I had posted a while back some photos of the local Ford Plant in Denver and a note about my friend who had worked there. He had given me this photo which I thought was strange and might interest all of you.

Note the steering is on the right but the Ford script is shown facing correctly. Is is possible that a right hand drive T would have been in Denver at that time? My friend may have told me but that was years ago.

Interesting photo none the less.

Model R I think?

What a wonderful photo !! Little "Buster Brown" could look happier, I wonder if he was told not to touch anything . . . but had ? I love seeing pictures of the models preceeding the T, noting differences and similarities. Thank you for posting this !!

Mark,

Great photo thank you for sharing it. If you have a chance, would you please e-mail me a higher resolution copy? If you click on my name at the beginning of the post it has my e-mail address the on the 3rd line down.

I would like to look at the rear section of the car a little more. It may or may not help identify if it is a 1907 Model R or a late 1907-1908 Model S Runabout.

Wayne -- it could be a Model R Runabout or I think it could be a Model S Runabout. I cannot make out the shape of the rear deck and I seldom have much luck with the wheel size difference - unless the car is parked next to another car with a know wheel size. I.e. Parked next to a T etc.

The fenders, running boards, hood, dash, chassis with the exception of the wheel size is identical between the Model R and the Model S Runabouts. The R had the 30 x 3 clincher wheels & tires while the Model S had the 28 x 3 clincher wheels & Tires. The 1908 Ford Brochure below uses the same (Model R Runabout) side view for both cars with the rear view showing the "R" Runabout - Rounded rear deck and the "S" Runabout "Sharp - pointed" rear deck. Note the 1907-08 N Runabout and S Runabout shared the same body.



Also, looking at the side lamp brackets, they do not appear to stick out much further than the N, R, S, & SR side lamp brackets I am used to seeing. Perhaps someone else has seen those used on the one or more of the N, R, S, or SR Fords before?

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Cool picture.

Interesting rear window. Is that correct?

Larry,

I do not recall seeing a Ford N, R, S, SR or T with that style of rear window.

I also do not recall seeing a factory photo of that style top on a Ford N, R, S, SR, or T. On the 1906 Model N's they had four almost the same length top bows on each side. On the late 1906 to 1908 N, R, S, & SR the Factory supplied top had three almost the same length top bows/top irons as shown below. (I apologize, I can't find which site had that Model S Runabout for sale a while back.)



Note for all the N, R, S, & SR cars -- the top was an accessory. So the car could have been ordered from the factory with or without a top.
(ref: http://www.mtfca.com/books/1907.htm for the N & R and http://www.mtfca.com/books/1908.htm scroll down to the "Model S Specifications." For the S Roadster top optional see page 49 of 63 in Chapter 4 Sales & Models in Carl Pate's excellent book "Pate's Early Ford Automobile Encyclopedia" available from the author at: http://dunlavy.us/carlpate/index.htm . Covers 1903-1909 Fords (yes including the 1909 Model T).

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

The Pate book is excellent, it comes with a CD that contains way more material than even that which is printed in the book!