Why Michigan Still Uses a Ford Model T for Official Government Business (opens in new tab)

(theautopian.com)

54 pointsjshprentz1y ago56 comments

56 comments

sneak1y ago

The explanation doesn’t make sense. They could just measure the shoulder width. Highways and roads are built to spec.

russfink1y ago

Would love to know how they maintain it, eg replacement parts.

analog311y ago

IIRC Ford made shop drawings for replacement parts available, and the car was designed to be repairable.

A quick bit of Google research suggests that a WWII Jeep would also serve this purpose. But it would be shameful to use a vehicle from Ohio.

hi-v-rocknroll1y ago

Louis Rossmann is currently trying to get Hakko to release schematics and parts lists, but they're presently hiding behind distributor-channel knowledge-hoarding and "no longer available" planned obsolescence.

Daz11y ago

Repairable because they usually didn't last more than 3 years

1 more reply

myself2481y ago

The Henry Ford Museum also maintains a whole fleet of them that ferry people around the grounds, you can ride one, and you can watch a live demonstration of one being taken completely apart and reassembled every afternoon.

Many of the parts can still be made on site in the museum's workshops, too.

hi-v-rocknroll1y ago

I'm sure Leno's Garage may also be a resource for 100-year-old NLA Ford parts.

bityard1y ago

In SE Michigan, you can't swing a stunned cat without hitting an automobile museum. The are lots of people, clubs, businesses and museums to keep these things going.

ocdtrekkie1y ago

I would bet making parts for it is not super hard, and that there is also probably a whole market for those parts from the museum/antique restoration crowd.

https://www.modeltford.com/ claims to sell new and used parts.

tivert1y ago

> Would love to know how they maintain it, eg replacement parts.

Total speculation: I'd bet some combination of collector interest keeping parts available and the relative ease of manufacture of such parts using modern techniques.

SoftTalker1y ago

Yep. There's a viable collector/restoration market for these cars, the parts are all very simple and not particularly tolerance-critical by modern standards, and easy to recreate with all the plans available.

blahyawnblah1y ago

There's all kinds of reproduction or aftermarket parts

usrusr1y ago

Reminds me of the accidental Wikipedia dive into the "Volkswagen engine" universe I once had: apparently the design lives on in a multitude of engines in the ultralight market, for dune buggies and the like. Bootstrapped by aftermarket parts for repurposed original engines, but then complete engines appeared making use of those aftermarket parts and now it's an interoperability standard long after repurposing original engines has stopped being a thing. Distributed Theseus.

fbdab1031y ago

I would propose gutting it and replacing the engine with something modern. A moped probably has equivalent oomph. Or the heretical option and install EV motors directly onto the wheels.

zxexz1y ago

I wonder if PA, OH, and other states with large Amish and Mennonite populations do something similar. Seems a thoughtful idea.

kotaKat1y ago

In this region of NY our bigger concern is visibility in the winter and at night. Our lawmakers sat down with various local community leaders to hammer out a voluntary agreement to go beyond state visibility laws.

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/patty-...

brewdad1y ago

That embedded video threw me for a minute. I don’t associate Sheldon Brown with Toyota Tacomas but rather bicycle repair and nerdery.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

danans1y ago

How cool would it be if at some point they used one of the original electric Model Ts - perhaps with a bigger battery to achieve more than it's original 80 mile range.

coolspot1y ago

Electric Ford model T was never produced, only planned. 80 mile range figure is for Detroit Electric car that Henry Ford’s wife owned[1].

1 - https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digita...

danans1y ago

Thanks, TIL

HeatrayEnjoyer1y ago

How did they achieve 80 miles in that era?

chronogram1y ago

I think the comment refers to the Detroit Electric cars, because it was driven a lot by Clara Ford. I am guessing their range is due to them going 32kmh/20mph and being loaded with 530kg/1170lbs of batteries.

https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digita...

masklinn1y ago

Big batteries and low speeds? Also 80 was the advertised “reliable range”.

The “normal” T had double to triple the range, at double the speed.

and I don’t think there ever was an electric T, there were barebones prototype frames. What people call electric Ts are usually Detroit Electrics (the specs match).

vasco1y ago

10 gallon gas tank https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/1926-ford-model-t-fuel-t...

nxobject1y ago

As an aside: does anyone with a local dimming-based HDR display occasionally get dimming with the embedded videos?

aiddun1y ago

that video on my MacBook Pro almost blinded me

dwheeler1y ago

Awesome story! I love hearing about surprising and interesting solutions.

dbavaria1y ago

I mean they could use a Fiat 500, or some other modern car...but what would the fun be in that?

blahyawnblah1y ago

I bet a Fiat 500 is narrower

w-m1y ago

The 2021 Fiat 500 sits at 1,683 mm width, a whopping 7 mm wider than the Model T at 1,676 mm: https://www.automobiledimension.com/city-cars.php

defrost1y ago

How's that compare to a 1957 BMW Isetta 300?

We've got one in the local car museum, it gets driven out and about every 18 months or so.

Crackin' fuel efficiency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta

https://youtu.be/ekRoVb0qfAY?t=39

1 more reply

surfingdino1y ago

And costs more to buy and maintain.

1 more reply

jmclnx1y ago

Great story, and why not use them :)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

56 comments

sneak1y ago

The explanation doesn’t make sense. They could just measure the shoulder width. Highways and roads are built to spec.

russfink1y ago

Would love to know how they maintain it, eg replacement parts.

analog311y ago

IIRC Ford made shop drawings for replacement parts available, and the car was designed to be repairable.

A quick bit of Google research suggests that a WWII Jeep would also serve this purpose. But it would be shameful to use a vehicle from Ohio.

hi-v-rocknroll1y ago

Daz11y ago

Repairable because they usually didn't last more than 3 years

1 more reply

myself2481y ago

Many of the parts can still be made on site in the museum's workshops, too.

hi-v-rocknroll1y ago

I'm sure Leno's Garage may also be a resource for 100-year-old NLA Ford parts.

bityard1y ago

In SE Michigan, you can't swing a stunned cat without hitting an automobile museum. The are lots of people, clubs, businesses and museums to keep these things going.

ocdtrekkie1y ago

I would bet making parts for it is not super hard, and that there is also probably a whole market for those parts from the museum/antique restoration crowd.

https://www.modeltford.com/ claims to sell new and used parts.

tivert1y ago

> Would love to know how they maintain it, eg replacement parts.

Total speculation: I'd bet some combination of collector interest keeping parts available and the relative ease of manufacture of such parts using modern techniques.

SoftTalker1y ago

blahyawnblah1y ago

There's all kinds of reproduction or aftermarket parts

usrusr1y ago

fbdab1031y ago

I would propose gutting it and replacing the engine with something modern. A moped probably has equivalent oomph. Or the heretical option and install EV motors directly onto the wheels.

zxexz1y ago

I wonder if PA, OH, and other states with large Amish and Mennonite populations do something similar. Seems a thoughtful idea.

kotaKat1y ago

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/patty-...

brewdad1y ago

That embedded video threw me for a minute. I don’t associate Sheldon Brown with Toyota Tacomas but rather bicycle repair and nerdery.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

danans1y ago

How cool would it be if at some point they used one of the original electric Model Ts - perhaps with a bigger battery to achieve more than it's original 80 mile range.

coolspot1y ago

Electric Ford model T was never produced, only planned. 80 mile range figure is for Detroit Electric car that Henry Ford’s wife owned[1].

1 - https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digita...

danans1y ago

Thanks, TIL

HeatrayEnjoyer1y ago

How did they achieve 80 miles in that era?

chronogram1y ago

https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digita...

masklinn1y ago

Big batteries and low speeds? Also 80 was the advertised “reliable range”.

The “normal” T had double to triple the range, at double the speed.

and I don’t think there ever was an electric T, there were barebones prototype frames. What people call electric Ts are usually Detroit Electrics (the specs match).

vasco1y ago

10 gallon gas tank https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/1926-ford-model-t-fuel-t...

nxobject1y ago

As an aside: does anyone with a local dimming-based HDR display occasionally get dimming with the embedded videos?

aiddun1y ago

that video on my MacBook Pro almost blinded me

dwheeler1y ago

Awesome story! I love hearing about surprising and interesting solutions.

dbavaria1y ago

I mean they could use a Fiat 500, or some other modern car...but what would the fun be in that?

blahyawnblah1y ago

I bet a Fiat 500 is narrower