With the colder weather coming on, I am trying to squeeze in a few more
drive times before I mothball the old dog and begin my winter work projects
for it.
Besides the smiles and thumbs up it seems to produce for so many, wherever
I point it, some things stand out for really making peoples’ day, or good back-
in-the-day stories from oldtimers.
Twice, in as many weeks, I have had 12-13 year-old boys approach me with a
parent and just gush over how cool the old truck is. Something I find somewhat
surprising with todays’ youth, but I digress … I chatted them up a bit and
suggested that if they have a serious interest to come down to the Tuesday
night shop nights at the Antique Auto Ranch and immerse themselves in “the
culture”.
Today, the wifeperson asked me to run to the store for some garlic and dinner
fixin’s and naturally I took the beast. As I backed into a parking spot (Gunny
only allows combat parking), a guy in a modern truck pulled up across my nose
and hollered out the window “Do you want some parts for that thing ?”. Not
knowing if he had frames and engines or smalls, I asked what he had in mind.
He held a bag out the window, and in it was a coil, a hubcap, and some other
“bits”. I asked what he wanted for them, and he said he just wanted them out
of his shop. He said he has a 27 Dodge and only lives 10 blocks from me.
You just never know …
Raoul, very happy to hear about your great day. I would suggest however that you can drive your T year round as I do here in New Hampshire. You just need to dress warm and than you will be enjoying seeing even more smiles to miles.
Happy motoring,
Warren
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esg-gcaW6ug
Warren,
So true. And perhaps it will be a future thing for me. As it works now,
winters are set aside for major work on the truck. Last year is was the
rear end and engine/transmission. In the process, it got a new radiator
and a few other things done. This year it will be the rebuild and installation
of a Lincoln aux. transmission, rebuild the wheels, and install period turn
signals and stop light on the rear, along with a “sparkler array” (yet to be
designed) for alerting fast approaching vehicles of a slow mover ahead of
them. Basically, the idea being like police lights. Using LED’s and blackout
paint, they will be hard to see until the fuse is lit.
The long term plan is long road trips and dealing with the impossible-to-
avoid freeway stretches. After this bunch of work is done though, I don’t
see much more to do besides drive it and fine tune the little details, so it
may stay active year round after than (?)
I am going to be replacing a roof next week and the old dog will haul all
the tear off to the dump. It is already a regular sight at the dump. After
that, we’ve got some logging to do and the beast will get a good workout
in the woods. One of my favorite things about this truck is USING it. The
looks on people’s faces when they see it with a load of logs or hay or …
is priceless. They EXPECT to see stuff like this on Sunday afternoon drives
and at car shows, … not working ! Good stuff. Makes for great conversations.
Raoul, it would be great to see some pictures.
This TT belongs to my very good friend Ken LeBlanc, each time I see it I want to have one of my own!!!
Happy motoring,
Warren
TT’s are evil that way … visual exposure causes a state of
mental decay, making the viewer want to own one (or more)
themselves … be warned !
======================
Raoul, thank you for posting those great pictures. Looks like you may have been to Burger of Spokane house.
Happy motoring,
Warren
I am at his house all the time. It is a wonder I don’t get
kicked out ! 
01 October 1908, the Ford Model T was introduced to the public.
Sounds like a good reason to go for a drive. Now, this event did not
happen BECAUSE I was driving the T, but is a good, relevant T
experience.
===================================
See, my house is Queen Anne Victorian. I am always on the hunt
for proper period hardware for it. How appropriate to be hauling
around stuff like this in your TT ?
