance of cars in shaping our world. It may not be the most modern or sophisticated car on the road today, but it's certainly an iconic symbol of innovation and progress.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enI'm about to drive the most important car in history it was the first to be mass-produced found 15 million buyers and until the VW beour pipped it in 1972 it was the bestselling car ever the Ford Model te but it's not quite as simple as getting in trundling off and telling the story of the car that changed the world because while the Model T may be the first modern automobile it doesn't exactly drive like one there are three pedals and the left one does act as a clutch but that's where the similarity with modern cars ends the middle pedal operates reverse and the right is the brake the accelerator is a stick near the steering wheel and the lever next to the driver's seat is the handbrake and gear selector even starting it is a lava as my tutor Ivan explains first thing to remember important that the brake is engaged in the lock position also make sure it's fully because otherwise it can fire back which can injure your hand so that's manually adjusting the Tim manually adjusting the timing a small amount of throttle you then come around to the front of the vehicle Engage The Starting handle yeah when the engine's cold two or three Primes you have to have your thumb underneath a handle if you have it over the top and it fires back it could break your thumb turn the ignition on round to the front should I have a go I think you should and again needs a bit of love doesn't it yeah o I felt that fres that's not too bad I think a dainty lady in the 1910s would have been able to do I certainly don't think so next job pulling off right move the lever to the mid position so I'm in so let's break off neutral break that's about there still neutral yeah a small amount of throttle and gentle pressure on the Gent pressure found on the selector and hopefully we shall move off oh well I'll be back we moving right now if you're feeling bright once we're under way get your foot pressure on there put the lever forward now you've got full control a little bit more throttle to get some speed up and then lift off the clutch into high gear shut the throttle off then you suddenly you've got no feet on the controls and you're still moving forwards still moving forwards oh I'm not a fan of that while I get to grips with driving it here's a quick history lesson Henry Ford's aim of a universal car meant it had to be affordable simple to use and tough the Model T was all of those things but Ford's real brain wave was the moving production line first using just a rope and winch model T's were pulled along the factory with workers adding components at specific intervals each person had one job assembly time was cut from 12 hours to just 93 minutes and production skyrocketed the cost of the car haved and employees got better wages so I think I'm getting the hang of it enough to be able to tell you exactly what's going on here up front is a 4 cylinder 2.9 L engine with about 20 horsepower top speeds 45 mph and if I'm honest I wouldn't fancy going that quick because as soon as you're in the high gear it just goes along without you pressing anything it's against every Instinct in you it's got loads of Tor from low down it just seems to pull so then when you need to stop you got to take the throttle off take it out of high gear put it into Low by pushing your left foot to the floor and then re adjust the throttle now you might think from looking that this is all cool open air motoring but let me tell you that there is an exhaust pipe running about an inch below the pedals and it is chucking out so much heat that I don't think I've ever been this hot in a car I have no idea how in the 1910s the elegant drivers of the Ford Model T coat on a hot summers's day all I can assume is that they were proper sweaty see I like the way that you can't just get in this and drive it without thinking you have to have a degree of mechanical empathy you have to anticipate where it's going to struggle getting up hills you have to really tune into whether the timing needs adjusted whether you need to adjust the mixture this could teach people how to drive teach people how their cars work because it's 101 years old I'm only allowed to drive the Model T on a closed Road outside Ford's UK headquarters but I still feel privileged to be behind the wheel of a piece of Motoring and Engineering history it's impossible to overstate the the importance of this car it brought motoring to the masses and changed the lives of both the people that made it and the people that bought it for revolutionizing motoring and Manufacturing the Ford Model T deserves to be a fifth gear LegendI'm about to drive the most important car in history it was the first to be mass-produced found 15 million buyers and until the VW beour pipped it in 1972 it was the bestselling car ever the Ford Model te but it's not quite as simple as getting in trundling off and telling the story of the car that changed the world because while the Model T may be the first modern automobile it doesn't exactly drive like one there are three pedals and the left one does act as a clutch but that's where the similarity with modern cars ends the middle pedal operates reverse and the right is the brake the accelerator is a stick near the steering wheel and the lever next to the driver's seat is the handbrake and gear selector even starting it is a lava as my tutor Ivan explains first thing to remember important that the brake is engaged in the lock position also make sure it's fully because otherwise it can fire back which can injure your hand so that's manually adjusting the Tim manually adjusting the timing a small amount of throttle you then come around to the front of the vehicle Engage The Starting handle yeah when the engine's cold two or three Primes you have to have your thumb underneath a handle if you have it over the top and it fires back it could break your thumb turn the ignition on round to the front should I have a go I think you should and again needs a bit of love doesn't it yeah o I felt that fres that's not too bad I think a dainty lady in the 1910s would have been able to do I certainly don't think so next job pulling off right move the lever to the mid position so I'm in so let's break off neutral break that's about there still neutral yeah a small amount of throttle and gentle pressure on the Gent pressure found on the selector and hopefully we shall move off oh well I'll be back we moving right now if you're feeling bright once we're under way get your foot pressure on there put the lever forward now you've got full control a little bit more throttle to get some speed up and then lift off the clutch into high gear shut the throttle off then you suddenly you've got no feet on the controls and you're still moving forwards still moving forwards oh I'm not a fan of that while I get to grips with driving it here's a quick history lesson Henry Ford's aim of a universal car meant it had to be affordable simple to use and tough the Model T was all of those things but Ford's real brain wave was the moving production line first using just a rope and winch model T's were pulled along the factory with workers adding components at specific intervals each person had one job assembly time was cut from 12 hours to just 93 minutes and production skyrocketed the cost of the car haved and employees got better wages so I think I'm getting the hang of it enough to be able to tell you exactly what's going on here up front is a 4 cylinder 2.9 L engine with about 20 horsepower top speeds 45 mph and if I'm honest I wouldn't fancy going that quick because as soon as you're in the high gear it just goes along without you pressing anything it's against every Instinct in you it's got loads of Tor from low down it just seems to pull so then when you need to stop you got to take the throttle off take it out of high gear put it into Low by pushing your left foot to the floor and then re adjust the throttle now you might think from looking that this is all cool open air motoring but let me tell you that there is an exhaust pipe running about an inch below the pedals and it is chucking out so much heat that I don't think I've ever been this hot in a car I have no idea how in the 1910s the elegant drivers of the Ford Model T coat on a hot summers's day all I can assume is that they were proper sweaty see I like the way that you can't just get in this and drive it without thinking you have to have a degree of mechanical empathy you have to anticipate where it's going to struggle getting up hills you have to really tune into whether the timing needs adjusted whether you need to adjust the mixture this could teach people how to drive teach people how their cars work because it's 101 years old I'm only allowed to drive the Model T on a closed Road outside Ford's UK headquarters but I still feel privileged to be behind the wheel of a piece of Motoring and Engineering history it's impossible to overstate the the importance of this car it brought motoring to the masses and changed the lives of both the people that made it and the people that bought it for revolutionizing motoring and Manufacturing the Ford Model T deserves to be a fifth gear Legend\n"