Questions from "Wheels for the World" by Douglas Brinkley

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Questions from "Wheels for the World" by Douglas Brinkley
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Monday, September 17, 2012 - 04:15 pm:

Great book and full of well researched history/insight into the Ford universe. About half way through and found two things I am very curious about.

1. Seems ford continued to build the T in other countries, such as mexico, after T production stopped in the U.S.

2. Also news to me was the introduction of the model Y in Europe only as the sales of model A fell sharply. Introducing the importance of styling to the Ford company.

Anyone know more details about this?





Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Stokes on Monday, September 17, 2012 - 05:55 pm:

Erich

Yes, the Douglas Brinkley book is a good one!

I can help answer your second question.
The creation of the Model Y by Ford of Britain had nothing to do with styling, but everything to do with the British horsepower tax.

Because of its engine size sales of the Model A in Britain suffered badly. The English company was in danger of collapse, having invested heavily in building the Dagenham plant and with few sales coming in. The Model Y was the answer - It was created very quickly - the body design was from Detroit, and based upon the yet-to-be-released 1933 V-8, and it was an 8-hp small car, just what the British market needed. It was also reasonably successfully exported.

It was said the be "the car that saved Ford". Certainly that is true of Ford of England, but probably an exaggeration for the worldwide company. The Model Y was also Ford's departure from the single model policy.

I hope that offers some clarity.

John Stokes
New Zealand


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Scott Owens on Monday, September 17, 2012 - 06:12 pm:

Sure looks like my American Austin 1933. Scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Monday, September 17, 2012 - 06:24 pm:

Thanks Hap. So anyone know how long did T production go on in places like Mexico?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Monday, September 17, 2012 - 07:23 pm:

Eric,

That is a big thank you to John Stokes for his excellent information (we all look very similar on the same on the forum.)

I do not have access to my files on the other computer at the moment. But we have been looking for answers to when were the last Model Ts assembled at various locations for several years now. From memory … which is not that reliable… I’m 99% sure we located a "documented date" when Ford of Australia stopped Model T Production. And from memory I think (30% sure – will confirm it when I have access/time to find the file) it was OVER 6 months from the time the Highland Park Plant stopped car production. -- The last USA Highland Park Model T Ford – number 15,007,003 is shown as either May 31 or Jun 1 1927 ref: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/1926-27H.htm Bruce McCalley (RIP) on line Encyclopedia under the details section. Also remember Ford apparently continued to produce the ton truck later than that date at Highland Park.

All the branch assembly plants continued to produce cars & trucks until they used up their stock of parts to make complete cars or at least enough complete cars to keep the doors open. Then folks were laid off until the Model A began production. That took 5 or so months in Detroit between the last Model Ts and the First Model As. And while the Ts were produced at Highland Park (T engines had been produced at the River Rouge towards the end of the Model T production) the Model A production began at the River Rouge Plant. It took additional months for Model A production to begin in the far away locations such as Australia (1928 listed at Ford Australia official site http://www.forddiscovery.com/heritage/a-brief-history-of-ford-australia.htm but again on my other computer I have a more accurate date).

Great question and I am hoping that others will add details such as when did the last Model T car or ton truck roll off the assembly line at such and such Branch Plant. I would think local papers where the plants were located might have covered that story.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Monday, September 17, 2012 - 09:44 pm:

A good friend has a nice MOdel Y. He emailed me some pics, but they're too big to post here. If someone would like to resize and post them, I'll email them to you.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Stokes on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 06:58 pm:

Here are Mike Walker's photos of a Model Y. The similarities to the 1933-34 V-8 are clear. It would be interesting to know this cars story - it is a resident of the US but is in right-hand drive.

Model Y


Model Y


Model Y


Model Y


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Stokes on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 08:08 pm:

Related to the Model Y is this interesting historical snippet.

Soon after Ford introduced the car towards the end of 1932, Morris set to work to produce a car that would compete. They did that by copying the Ford product. The Morris was released in 1934. This was, as far as I know, never tested in court but the similarities in the body are remarkable (see below) and the Morris motor is virtually identical to the Ford one. There were differences, such as semi-elliptical springs rather than Ford's transverse springs.

Ford Y

Morris 8 2-door

And the same with the 4-door versions....

Ford Y 4-door

Morris 8 4-door


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Page on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 04:29 pm:

Here is a 1934 Y Type Roadster I owned and restored in the 1970's.

Regards, John


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 05:09 pm:

The Y looks like a fun little car.

On the other topic, I seem to recall Ts being assembled in Mexico in the early 30's?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bede Cordes, New Zealand on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 08:26 pm:

John, I was wondering if anyone was going to compare the Y to the Morris 8, the car I learnt to drive in about 25 years ago. My family had 4 at one stage. Still a special wee car to me. Interesting thread. Regards, Bede.


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