Was Ford Motor Company planning the future "Model T" by summer, 1906?

Following are two different news accounts reporting Ford Motor Company is planning a light touring car in August, 1906. The articles also say Ford is negotiating for a site (Highland Park?).
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It would seem so Rob. There was no other touring car built by Ford in that time frame other than the Model S touring that we talked about once before. Have you got any leads on that car's whereabouts yet?

Herb

Rob,
Here are a couple of first hand accounts of the early development of the Model T.

The first is a page out of the book " Tin Lizzie" Philip Van Doran Stern and the second is from the book " My Forty Years With Ford " Charles Sorensen. Regards, John

John,

I recall reading the first clip some time ago. It appears the idea was already in Ford's mind (and the rumor out to the public) by the summer of 1906. Then (according to the two clips you posted) the actual planning began in that winter.

Does anyone know anything more about the N engine(s) with the detachable head? I was curious if it was ever placed in a car and tested?

Thanks for sharing,

Rob

Hi Rob,

In that advance catalog I have which was printed 3-10-08 mentions in the second paragraph about the development of the Model T. I am copying it from the catalog which would indicate that it had been under development since March of 1906.


"Two solid years have been spent in perfecting it. Each minute detail has been carefully worked out and thoroughly tested. Special tools to the value of many thousands of dollars have been installed. Special steels have been developed to give each part the maximum strength. Appearance, utility and efficiency have been joined in one harmonious whole to make a car which is now pronounced perfect."

I am not very computer literate when it comes to scanning and posting this catalog.

I do enjoy all of the facts and articles that you post on all of the Ford Models!

Steve

Rob, the test N engine with detachable head was saved by Ford at the museum but sold in the infamous 1980's auction. Les Schuchardt saved it for many years but has now sold it to forum participant Jerry VanOoteghem w. friend Norm who lends it out for permanent display at the Piquette plant.
http://modelt.org/discus/messages/2/35597.html?1329156233

Rob,

The engine at Piquette is not exactly an N engine. It has a very similar Crankcase casting but the Cylinders are cast in one piece and the unit is bolted to the crankcase. The standard N engine had two pairs of Cylinder castings. I think it would have been very difficult to make the removable head work without casting the cylinders in a block. Then the removable Cylinder Head is bolted to the Cylinder casting. The spacing of the cylinders appears to be the same as the N, and I presume the crankshaft, rods and pistons are the same, but have no direct information on that. (Jerry, can you fill in the details here?)

The inlet and exhaust manifolds are standard Model N and are on the left side of the engine. There is a gap between the 2nd and 3rd cylinders for the throttle rod to go through. It is my understanding this engine was installed in a chassis and driven on the streets around the Piquette Plant.

This is where I;m going with the questions about the NRS engine with removable head. Could it be the type of engine that powered these vehicles? The cars listed on the Palace Show had 20 hp engines. The wheelbases are listed as 97 inches, and they are not listed with magnetos, only storage battery for ignition (like the NRS cars).

There are many other mentions of this pre T along with news paper drawings like those below.

Does anyone else have any information on these cars? They appear at a few car shows and in print between Nov 1907 and Feb 1908.
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