Coolest kid (instructor?) on campus drives a Model T

A few weeks ago I attended a conference with a couple of instructors from there. I spent quite a bit of time talking with them because I have been very curious about their program. They were very nice, very knowledgable and not against hot rodding at all. I knew the one had a few old cars, I wonder if it is his?

 

That's the parking brake lever - you only use that to hold her on a hill, or when times get REAL desperate...

 

Reminds me of the old farm built tractors. I see them pop up for sale here and there. Not enough of a car left to build a car out of. The lid has balls to drive that thing any distance, but I bet it's a fun drive.

 

Thats pretty fucking kool if you ask me.

 

Rumor has it this is what it looked like when he first built it. He has had to sell it off part by part for beverage money.

 

You guys that do not understand Model T's........... They use a band brake in the trans as the main brake, that small (rear only) parking brake is just that, for parking. Essentially useless for any real braking. Model T's do not have front brakes, never did. To me that car is just like a speedster, but with slightly less bodywork. I like the seats and the barn-find look. Top speed for a stock T is about 35-40 mph, any more and then engine will vibrate so bad it will wreck itself. They are unbalanced, babbit bearings and splash oiling. Not exactly the best for performance.

No water pump (thermal siphon) or fuel pump (gravity feed) either. A Model T is a very basic engine and chassis, but was a tremendous improvement over a horse and buggy.

 

I love it!!!

 

The guy that owns it is one of my teachers. He's a real cool guy with a sense of humor as you can probably tell from the car. He definitely does drive it on the street. I've witnessed it with my own two eyes.

 

I like it! I guess that is a very short box p/u?Bet the smiles per miles are way up there!!!

 

I'm not leaving the lot in that thing.

 

I would... carefully.

 

Having gone for a ride on the wonder that you see before you I can say that it is a blast! And you can often see the owner driving around town with one hand on the wheel and the other holding onto his cowboy hat.

 

That thing looks alot like my first car. My dad gave my his 27 T 1 ton and told me if you can get it running you can have it. Mine had a little more body work than that, mine had front fenders with very short running boards (more like steps), hood sides and a winsheild frame (no glass though). I didnt even have a seat, just sat on the gas tank. One of the things unique to the one ton was the worm gear rear end and the Holley "hot spot" carb. Once you got the thing started on gasoline and warmed up it would run on just about any liquid that would burn. In 27 the truck still used the wood wheels. Mine even had electric start, which was a good thing because at the time I only weighed about 85 pounds, I didnt have enough azz to hand crank it. As it has been mentioned here earlier, the T's never had front brakes, the parking brake would hold it still as long as it was on level ground. The service brake was inside the transmission. With the gas tank as the seat and gravity fuel feed you had to back up hills that were very steep. It sure was alot of fun to drive, I think I was about 12 when I got it running and 25-30 mph seemed like I was flying. I sold it to my high school government teacher in 78, last I heard he still has it and drives it from time to time. You best be careful what you let you kids have as their first car, my race car is a 27 roadster. LOL

 

if i had that ride and he had a feather in his butt, we would both tickled