I'm coming up with more news clips than I'll probably ever use. I'll throw them out and see what you think. I'm surprised at the number of Fords entered, and then winning and placing in events.
I'll try to point out what caught my eye on the ads/articles. All of the excerpts are from 1907 and 1908 newspapers and magazines. I'm finding the best way to search items is to use "Ford runabout" or "Ford four" for NRS cars, and "Ford six", "Ford 6-40", "Ford 6" and "Ford 40" for Model K.
Hope you enjoy,
Rob
In this news spot, a Ford dealer in 1908 is discussing how their business has moved from bicycles to steam cars to gasoline autos. Miller shows up quite a lot on Ford searches in 1907-1908. The next pic is an article about their success in a race with a Model S.
This mentions the Miller dealership,,and how a Model S outperformed several larger cars on a timed test. He had to wait at check points with the motor running ahead of the larger cars. The only points lost were due to accidentally stopping the engine at one of the stops while waiting for time.
This is a December 1908 Model T ad I hadn't seen before. Henry Ford is quoted directly, not something I've seen in other early Ford ads.
An automotive reporter, Jack Stone is shown in a 1907 Ford Model K. The caption is "Improvements will be noted". The article did not mention the K, but I found another ad where the New York Ford distributor says 1906 Fords will be taken in trade for 1907s, and reconditioned AND WARRANTIED LI,E THE 1907s. Apparently Ford recognized the problems with the 1906 Ks and were making public relations corrections.
Gaston Plantiff, Ford Eastern Sales Manager, explains refurbishing exchange program for 1906 Ks. Is this the first automaker recall?
Another "contest" with Fords doing well. It's a Hill Climb event, and in the first contest, two Ns are first and second, with another N fourth. In the second event, for cars costing less than $5,000, a Model K comes in ninth, of twelve cars listed.
This ad mentions an N/S winning the $900 and less class, then coming in 3rd in the "free for all" 100 mile race. An impressive ad as most of the free for all races are won by the big cars.
Another race. A Ford N/S wins the runabout race, in the $3,000 and under class, a Ford K wins it's heat in the third race, but is unable to go in the final against the other heat winner, a Jackson (but does have the higher heat time).
I posted the whole top page to give an idea of what the automotive page often looked like. The "Ford" portion of this is blown is the story above this. Usually I find these stories in the sports, or a special automotive section.
Another contest, another good Ford showing. A Ford N wins the $850 or less race and the $1250 or less race. Next, a Ford six (K) comes in 3rd in the $3,000 to $2,000 race.
This is the Atlanta Climbs Open (1908). Fords come in 2nd and 3rd costing less than $1,000, and 3rd costing less than $2,000. Then a Ford "40" (K) for cars costing less than $4500.
In this 24 hour endurance run, 14 of 22 cars finished. Of those, seven had perfect scores. A Ford Model K is one of the seven. (Anyone still with me to this point tell me this isn't a good car)
Well, enough for now. It's a bit exhilarating to see where our the pedigree our "black Fords" came from. Henry Ford saw the value of winning contests (as did his competitors). However, he had the engineering ability and desire to build cars that could win at the racetrack (and remain economical).
Maybe that's why he soon became the wealthiest man in the world.
WOW! More great stuff! I love it. Thank you.
Wayne,
Your welcome. I hope a few others enjoy it.
Merry Christmas,
Rob