Sometimes a guy just needs more power. I had been pretty satisfied with my Kia Sedona. At 271 horsepower, it is the fastest vehicle I have ever owned. But then, maybe my cars have just not been that impressive. This was all I could conclude as this Model T blasted past me one cold day in March.
It was about 30 degrees that day. But not too cold for this intrepid soul to snap on the side curtains and blow the carbon out of his hot rod Ford. That huge engine probably radiates a lot of heat into the cabin, anyhow. I guess the cold, dense air must provide a sort of supercharging effect to make those twenty ponies really sassy in such a lightweight car. I will have to keep an eye out for this car now that warmer weather is here. Maybe the owner will tell me the secret of slowing down such an awesomely powerful car with rear-wheel-only brakes. Perhaps that two-speed planetary transmission was known for its epic engine braking?
Don’t feel too bad, that’s the 2-seat Model-T Rallye Sport model! (In its day it toasted everything with wheels!!) ;o)
Don’t you mean “Really Sport”?
I understand Model Ts were indeed pretty fast off the line in their day, not having a lot of body to carry. This according to author E.B. White. Considering the state of early roads, & the Lizzie’s popularity with farmers, one could say they were the original utes or UVs (leaving off the ‘S’). But the ground clearance on those things puts many modern SUVs to shame.
Not only were they light, but they also had some crazy rear end ratios too.
You really dont see ModelTs about in traffic much not here anyway, theres no shortage of Ts over here they were very popular in their day cheap, light, and primitive enough for a blacksmith to repair, compared to other cars of the era they were very simple once steam comes out the radiator and operating temperature is reached and all the engine internals finally fit properly they go ok as long as 45mph is your thing. The reverse pedal is your best type of braking as the rear wheel brakes dont work as well as reverse gear. And theres the problem trying to stop with the traffic, good find but being passed by a T, I’d bet you waited for it.
That was the Model T SVO. You can tell them apart because they only came in black.
I think it’s ironic that Ford started out naming their cars with letters, then later switched to names, now with Lincoln they went back to letters. Although, an MKT has little in common with a Model T
2015 Mustang testing mule. 😉
The rear wheel brakes on a Model T are strictly for parking. The main brake works on the transmission, and is actually pretty similar in action to putting it in reverse. It just constricts a band about a different part of the planetary gear set.
I see it has a Continental Kit, probably standard for this body style.
Hmmmmm . . . Frontenac head maybe??
Maybe that one is the ecoboost version…
Anyway, the thing must be dang near its top speed…