The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 04-09-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drock6570

Glenn,
being that you are so close, I hereby put it to vote that you be the "official" digger of dirt and report back to us with SOMETHING more on this awesome event. All those in favor AYE

aye!

glenn33 · 04-09-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drock6570

Glenn,
being that you are so close, I hereby put it to vote that you be the "official" digger of dirt and report back to us with SOMETHING more on this awesome event. All those in favor AYE

No problem. If you guys want more I'll see what I can dig up.

Von Rigg Fink · 04-09-2009, 01:12 PM

Man..could you imagine the liablities of doing something like this today? even with the smallest of towns you know there would be one joker ready to sue for something..or wrecking the car..or...etc..

A32Flathead · 04-09-2009, 01:20 PM

Awesome story.

Billybobdad · 04-09-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Rigg Fink

Man..could you imagine the liablities of doing something like this today? even with the smallest of towns you know there would be one joker ready to sue for something..or wrecking the car..or...etc..

Actually this was done again (late 80's) in a town in New York where everbody was given YUGOs

to use for a year for "test marketing".

Kraz · 04-09-2009, 02:26 PM

What do you do when the parking lot is full...of your own make and model and color to boot! Hell, I can't find my car now.

Good times....

seesko · 04-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Today someone would get their undies in a bunch cuz the cars are all white or some
non PC reason.

DrewDay · 04-09-2009, 05:48 PM

I always wondered about that picture...

funnycar · 04-10-2009, 01:22 AM

That's why I love (old) american cars!

**LOST ANGEL** · 04-10-2009, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billybobdad

Actually this was done again (late 80's) in a town in New York where everbody was given YUGOs

to use for a year for "test marketing".

YUP, actually happened. Unfortunatlly, the cars only lasted one week. Here was my car as I returned it, in a basket.-MIKE

Little Wing · 04-13-2009, 08:59 AM

So did any of teh cars end up staying there??like did someone like it and say hey I wanna buy this ? or where did 1600 used cars go??

Nappy · 04-13-2009, 09:38 AM

Cool story.

Ford must have really been on top of marketing at the time. In January of '61 they sent a bunch of Tbird convertibles down for JFK's inauguration. Then of course the Ford Custom Car Caravan came around.

Sure seems a lot more effective than some of the crappy TV commercials they've run in the past few years.

the-rodster · 04-13-2009, 10:00 AM

FYI, Flora was chosen, because the last census showed that it was the population "center" of the US.

I believe the center is now much further southwest.

Rich

the-rodster · 04-13-2009, 10:13 AM

As of 2000, Edgar Springs, MO

T-Time · 04-13-2009, 10:18 AM

A few bits more of info and more photos:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/200...ford-town-usa/

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...id=chix-sphere

http://www.madhauscreative.com/Compo..._town_scan.jpg

http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/pr...p?tid/1501742/

Nominal · 04-13-2009, 04:14 PM

There are a few more (and better quality) pics in the Life Archive

Django · 04-13-2009, 04:44 PM

Pretty cool!

here's a link to the Life archive:

http://images.google.com/hosted/life...cd57ca2c39e6cb

glenn33 · 04-15-2009, 01:19 PM

Ok guys...I just want to let you know that I spent the morning in Flora talking to people about the Ford Town event. I thought I would get a few stories and post them. Well, as it turns out, just about everyone I spoke to had a story, or had heard one about "the worlds largest test drive" as they call it in Flora.

I started off by talking to two buddies that have lived in Flora all their lives, Wes Young and Greg Hamilton. Both guys are going to be a great source of information. Greg is some what of a Flora historian, and has tons of pictures and memorabilia from the event. He's agreed to put a bunch of stuff on disc for me and I will post it in the up coming weeks. I want to separate the fact from the fiction so will put an account together as I get the facts.

For now, here's a couple of shots of the only know car still in the area. It's owned by Milt Smith the son of A.R. Smith. A.R. was the Ford dealer at the time of the Ford Town event. I've not talked to him as yet, but am working on setting up a meeting. The last picture is of a set of plates that came off of one of the cars. It seems that since they were going to be driven, they had to be registered in the state of Illinois. All the cars were plated with manufacturers plates as opposed to dealer plates because of the sheer number of cars. Since there were no automotive makers in the state at the time, the plates had to be made. They started with #1 and went to #1600. This set is #2 and I'm told that Milt Smith has set #1.

hudsoncustom · 04-15-2009, 01:27 PM

Awesome. Looking forward to seeing the local's pictures.

Django · 04-15-2009, 01:51 PM

Very cool Glenn!

That one has a red interior. I wonder if all the interiors were the same or if they were different?

04-09-2009, 01:12 PM	#23
Von Rigg Fink Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Garage Posts: 13,450	Re: Ford Town USA Man..could you imagine the liablities of doing something like this today? even with the smallest of towns you know there would be one joker ready to sue for something..or wrecking the car..or...etc.. __________________ Goldchainers CC S.E. Michigan Chapter Charter Member Some guys could fuck up free lunch.

04-09-2009, 01:20 PM	#24
A32Flathead Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: 95008 CA.USA, formerly London, England Posts: 9,437	Re: Ford Town USA Awesome story. __________________ Sarcasm...just one more valuable service I offer... Road Devils Car Club TM www.calik9.com

04-09-2009, 02:26 PM	#26
Kraz Grenade Inspector Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 173	Re: Ford Town USA What do you do when the parking lot is full...of your own make and model and color to boot! Hell, I can't find my car now. Good times....

04-09-2009, 02:48 PM	#27
seesko Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Twin Cities area. Minn Posts: 2,893	Re: Ford Town USA Today someone would get their undies in a bunch cuz the cars are all white or some non PC reason. __________________ Ya gotta nip it! Nip it in the bud!!

04-09-2009, 05:48 PM	#28
DrewDay Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 249	Re: Ford Town USA I always wondered about that picture... __________________ 1961 Econoline Van

04-10-2009, 01:22 AM	#29
funnycar FNG Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Remo Italy Posts: 49	Re: Ford Town USA That's why I love (old) american cars! __________________ http://www.funnycar.it info@funnycar.it

04-13-2009, 08:59 AM	#31
Little Wing Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,667	Re: Ford Town USA So did any of teh cars end up staying there??like did someone like it and say hey I wanna buy this ? or where did 1600 used cars go?? __________________ Wanted: Motometer 120 Oil Temp Gauge Drag Strips

04-13-2009, 09:38 AM	#32
Nappy Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: York, PA Posts: 801	Re: Ford Town USA Cool story. Ford must have really been on top of marketing at the time. In January of '61 they sent a bunch of Tbird convertibles down for JFK's inauguration. Then of course the Ford Custom Car Caravan came around. Sure seems a lot more effective than some of the crappy TV commercials they've run in the past few years. __________________ ♠ Los Boulevardos C.C ♠

04-13-2009, 10:00 AM	#33
the-rodster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Glasgow, KY Posts: 4,776	Re: Ford Town USA FYI, Flora was chosen, because the last census showed that it was the population "center" of the US. I believe the center is now much further southwest. Rich __________________ *A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be next to you saying, Damn that was fun*

04-13-2009, 10:13 AM	#34
the-rodster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Glasgow, KY Posts: 4,776	Re: Ford Town USA As of 2000, Edgar Springs, MO Attached Thumbnails __________________ *A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be next to you saying, Damn that was fun*

04-13-2009, 10:18 AM	#35
T-Time Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,631	Re: Ford Town USA A few bits more of info and more photos: http://www.courierpress.com/news/200...ford-town-usa/ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...id=chix-sphere http://www.madhauscreative.com/Compo..._town_scan.jpg http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/pr...p?tid/1501742/ __________________

04-13-2009, 04:14 PM	#36
Nominal Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Zealand Posts: 147	Re: Ford Town USA There are a few more (and better quality) pics in the Life Archive Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Nominal; 04-13-2009 at 04:59 PM.

04-13-2009, 04:44 PM	#37
Django Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Forest Park IL Posts: 10,158	Re: Ford Town USA Pretty cool! here's a link to the Life archive: http://images.google.com/hosted/life...cd57ca2c39e6cb __________________ Hot Rod Hucksters . Hunnert Car Heads Up June 7-8, 2013 . Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle and Victory Speed Equipment . Django Studios

04-15-2009, 01:19 PM	#38
glenn33 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Browns, IL Posts: 1,836	Re: Ford Town USA Ok guys...I just want to let you know that I spent the morning in Flora talking to people about the Ford Town event. I thought I would get a few stories and post them. Well, as it turns out, just about everyone I spoke to had a story, or had heard one about "the worlds largest test drive" as they call it in Flora. I started off by talking to two buddies that have lived in Flora all their lives, Wes Young and Greg Hamilton. Both guys are going to be a great source of information. Greg is some what of a Flora historian, and has tons of pictures and memorabilia from the event. He's agreed to put a bunch of stuff on disc for me and I will post it in the up coming weeks. I want to separate the fact from the fiction so will put an account together as I get the facts. For now, here's a couple of shots of the only know car still in the area. It's owned by Milt Smith the son of A.R. Smith. A.R. was the Ford dealer at the time of the Ford Town event. I've not talked to him as yet, but am working on setting up a meeting. The last picture is of a set of plates that came off of one of the cars. It seems that since they were going to be driven, they had to be registered in the state of Illinois. All the cars were plated with manufacturers plates as opposed to dealer plates because of the sheer number of cars. Since there were no automotive makers in the state at the time, the plates had to be made. They started with #1 and went to #1600. This set is #2 and I'm told that Milt Smith has set #1. Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.KROPDUSTERS.com www.rustrevival.com "Don't be a Janet"

04-15-2009, 01:27 PM	#39
hudsoncustom Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mt. Vernon, WA Posts: 4,020	Re: Ford Town USA Awesome. Looking forward to seeing the local's pictures. __________________ FS: 58 Lincoln Capri, 430, pink: $3,000; 61 Olds 2-door hardtop (bubbletop), 394: $1500.

04-15-2009, 01:51 PM	#40
Django Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Forest Park IL Posts: 10,158	Re: Ford Town USA Very cool Glenn! That one has a red interior. I wonder if all the interiors were the same or if they were different? __________________ Hot Rod Hucksters . Hunnert Car Heads Up June 7-8, 2013 . Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle and Victory Speed Equipment . Django Studios

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