Autos: We Love 'em

Barney Oldfield and Henry Ford try out the speed demon, which Ford had designed and made.
 

Ford knew the value of the race-circuit 

It was a sleek-looking machine. “l opened my throttle as wide as it would go,” said the great racing driver American Barney Oldfield.

His car was No. 999, but he drove it 1000 per cent and they called him the ‘Master Driver of the world’. “The crowd rushed out on the track and made much of my victory. Naturally, I felt pretty good about it,” said the Master. 

Number 999 was designed and built by Henry Ford in 1902 to advertise the fact he was an automobile builder.

Ford wasted little time and shook Barney’s hand at the conclusion of the race and said: “I’ll build another car for you and we’ll challenge the world.”

Ford, luckily, chose the manufacture of Ford sedans over racing cars and made himself rich. 

>> Frank Morris. Background Saturday Evening Post, November 1976.

Camels, Cadillacs and Kings 

The land of sand and sheiks. It’s 125 degrees in the shade. But first, you have to have find the shade. That why the Bedouins keep shout “Get a camel!”. In a time of overworked and misused cliches; this was one of the most frequently abused “fit for a king".

However, in the case of this specially redesigned Cadillac Fleetwood limousine, the terminology suits. This unique automobile was destined for delivery to one of the world’s few remaining kings and had be the best.

The special commodore-blue limousine was to be just four feet longer than standard size Cadillacs and would measure twenty-two feet, two inches.

It would be treated with special interior appointments to accommodate the perquisites and duties of government and would soon become the official of transportation and home-away-from-palace of the King of South Arabia.

Special consideration was given to the engine cooling system to prevent overheating: all interior air-conditioning systems had to maintain a cool 55 degrees while the sun reflected on the sand made it 125 degrees outside.

<< Frank Morris, from Dollie Cole’s Camels, Cadillacs and Kings, Saturday Evening Post November 1976.

Ford: The boss of the road

EVEN WHILE HENRY FORD  WAS TURNING OUT HIS FIRST T-MODEL FORD IN HIS BARN,  HIS BRAIN WAS THINKING SOMETHING UNIQUE, SOMETHING HISTORIC.

THE T MODEL WAS TYPIFIED AS “THE LATEST AND BEST”. THE YEAR, 1903, WAS THE  MODEL’S BIRTH, THERE HAS BEEN A FORD ON THE ROAD EVER SINCE. THAT’S 121 YEARS AGO.

WHEN THE STATELY T-MODEL FORD TOURER WAS RELEASED FOR $850, THE ADVERTISEMENT IN THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, HAD THIS TO SAY: “THE LASTEST AND THE BEST –  THE BOSS OF THE ROAD”.   

AS THE AD PROMISED, “FOR BEAUTY OF FINISH” IT IS UNEQUALED. “IF INTERESTED IN THE NEWEST AND MOST ADVANCED FORD AUTO, WRITE TO US TODAY”. 

THE AD WENT ON TO SUGGEST THAT “A BOY OF 15 CAN RUN IT”. THIS NEW LIGHT TOURING CAR IS “THE MOST PERFECT MACHINE” ON THE ROAD.

FORD SET OUT TO CONQUER THREE MAIN PRINCIPALS IN BUILDING AN AUTO CARRIAGE – FUEL, SPACE AND  COST EFFICIENCY. HISTORICALLY, THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR TODAY’S MODEL.

<< Frank Morris. Background grom Saturday Evening Post, June 27, 1903.

Henry Ford: Genius

The Last Word

Avoid the festive hangover! Happy Christmas to all our readers.