The Horowhenua Branch of the New Zealand Vintage Car Club put on a car show last weekend and at the show we assembled a Model T. We were aiming to beat the Canadian Club who claimed they had the World Record at 3:17mins. Our first attempt was 3:08mins and then a couple of ours later we made this attempt that was 2:40mins.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/7755998/Kiwis-build-Model-T-in-under-3mins
Andrew, you may know Barry Thoms of Marten in the little island. Barry was a member of the ANZAC team [Australian and New Zealand Assembly Corps] which took on all comers at a National tour organised by the Inland Empire Chapter of the MTFCA. Our six person team, four Aussie blokes and one lady member, along with Barry, put together, started and drove a model T in 1 minute and 43 seconds.
As the article reported, there is no set standard for speed building a T but I recon our 1.43 is faster than 2.40. I was the person given the task of aligning the u-joint. It helped that one team member held one back wheel off the ground while this was done.
Yours in the true spirit of Aussie/ New Zealand rivalry.
Allan from dow.n under
Nice video, but in their haste they put the steering column on the wrong side!
take it from a whiskey drinker, you cant beat Canadian Club!!!
Seriously though, good job!!!
Allan, I know Barry Thoms. Top guy!
Hey Andrew - I think we already beat 4 mins some time ago down in "shakey land" :-) - with the video of it too - (and we had to put the front wheels on the axle as well :-) )
The problem (or challenge) is that people have different levels of 'dis-assembly' to start with and different numbers of helpers in the team. That means it is real hard to compare results. (A Google search shows several videos including the sub 2 minute one - but those guys have fewer larger parts than you guys or us).
Now here is an opening for an "official" pronouncement from the MTFA on what level of dis-assembly is required for an "official" attempt at a record.
Cheers
Adrian
(that's me in the funny green hat and braces)
nb: apart from some old boxes, axle stands and a stand for the engine, we did not use any special support frames or tools.
Like you we had a 'standard' type body to fit on, radiator, bonnet, guards, running boards etc. but not every team uses all these parts either with some teams just having a bare chassis and a few teams "assemble" by fitting but not bolting together all parts.
As part of the fun we pick up a passenger and drive around the field (where possible), so you do need to bolt things up pretty well (don't ask how i know that ;-) )
So, a GREAT idea and a LOT OF FUN no matter how you arrange and do the assembly.
Is also a GREAT crowd pleaser and has brought in young folk to join in the fun and start getting interested in the hobby.
SO, get out and enjoy :-)
We also inspired the Vintage Tractor club to have a go (in the background of the photo above )- but in fairness hand assembling even a small tractor means lifting some pretty heavy parts - they tried to beat us all the same!
Allan, The name Barry Thoms is well know in the area but sadly I can't claim to know him. I agree with Adrian that not having a standard for the assembly process makes true records hard to claim. We made the decision to leave the front wheels on the spindles as bearing adjustment is not a thing to be rushed or damage will surely occur with overly tight or loose fitting. Some teams overcome this by using wire wheels. We also decided to have the body bolted down, although only hand tight, for safety reasons. At the end of the day, its all in good fun and the public love displays like this. We will still claim the world record, using the southern hemisphere rules of course, and the bragging rights. It case you are wondering I'm the big bugger in white overalls and green shirt lying under the front.