Prowling the highways and byways for 100 years

December 4, 2013 · 0 Comments

In 1914, Clarence Moore’s grandfather, William Ingles bought a brand new Ford Model T sedan.

Most likely, he was the envy of the town as he cruised the Main street in his new state-of-the-art horseless carriage.

Few people had an automobile back then.

It was black of course. As automobile baron, Henry Ford said, “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black”

It wasn’t that Ford disliked other colours, the new assembly process used black as it was the fastest drying paint.

Most cars eventually just wore out and were relegated to the scrap heap or stored in an old barn – only to be rediscovered and restored years later.

This car, however, was special.

Mr. Moore’s grandfather liked his Model T so much, he kept up the maintenance and drove it right up until 1952 –two years before his death.

Mr. Moore inherited the car in 1954.

“He bought it brand new in Creemore for $600,” Mr. Moore explained. “When he passed away, he willed it to me.”

The car has been restored over the years as some things wear out. The seats have been re-upholstered and a new convertible top was added to replace the old one, but the body, engine, and frame work are all the original.

Mr. Moore demonstrated how you place the old car into gear with three pedals on the floor, a gear shift to change gears, and the throttle on the steering wheel.

You really get a sense of how old this car is when you see there are coal oil fuelled lamps attached to the sides of the car and the head lights need to be lit with a match to get them going.

The powerplant is a four cylinder motor that uses 30 weight oil – a lubricant so thick it is like molasses and would choke a modern car to death.

Mr. Moore doesn’t use the Model T as his regular mode of transportation of course, but he says it’s a great summer ride.

“It rides very smooth,” he said, “It’s very easy on the road because it’s such a light car.”

It’s not the kind of car you drive every day, but when it is taken out on the road, it turns heads.

“One of my favourite rides was when my daughter got married 28 years ago and we used it in the wedding,” Mr. Moore said.”

The Ford Motor Company was so impressed that one of their automobiles has been running for a century, they presented Mr. Moore with a certificate of recognition in the showroom at Trillium Ford in Alliston to commemorate the car’s 100 years on the road.

While a vintage automobile like this is priceless in the eyes of car enthusiasts, this car will be staying in the family.

“I will pass this down to my grandson, who is now 15 years old,” explained Mr. Moore.

With a little TLC and regular maintenance, this automobile could be on the road for another 100 years.

By Brian Lockhart

Photo by Brian Lockhart
100 years of motoring – Clarence Moore takes the drivers seat of his 1914 Ford Model T at Trillium Ford Lincoln Ltd. in Alliston last week. Mr. Moore inherited the car, which has been continuously operational for 100 years, from his grandfather who bought it brand new in Creemore.