Returning home from a long weekend at our cabin in Northcentral Pennsylvania had me thinking on the drive about what kind of cars would have been built to handle somewhat rugged roads. Our cabin is accessed via state forest and old logging roads... which would be analogous to just about every road in the area c.1920-1940. What kid of jalopy would a guy build to handle the roads, and have any HAMBers built cars with similar ideas in mind?
For the T: stock height suspension with helper springs (sold as 'shock absorbers'), Rocky Mountain brakes, whatever engine mods you could afford and tire chains (these were a 6-9 month per year necessity to deal with mud, not just snow.) The condition of the roads meant that cars had a life expectancy of seven years. Model As came with Houdaille shocks. The As smaller diameter wheels were, in part, a response to improving roads, but it was easier to get stuck on unimproved roads with them. Again, engine mods as you could.
Lots of model T's and A's were turned into tractors when they got long in the tooth. Probably won't happen to too many Prius's.
Well that’s great information. Ground clearance, suspension travel, wheel diameter. The helper springs and chains weren’t something I had considered. A rugged touring to take the family up into the wilds... hmmm. Maybe after I get this other jalopy project off the ground... We also do a long weekend in late winter with a bunch of guys and always thought I’d build a snow flyer. Originally I had planned on something based on my Ferguson tractor, but a T or A would be fun.
They are very capable in stock form, probably more so than a lot of modern "off road" vehicles Maybe remove the fenders like they did in 1911 Or a period 4x4 conversion Or if you really want rugged just buy a dodge haha
Holy cow! Those clips are great. I guess with modern roads and the divergence of car vs. truck design and marketing in today’s world I hadn’t considered that ‘ruggedness’ would have been such a prominent attribute to be touted of the model T. Very cool!
Although I've never seen or read any proof, I've always assumed that increased axle articulation for better off road performance was the main reason that Henry went with cross springing.
One of Fords' selling point was the flexibility of the Model T and A frame and suspension. When those cars were new, you needed all the flex you could muster. Roads? What roads?
The frame on model Ts was made of vanadium steel and was designed to flex with the suspension. I tested this theory out on my T a few years ago, I believe it would have gone higher but the 90 year old dry rotted wheels were on the verge of letting go under the strain. Both back wheels were still on the ground and the drivers rear still had clearance in the wheel well. Check out how twisted and misaligned the doors are, yet they still remained latched And after I lowered it back down the doors went back to fitting
Stock A or T is my vote also, the flex in the frames make things work perfectly. Probably one of the few stock vehicles you can take just about anywhere and put the modern 4wd boys to shame with their mall crawler wheels and tires.
Great clips to say da least. Cant get enough of that stuff. That Dodge salesman would of sold me. He was pretty convincing. Lol.
John Steinbeck said it was because the reverse bands in the transmission were usually less worn out than the low gear forward ones. That was in Cannery Row, I think? Judging by that and what he wrote in Grapes of Wrath, I feel like he knew a thing or two about old cars.
This is a jalopy These are Doodlebugs this is a jalopy or this jalopy racing on dirt was the beginning of stock car racing this is a tractor/snow machine conversion a jalopy by definition is a 10-15 (at least) year old car not a new vehicle with a fancy add on kit... And the type of vehicle that built/drove the roads to your cabin?....rear wheel drive, tall skinny tires, inline 4 or 6, standard trans....yes you can drive that combo ANYWHERE it takes more driving skill but you don't need 4x4 AWD knobby tires or any other fancy shit
Taught myself to drive a T reading Cannery Row. Cool thing about T's - once you're in High, no matter which pedal you stomp on it'll slow you down. Later T's gained a bigger brake band but I can see a seasoned driver might balance the wear across all three bands. The other reason for reversing is if the fuel is too low on a steep hill you can run out. Gravity fed tank under the front seat. Reversing gives you a hint more gravity.
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