As a classic car aficionado, I was recently appalled to find out that
today’s Ford vehicles achieve worse gas mileage than Model T’s did so many
years ago. I am sorely disappointed in the Ford Motor Co. who seem to have
lost the style and grace of the Model T in favour of the freeway clogging
trucks so often seen now. Is anybody out there heading to Dearborn for the
centennial who shares my views? I would be really interested in putting
something together, feel free to contact me(Jason Mark) at 415-378-2735, or
at jason@globalexchange.org. Thanks and I'd like to hear from some the
great members out there!

You have to be carefull with statistics. It is usually possible to make the numbers work out to support your position - in this case that of the Sierra Club. It seems to me that you really can't compare the fuel economy of a Model T with that of a modern car. The Model T only produced 20 HP while today's cars produce something in the 140 HP+ range. Also consider that other than the generator, all of the power produced by the Model T went to propel the car (adding to the miles part of miles/gallon) while todays cars also have to power the power steering, air conditioning, power brakes, emissions systems, etc. This is all power which must be generated from the gas which does not add to the miles! There is also a big weight difference to factor in. Based on the small difference advertised between the 25 mpg of the Model T, and the 22.5 mpg of todays cars, I think today's cars are much more fuel efficient.
Just my opinion
Dave S.

Carefully kept fleet records have decisively proven that, counting all expenses (purchase, maintenance, depreciation, and operation):

1. The Model A was cheaper to own and operate than the Model T.
2. The flathead V-8 Ford was cheaper to own and operate than the Model A.
3. Modern cars are cheaper to own and operate than the flathead V-8.

Modern cars perform on all levels better than their predecessors. Cars in the Twenties were often ready for the scrap pile after 50,000 miles. Today's cars frequently get over a quarter million miles without major engine repair.

Modern cars are safer, more fuel efficient, and more carefree to use than anything in existence seventy-five years ago.

These are not matters of opinion. They are matters of record. I'll be happy to post documentation sources if anybody cares.

As a contemporary leader said, "We should learn from the past, but not live in it."

The good old days are today.

I know Mr. Stewart is right about today's cars being more efficient and cheaper to maintain (not to mention safer). When I look at all the bells and whistles, color schemes etc. I sometimes wish Ford would go back to basics and make a Point A to Point B automobile. At one of the autoshows, a few years back, there was a car (I think it was called the "CV" to evoke the 2CV?) that was stripped down to basics and could sell for around $5K. The auto writers all said that "American's would never go for it". Perhaps, but I remember that they told Mr. Ford that almost a hundred years ago-Jim Hudson, Southold, N.Y.

I have to totally disagree with you.

I have a 1996 Grand Marquis with a small V8 that gets between 26 and 29 MPG. It has a 110,000 miles and Total repair has been about $500.00
I also have a 2002 F 150 4 door V8 that gets 19 to 20 MPG.

I just gave my son a 1979 F 150 and after 365,000 plus miles he had to put in a new engine. (That's right 365,000) The tranny is still OK.

While I was working for the state we used Chevy, Chrys products and Ford cars, and guess what Ford was the only car that could take the abuse we put them through.

So to rap it up in a nut shell Ford is just like the pink bunny rabbit, they just keep on ticking. My 1909 T and 1928 AR is proof of that.
Joe

Folks looking at our Model T Fords often say, "They sure don't make cars like they used to", implying they were better in the old days. Kind of a nostalgia thing I guess.

My response is always, "Yeh, they don't make cars like they used to, and it's a •••• good thing".

But don't get me wrong, I love my Model T Fords.

My Chevy truck (and Ford truck before that) both got 17-18 mpg, with 200+ horsepower engines and air conditioning. The Ford went to 50K miles before being sold, without a glitch. The Chevy is also following this pattern. And they don't leak. And you have to love those four wheel disc brakes.

I just spent a day at one of the V-10 plants. Now THAT is a crankshaft!

I just sold a 1986 Ford F-150 with 396,000 miles on it that was still a good pickup. It had been put through all sorts of abuse and been driven thousands of miles of gravel roads, pulled trailers, plowed through snow up to its hood, freewayed at 85-90 for thousands and thousands of miles and except for losing the oil plug out of the bottom of the pan I'm sure would have still had its original engine. I bought it new in the spring of 86 and not counting the engine I would guess the repairs for the 17 years and almost 400,000 miles were less than $1000.00, mostly brake work and one front end tierod. I like my Model T's but they don't hold a candle to my Ford trucks. I have a one-ton dually with 100,000 on it, an F-250 with 180,000 and an F-150 with 125,00 on it plus some trucks. I like Ford pickups and Cadillacs but no Cadi I have ever owned has been as trouble free as my Ford Pickups.