MTFCA Forum

Obviously having fun with this..........

First, an early Ford drawing of a Model B (step plates instead of running boards):


Model C followed by B during 1905 Scottish Trials:


The same Model C in England:


I believe this is a NZ Model C:


Model F in London, 1905:

More trials and competitions.


Model K on 1907 Scottish and Irish Trials. Only Ford (K and N) and REO participated from the U.S..


Ford Six, pilot car for 1907 Chicago Reliability Trials:


Henry and Edsel Ford with the Cleveland Ford Agent after Fords won all three hill climb events entered at the Stucky Hill Climb, taking 1st in classes for runabouts under $1,000, runabouts $2,000-$3,000 and Touring Cars $2,000-$3,000.

More Ford competitions -

Henry Ford at speed, Cape May 1905:


Colorized magazine photos of Cedrino with his Fiat, Henry Ford, and A. L. Campbell. Henry Ford set a world record (1 mile competition record), defeating Campbell in his Daracq. However, Campbell filed a complaint saying the Ford was ahead at the flying start, and the record was disallowed:


Closeup of the Ford six racer motor, summer beach races, 1905. This is the second of three six cylinder racer versions, and last racer Henry Ford will compete with in person:


Another FMC long time employee August Degener, holding "background" for official photo of the last Ford Six racer sometime in the late summer or early fall of 1907:


This is the racer Frank Kulick was attempting a world record with in October 1907 when a wheel came apart, sending him through the fence and onto a garbage heap. Henry Ford cut the back seat away from a Model K, purchased a mattress from a nearby farmhouse owner, and transported Kulick to the Detroit hospital. Kulick's leg was broken in several places, and he would walk with a limp the rest of his life, wearing a brace later in life (from Kulick nephew interview). Frank Kulick told his nephew the wheel came apart because "some guy named Sorensen had overtightened the wire spokes." The nephew knew little about Ford history, but I suspect we have a good idea who the person with last name of "Sorensen" was that Frank Kulick blamed for the accident.

Reports were that Kulick was on pace to break the world record by seconds when he lost the racer on the second to last turn. As seen in this photo, the racer literally desintegrated:

Frank Kulick and Ford went on to race again. Following the Ocean to Ocean race in 1909, Henry Ford entered racing again in earnest in 1910.

During the late winter of 1909-1910, Ford and Kulick return to the race scene, taking on an ice boat near Detroit. Over a two mile course including one turn around, the Ford averaged 75 mph. This was the first time a Ford Special racer was seen in competition. Over the next two and a half years Ford raced special racer and stock chassis in events throughout the east, south and Midwest.

This photo taken at Syracuse N.Y. In the summer of 1910 show Kulick lined up for a race with a Ford Special, number 26. This photo appeared in a Ford Times:


Below, another photo taken from the other side of the track showing Kulick lined up at the start of one of the races the same day:

Neat stuff! Thanks Rob!

Looking good Rob. Keep them coming. Maybe take one pic of a K and color it different colors so we can all compare them.

Thanks guys. Dave, pics of different K's. I can't change the color with this program. Sometimes it may "guess" correctly and sometimes not."

More

A few more. First, what I believe was one of the Ford pre-T prototypes seen at a few late 1907 auto shows. Model NRS style waterpump and crank, Model T style radiator tank. One Landaulet was reported sold in a late 1907 FMC audit:


Frank Kulick and unknown passenger in 1910 or 11 road race. Maybe 1911 Elgin Road race?


1907 Model K in 1909 Meriden CT. hill climb. It came in 2nd in class and 3rd overall:


Model K and 60 hp Thomas Flyer on 1907 Glidden. The Ford was not an official participant, but joined two days of the tour:


Frank Kulick and unknown mechanician in early 1912. Kulick came out of racing retirement and set a new ice mile record of 109 mph. This Ford Special racer had the largest of the racing motors Ford built, at 410 cubic inches:

Rob, I love seeing these colorized photos.
That 1912 top speed record of 109 mph was on the ice. I can't fathom driving a car that fast, on the ice, with chains on!

Keith, thanks. Yes, hard to imagine Henry Ford's 1904 world record 91 mph record, and Kulick's 109 mph run in 1912. They must have had ice in their veins as well as on the lake......

More.........

Below: This is a 1906 Model K, with 1907 radiator and 1907 under frame truss work added. A guess is it's the New York Ford Branch showroom. It looks like possibly an NRS in the left background, and it's obviously a showroom or car show arena. The Ford branch took a lot of 06 K in trade for 11907 K, and reconditioned them, adding the new car 1 year warranty to them (news articles).



Below: A. T. Purcells won one of six silver cups in a 1907 New Jersey 24 hour reliability test driving his 1907 K roadster. One of the other cup winners was Montague Roberts, famous Thomas driver who would pilot a Thomas Flyer across the country in the spring of the following year's (1908) New York to Paris race:

Thank you Rob!!! Bud.

But, obviously, my pleasure. A few more of my faves...


Harry Corey of Petrolia Ontario bought this car in Canada, and shows up in the Ford Canada ledger:


Omaha Nebraska Ford dealer Deright had these Fords shipped four the Omaha auto show in March, 1907:



The next two are from a collection. One family owned this Model K from 1907 until 1912:

Neat stuff!
Thanks Rob.

I am amazed you keep coming up with so many good pictures that you can color.

How many times did Tim Kelly bring the K to MN before you got that ride in it? And then got hooked.

Dave, it was his first trip. Several Early Ford Registry members had been to NL to NB before, but several including Pate’s and Kelley’s made their first trip that year. It was life changing for me, and we developed lifelong bonds.


Tim, Hugo and our K on B&B tour a few years ago.

While the black and white photos are "authentic," the colorized give a different perspective to the people and places. A few more.

An iconic photo, taken with many cars and people over the years. The Model K is an 06, with aftermarket louvered hood.

Maybe in the Pacific Northwest? Several Model K were sold in Walla Walla Washington. This is a 1907 touring car:

Thank you, Rob! These are very interesting and enjoyable.
Keith

Thanks Keith. Leaving for Chickasha in a few minutes.

Frank Kulick on road race:

Henri Depasse driving Ford Special racer to 2nd place overall on Mont Ventoux, 1911. Europes most well known hill climb is similar in slope and distance to Pikes Peak run:


Algonquin hill climb, 1911. Frank Kulick and unknown passenger. Ford won several events with two Ford Special racers, coming wishing a fraction of a second of winning overall honors. A 120 hp Benz took the over (two hills) trophy: