The Ford Model T, regarded as the first mass-produced vehicle, will be 100 years old in 2008, so Ford is throwing it a year-long birthday bash, the company announced Wednesday. The celebrations kick off this weekend, March 7-9, at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida. The event will host a pristine collection of Model Ts from across the U.S.
The Model Ts will be shown off on the Field of Dreams, a premier location on the grounds.
The party then moves cross country, to California, where a special Model T display will grace the West Coast’s largest Ford enthusiast car show. The Fabulous Fords Forever! event takes place at Anaheim’s Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park on April 20. Nearly 20,000 attendees are expected.
In July, celebrations continue in the mid-west, as Richmond, IN, holds the T Party 2008, title-sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. Organized in conjunction with the Model T Ford Club of America, close to 1,000 Model Ts are to gather here; if that happens, it will be the largest assembly of Model Ts since their build. Thus far, 700 entries are registered from as far away as New Zealand.
The Model T was officially born on October 1, 1908, when the first model was built for sale. By the model’s demise in 1927, over 15 million Model Ts were built. It was the first affordable, mass-produced automobile with interchangeable parts. Power came from a four-cylinder engine, rated at 20 horsepower, gracing the 1,200lb vehicle with a 45 mph top speed and fuel economy between 13 and 21 mpg.
03/06, 6:27 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Instead of spending money on the celebrations, how about diverting it into some RnD or the design studio? Hmm losers?
03/06, 6:29 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
so much to celebrate at Ford nowadays.
03/06, 6:37 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
You’re a warped, twisted old man Mr. Potter…and I’m gonna kick you right square in the nuts, that’s right, you heard me Mr. Potter, I’m gonna kick you in the nuts.
03/06, 6:56 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
It would be neat if they displayed some sort of modern Model T concept, to carry the gist of the original one. Just a thought.
03/06, 7:07 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
When did this message board cease being about the cars and become a place for pre-pubescent losers to relieve their repressed homosexual desires by flirting with one another?
03/06, 7:17 PM
posted by:
crash1433
lets not forget if it wasn’t for henry ford hondsa and toyota would still only be making 2 stroke mopeds
03/06, 8:20 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
that’s right!
03/06, 9:31 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
The Model T is a reminder that Ford, once great, is now mediocre. Although I saw the new Taurus on the streets today, and it’s not bad.
03/06, 9:50 PM
posted by:
bigp
13 and 21 mpg damn thats **** with an top speed of 45 but i still love ford
03/06, 10:38 PM
posted by:
bolex
100 yrs later there cars still get about the same mpg! ford….once great. its a shame what they are now. there celebrating and handing out bonuses like, they were toyota. how does this help them in marketing ford? again they should have utilized a great moment a little better.
03/06, 10:43 PM
posted by:
autonut
The more things change the more they stay the same 13-21 mpg. And we are crying about CAFE requirements?
03/06, 10:58 PM
posted by:
SanFord
Reliving “former” glory is what that’s about…
03/07, 12:30 AM
posted by:
AxeHead
I think this is cool. I have a friend who once had a model T and he said the thing would go anywhere, those skinny tires and big wheels would allow the thing go over the roughest roads, drive deep into the snow, and it was designed to travel on train tracks.
Wish Ford would build a practical, cheap, all terrain vehicle … now.
03/07, 1:07 AM
posted by:
Heart64
Well I don’t think Ford’s best days are behind them, their Greatest moment is to come yet. I think Ford has a few tricks up its sleeve before they overtake Toyota. Number #1 Ford, #2 Toyota, #3 Honda, #4 Chrysler, and number #25 GM lol
Yeah that’s right SS you heard me.Now Bite me :0
03/07, 1:47 AM
posted by:
mg198242
20HP ! That’s solid power if U ask me. I bet I can win ALMS with this car…
03/07, 7:36 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
This party is where Mr Ford’s would-be-salary is going
03/07, 9:04 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
It would be cool if they built a batch of new ones and sold them from showroom floors.
03/07, 9:34 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Model-T, changed social and economic reality as we new it. Influenced change in more peoples lives more then any other car ever. Is a milestone/turning point in modern world history.
03/07, 9:39 AM
posted by:
gizmo2
SwerveEarly I am glad you bring that out. Some people tend to forget were we are coming from.
03/07, 9:53 AM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
Yeah Heart64, keep living in your dream world, but here in reality umm GM is #1 and has been for over the past 75 years… So what does that tell you. Yeah Toyota will eventually surpass them in global sales just as their recall rates is going to as well. I think you need to go see a shrink.
03/07, 10:49 AM
posted by:
terk184
http://shop.mobileation.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2863/.f?sc=2&category=29
Link to LargePenis’ ride. No wonder he likes the Germans so much.
03/07, 12:28 PM
posted by:
Heart64
Ummm I think you got that all Wrong SS4Life. Toyota is the Number #1 Automotive Builder worldwide by sales numbers look em up.
updated 12:37 p.m. CT, Tues., April. 24, 2007
TOKYO – Toyota Camry, take a bow. Prius, bask in the limelight. Strong demand for those models helped propel the Japanese car maker onto the throne as the world’s largest auto seller.
Can I ask is this news current enough for you SS, it was taken only two weeks ago!
So excuse me who is in dream land and who isn’t here is more the question. Its more like your in comatose state with a comment oflike (GM is still ahead)-Duh no their NOT dummy than anything else. This ain’t 1972 anymore and GM does’nt own 40% of the market like they did. And Ford does’nt own 30% of it either. Its much more comparable GM at 22.1% and Ford at 18.9%. Now its interesting to Note Ford had 27% of the Market in 1996 and was on track to pass GM then. But that’s when Ford Motor fell asleep by not redesigning any of the core products. Meanwhile Toyota has overtake domestically and worldwide.
03/07, 9:39 PM
posted by:
sprockkets
Btw, the corolla is the best selling car ever. What does that mean? Mainstream boring appliances sell.
The generation from 2003-2007 was so crappy and lacked the features that the Mazda3 had in 2004, like drive by throttle, which gives awesome cruise control performance, lights did not turn on automatically after you remove the key, and OMG, the damn side mirrors could not fold WTF all other cars have that feature for years, but not us!
But it is the best seller. BFD.
03/07, 9:52 PM
posted by:
autonut
Model T did change the world as it was known 100 years ago. Then Henry went berserk, endorsed and financed Adolf Hitler then created corporate structure that will not let the company grow. In it’s present governance form FoMoCo is doomed. The splash to prosperity in 90s was under management of Jacques Nasser who was replaced by inbreeds from Ford-Firestone clan.
03/08, 12:10 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
Exactly SS4LIFE, BUT I THINK IT WAS 2 MONTHS IF THAT.
03/08, 12:32 AM
posted by:
lucklaster
In many ways – the grandaddy of them all.
To the critics – you will never do anything that millions will recognize in 100 years.
03/08, 7:08 PM
posted by:
autonut
Anyone will forget Hitler soon?
03/08, 11:58 PM
posted by:
Get Real
Nasser was a fool who helped put FoMoCo into their broke problems today.
He spent hordes of Ford money buying every small car maker out there, most like Jaguar were just money pits.
The company board didn’t stop him. Fools all of them.
Hey, don’t forget Lindbergh had big hopes for Hitler, and even had a few families going on there….all at the same time.
03/09, 1:13 AM
posted by:
Heart64
SS blow it out your ass. TOYOTA lead GM back in 2006 as well so smoke on that one awhile boy!
And no Jacques Nasser was not the sole person behind the buying of competitior car brands. Nothing happens at Ford without the Ford family approval ok.
Read Lee Iaccocca’s autobiography and career at Ford Motor and Chyrsler and you’ll understand why automobile politics work in the upper echolons of those companies!!!
The problems over at GM are similar to the other 2 US automakers but bolster accutely by exaggerated Egos!
BTW the back of the Malibu looks like a Buick Lucerne that’s not a good thing!
03/10, 11:42 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Enjoy it while you can Ford and don’t expect a 101st birthday, you’re already 1 foot in the grave and the dirt is crumbling around the other foot. General Motors has kicked you ass!
03/10, 4:00 PM
posted by:
lamboz get a life
heart64, a true Ford fan would at least have respect for the other domestic 2 in this day and age. Boosting your alliegence towards Toyota does nothing for you.
The back of the Malibu is questionable. Have you seen the back of a new Accord or Camry, nothing to write home about. Knowing your a Ford fan and me being someone whom wants to see the big 3 rise again, the Ford Fusion is the best looking of them all, it just needs a power boost and a marketing boost to go along.
I’m not anti import, I am just amazed that the two best selling sedans in this country are all based on hype. The styling of both these sedans makes it fact that they are cars for non car people. It is amaziong the amount of stupid people on this site, many of whom are Americans who want to see one of the last remaining manufacturing industries in America go under. Go elsewhere.
03/12, 10:14 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Just some html tests to see if they work in these forums ….
Hey
I’m red!
03/12, 10:15 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
I guess font size and color do not work … one more shot —> red
03/12, 10:16 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
nope. Just bold and
italics
03/12, 10:18 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
strikethru
03/12, 10:18 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
underline
03/12, 10:19 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
bold