Ford Model K in 1998 at Sandwich, IL Show

[WayneJ]

I attended a car show in Sandwich, IL on the last Sunday in May of 1998 and took these photos of a Model K, and thought they might be of general interest:

[RustyFords]

It's always a source of interest for me to see Mustangs at car shows in the 80's and 90's. They were 20 to 30 year old cars at the time.

We bought them cheap used them up and wrecked them when I was in high school in the 80's. Here's a cherry original fastback that my dad and I stripped the interior out of and made into a 1/4 mile drag car in 1986. We really lightened it up, installed a thoroughly worked over small block with some of the coolest heads I've ever seen and got it into the 11's.

The K Ford is cool. I'm always amazed at the big, early brass cars. They're impressive to behold in person.
.

[WayneJ]

I showed the photo of the engine compartment to a friend, and he wanted to know what the wooden box just in front the engine block is?

I am sure someone hear has the answer.

Thanks.

[Rich Eagle]

I assume he means the brass mechanical oiler.

[WayneJ]

Yes, I see now it is brass, not wood. Thank you for the quick response.

[Rich Eagle]

Here is a photo of a McCord. The old brass can resemble wood can't it?

[Rob]

Thanks for the post Rich. I’ve seen this K before, and had information about it’s incredible life after 1921. However, this thread forced me to do a bit more research and this time I found the original owner too. As a result, we now know the whereabouts of this car from it’s build date in 1908 up today. If you don’t mind I’ll tell that story on your thread. It’s fairly lengthy, and tells about a Model K that was a daily driver until 1921, and then ran and was registered regularly until 1940. Today it is on display at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum is a collection, Cleveland, Ohio, part of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Below is a photo of the car is it appears today:

[theautocarist]

Hi Rob...the model K in the first 3 photographs of Wayne's post attending the 1998 Sandwich IL Show is the Ex Cecil Church car.

[Original Smith]

Why do they always varnish the steering wheel? I would think they would have been black?

[Rob]

Stephan,
Darn, you’re right. And I used to own that car.......

When Cecil Church owned the same K, it didn’t have side aprons, so I thought it was the Cleveland K when I saw the older photo. Looking closer I see the air pump that was on the running board, and red leather front apron.

Rich, never mind......
thanks Stephan.

[Rob]

Larry,
Good question. Both our N and this K had stripped and varnished steering wheels. I believe our 13 T did too (memory?). I guess sometimes restorers thought it looked better.

[Rob]

I meant to ask Wayne about posting more on this thread, and Rich about another thread. I think I need more coffee this morning. Or maybe the coffee needs a little “doctoring...”

[Herb Iffrig]

I did notice too, that the brass script is different on the radiators on the cars.
Would one be more correct that the other? I have seen it both ways

[Rob]

Herb, I’ve seen a few different styles on “original” Model K. I’ve also seen on in block letters. There are a few K in museums with lower case “ford” in cursive, but they are actually “Garford” script with the “Gar” removed.

Formerly “Garford”

Another (Gar) Ford:

A real “Garford”

For only $185 plus shipping, you can own a “Garford” or “Ford” script:

[It's Bill]

The Ford radiator script on the car at the top is a very well done graphic. Is it a real Ford design? Did the Ford logo change during the early years, and are there records of the changes?

Cheers, Bill