Curbside Classic #1: 1939 Ford In Model T Black
It's a sure sign of Spring when I start seeing nice old cars parked around town again, and to celebrate the oncoming season, I thought that I'd start a new "Crossfolf Camera Curbside Classics" series of photos! You've been duly warned...
This one is a 1939 Ford Tudor Sedan in classic Model T Black. Legend has it that when when Henry Ford introduced the Model T, he said that it could be had in any colour, as long as it was black. When I was a pup, Dad ( a lifelong Ford Man ) would amusingly refer to any black Ford as being painted "Model T Black".
I often hear Summer visitors and tourists remark on how surprised they are to see so many cool old cars around such a little town. Someone even once compared Lockeport to Havana, Cuba because of all the old cars they saw!
The thing is, a few of the wealthy local fishermen collect old cars. This one belongs to my friend Tim, who also owns the 1940 Hudson and the 1936 Buick ( my personal favourite ) that I've shown you here before.
I like how this particular car is free of any fancy aftermarket accessories. It has a plain, Model T Black, no-nonsense sort of character that I find very appealing. The whitewalls are the only frivolous feature, and I doubt that this car wore whitewalls when it was new.
A Crossfolf Camera Presentation.
This one is a 1939 Ford Tudor Sedan in classic Model T Black. Legend has it that when when Henry Ford introduced the Model T, he said that it could be had in any colour, as long as it was black. When I was a pup, Dad ( a lifelong Ford Man ) would amusingly refer to any black Ford as being painted "Model T Black".
I often hear Summer visitors and tourists remark on how surprised they are to see so many cool old cars around such a little town. Someone even once compared Lockeport to Havana, Cuba because of all the old cars they saw!
The thing is, a few of the wealthy local fishermen collect old cars. This one belongs to my friend Tim, who also owns the 1940 Hudson and the 1936 Buick ( my personal favourite ) that I've shown you here before.
I like how this particular car is free of any fancy aftermarket accessories. It has a plain, Model T Black, no-nonsense sort of character that I find very appealing. The whitewalls are the only frivolous feature, and I doubt that this car wore whitewalls when it was new.
A Crossfolf Camera Presentation.
Category Photography / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
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I think the Model T only came in black... I had a 1937 4 door Plymouth once. It had a flathead six engine that was the quietest engine I ever heard... sounded like a singer sewing machine.
Vix
Vix
You had a '37 Plymouth? Cool! I love your comparison of the flathead six to a singer sewing machine.
It seems that you've owned a few cars that I would like; if I'm not mistaken, I remember you mentioning in another thread that you once had a 1960s Thunderbird.
It seems that you've owned a few cars that I would like; if I'm not mistaken, I remember you mentioning in another thread that you once had a 1960s Thunderbird.
1966 - my first car. I got it because my father picked it out. I was a mere seaman in the Coast Guard making $100 a month. I couldn't even afford gas for the darned thing. It had a 428 V8 and took premium which was a whopping 34 cents per gallon. It never ran well because you had to tune the every 8K miles and I couldn't afford that either. I finally managed to make him understand and we traded it for a 1970 Maverick which was the best car ever. It had 3 on the column and not even a radio. That was the year the manufacturers were competing with the 'under $2000 car'.
Vix
Vix
I agree. It's not flashy; it's a simple, plain black sedan. For me, that's a big part of this car's charm.
Every time I see someone driving a 'Classic' on public roadways, I offer a quick Prayer they don't meet any of the idiot drivers 'I' seem to attract?
Of course, said 'Classics' are literally 'Armored Vehicles' compared to today's wheeled plastic and snap-together contraptions, so nothing less than a locomotive or semi-truck would cause much damage?
Of course, said 'Classics' are literally 'Armored Vehicles' compared to today's wheeled plastic and snap-together contraptions, so nothing less than a locomotive or semi-truck would cause much damage?
*nods* I know you on that one!
I sometimes get to drive my Mother's '68 Chevrolet truck or one of my friends' old cars, and I'm always aware that the people around me in their modern, isolated transportation pods don't realize that the vehicle I'm driving doesn't have ABS or maybe even power brakes. I can't just stop on a dime like a modern car; I need a bit more time and space.
I sometimes get to drive my Mother's '68 Chevrolet truck or one of my friends' old cars, and I'm always aware that the people around me in their modern, isolated transportation pods don't realize that the vehicle I'm driving doesn't have ABS or maybe even power brakes. I can't just stop on a dime like a modern car; I need a bit more time and space.
heh heh heh
I grew up w/o 'Power' ANYTHING (Aside, of course, from the engine itself). So steering, brakes, WINDOWS? All muscle-power baby!
Anyone that's EVER driven a vehicle w/o power steering, knows the value of having 'Just enough room' to move a little bit, to ease the effort!
(But we had MUSCLES! Oh yeah!)
I grew up w/o 'Power' ANYTHING (Aside, of course, from the engine itself). So steering, brakes, WINDOWS? All muscle-power baby!
Anyone that's EVER driven a vehicle w/o power steering, knows the value of having 'Just enough room' to move a little bit, to ease the effort!
(But we had MUSCLES! Oh yeah!)
*laughs* My Mother is in her 70s, and still drives her beloved '68 Chevy C-10. Standard transmission and no power anything.
She's well known for her contempt for this trend toward big, fancy, fully loaded Monster Trucks.
Mom:
"What -- you never learned to drive a standard? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??"
"What -- you find it hard to steer? You've never driven anything without power steering? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??"
"Power windows? In a truck? Who needs them? Roll down yer own window. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??"
"Look at that . Biggest load THAT truck's ever gonna carry is a 10-pound wheel of artisan cheese"
Aaaaannnd so on. Mother takes her trucks very seriously haha!
She's well known for her contempt for this trend toward big, fancy, fully loaded Monster Trucks.
Mom:
"What -- you never learned to drive a standard? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??"
"What -- you find it hard to steer? You've never driven anything without power steering? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??"
"Power windows? In a truck? Who needs them? Roll down yer own window. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??"
"Look at that . Biggest load THAT truck's ever gonna carry is a 10-pound wheel of artisan cheese"
Aaaaannnd so on. Mother takes her trucks very seriously haha!
Your Mom and I could be BFF! (Hey, I'm sixty.) Though I'll never be a 'Mom' I certainly relate to all the years clinging to this spinning rock gives (Curses?) people's perspectives!
I inherited three things from Papa,one was his beloved heavy truck (Can't remember WHERE he bought the thing from, likely an auction), a Dodge (M37) was one of them. I only use it to haul other people OUT of the mud (Or back to their own garages), 'cause it's just too damned thirsty to keep going (All of 6 MPG, downhill, with a good breeze blowing against yer tailgate!).
It has 'Power NUTTIN' too, and g-damned if my aging bones/muscles ain't hit their limit trying to operate the beast!
Of course, it's winches (And all the rope/cable/snatch-blocks) still give it great value for ranch work).
I see these new trucks, and honestly, just smdh. I've also noticed how much they cost, just to BUY, and couldn't begin to guess the $$$ for insurance/maintenance (You can't work on them yourself, even my aging '93 Ford Ranger has taught me the truth of THAT (For lots of things).).
Given how flimsy their body materials are, lights, bumpers (IF any?), who the hell would ever dare use them as trucks (Ya know, HAULING, and pulling/pushin' stuff.)?
I'll keep/take the old STEEL steeds any day! Still gots my electronic timing light(s) AND feeler guages (For timing/spark plug gaps), an' can tune 'em up with the best of 'em!
I inherited three things from Papa,one was his beloved heavy truck (Can't remember WHERE he bought the thing from, likely an auction), a Dodge (M37) was one of them. I only use it to haul other people OUT of the mud (Or back to their own garages), 'cause it's just too damned thirsty to keep going (All of 6 MPG, downhill, with a good breeze blowing against yer tailgate!).
It has 'Power NUTTIN' too, and g-damned if my aging bones/muscles ain't hit their limit trying to operate the beast!
Of course, it's winches (And all the rope/cable/snatch-blocks) still give it great value for ranch work).
I see these new trucks, and honestly, just smdh. I've also noticed how much they cost, just to BUY, and couldn't begin to guess the $$$ for insurance/maintenance (You can't work on them yourself, even my aging '93 Ford Ranger has taught me the truth of THAT (For lots of things).).
Given how flimsy their body materials are, lights, bumpers (IF any?), who the hell would ever dare use them as trucks (Ya know, HAULING, and pulling/pushin' stuff.)?
I'll keep/take the old STEEL steeds any day! Still gots my electronic timing light(s) AND feeler guages (For timing/spark plug gaps), an' can tune 'em up with the best of 'em!
This has been a fun thread: thanks for stopping by! :)
I certainly like nice, fancy old American luxury cars (I've owned a '79 Lincoln Mark V an an '81 Cadillac Fleetwood), and I like old trucks just as much. I once had a '78 Dodge that I loved.
The thing is, I like fancy cars and old trucks for different reasons, and they don't overlap. I don't want to push a clutch or crank the windows in a Cadillac, and I don't want to NOT do those things in a truck, y' know?
Mom's right: trying to combine a luxury car and a truck is like putting strawberry jam and mustard on the same sandwich. They're great separately, but they just don't go together.
I certainly like nice, fancy old American luxury cars (I've owned a '79 Lincoln Mark V an an '81 Cadillac Fleetwood), and I like old trucks just as much. I once had a '78 Dodge that I loved.
The thing is, I like fancy cars and old trucks for different reasons, and they don't overlap. I don't want to push a clutch or crank the windows in a Cadillac, and I don't want to NOT do those things in a truck, y' know?
Mom's right: trying to combine a luxury car and a truck is like putting strawberry jam and mustard on the same sandwich. They're great separately, but they just don't go together.
"Putting strawberry jam and mustard on the same sandwich?!?!?!"
O.o?!
Not only have I NEVER heard that one before, Imma gonna borrow and SHARE EET!
(I admit, my entire G.I. tract sorta contracted as I read and realized just what that combination would taste like, but am not daring enough to find out for real!)
O.o?!
Not only have I NEVER heard that one before, Imma gonna borrow and SHARE EET!
(I admit, my entire G.I. tract sorta contracted as I read and realized just what that combination would taste like, but am not daring enough to find out for real!)
I also like the '40. I enjoy encountering any kind of car this old that's still basically original, well preserved and still being used for its intended purpose.
There is so much that I love about this vehicle: The trim that curls around the Ford logo at the front. The running boards. The grill split into thirds by those horizontal chrome pieces. The split windshield with the top-mounted wipers (I wonder if they have a motor or are operated manually).
I agree; for a relatively plain car, it still has many delightful details. My personal favourite: the teardrop shape of the headlights. The whole car very nicely reflects the late 1930s Streamline Moderne school of art and design.
According to the car's owner, the wipers are vacuum-operated from a switch on top of the dash. That's one of this car's few extras, and apparently it was a pretty high-zoot feature in a low-priced car then.
I don't know if that was a factory or aftermarket installed option in this particular car, but it is a period-correct feature.
According to the car's owner, the wipers are vacuum-operated from a switch on top of the dash. That's one of this car's few extras, and apparently it was a pretty high-zoot feature in a low-priced car then.
I don't know if that was a factory or aftermarket installed option in this particular car, but it is a period-correct feature.
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