The Model T Ford Club of Southern California

[dykker5502]

The Danish Veteran Car Club runs the Danish Motorhistoric library and archive and from them I have been given a stack of leaflets and newsletters of "The Model T Ford Club of Southern California" from 1964-65.
At first I was a little reluctant, but what the heck - Always fun to browse through old club artifacts until I spottet a name: Bruce McAlley! One of the later founders of M*TFCA. MTFCA was formed in 1965 so these artifacts are pre-MTFCA.
Now I could expect the old Model T Ford Club of Southern California was still around and one of the chapters in MTFCA, but that does not seems to be the case.

Clubs comes and goes as a fact of life, so is The Model T Ford Club of Southern California just closed at some time or fusioned with another with another name for the combined club or has it just changed name?

Regarding the artifacts - I do probably not want to keep the stack. I have offered them to the museum, but they clain they already had them.

[dykker5502]

OK, further Googling revial contact info on Hemmings website - but that may be obsolete of course.

https://www.hemmings.com/clubs/detail?h ... id=1429786

[DHort]

Maybe you should fly to SC to see if you can find their archives.

[Original Smith]

I belonged to that club for over 60 years. Had some great times and tours, and wonderful people. But, we are getting old, and many are not with us any more. I'm 82 now, and still playing with my three Model T's. We had our final meeting about a year and a half ago. For those of us that are still alive, we have moved over to the Horseless Carriage Club of Southern California.

[dykker5502]

I've discovered that Russ Furstnow was member back then and he is also still around.

Ive seen notes in "The Timer'" in 1966 and 1968 about a tour to Europe!! Now, it may be that the 1966 tour was so succesful so it was repeated in 1968. It may also be that to few signed up in 1966 so not until 1968 it was done. Or may neither was completed.

My interest in this is, that the planned route in 1966 is mentioned in the note:

Ship cars to the UK and follow by plane some weeks after. The touring the UK, after some days ferry to France and visit Paris, then Italy and Rome, Austria, Switzerland Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and I guess back to Denmark and by ferry to UK and home. Given it may be a 4 weeks trip a what we call "American Sightseeing" and pretty ambiteus.
Back in the days you did not have no Internet, so to find partner clubs in each country that could help would be a challenge (though US Embassies in the countries might be of help). I have asked some of the few members of the Danish Veterancar Club if they recall any group of american Model T's driving around Denmark in eithet 1966 or ´68 with no luck. I presume that the organizers have tried to reach out to local clubs for advice and guidance as it is mentioned that they where in contact with the Model T Ford register of Great Britain. There where no Model T club in Denmark at that time, but apart from the veteranclub (from 1954) there is the Royal Danish Automobile Club (KDAK) which may be their contact, but that club seased operation in 1978 (their archives are saved though).

It could be fun if they actually where here in Denmark and I could trace up some pictures from the event.

[Original Smith]

Russ Furstnow is the only Model T person alive that has been president of both clubs.