How I learned to Appreciate Antiques
Eighty years ago this month production of the Ford Model T reached the 12 million mark. I find that staggering, in part because I can't visualise 12 million of anything but mostly because, considering the manufacturing tools of the period and the size of the market compared to modern times, it was an extraordinary accomplishment for one manufacturer.
Young — and even middle age — car collectors tend to overlook the Model T. They say they can't relate to it. I can understand this apathy, for most classic car enthusiasts focus on the cars of their youth. Yet there's another, less obvious reason why folks ignore cars from the automobile's earlier years. They know too little about automotive history.
With an understanding of the conditions in which cars were driven, the automobile's impact on society, and the technology of the times, one can begin to appreciate the Model T and others like it. I, too, was unaware of this until the day I was producing a TV commercial which required the appearance of a 1908 Buick. When the driver showed up on the other side of a deeply rutted field he unhesitatingly drove across it. I was horrified that he'd abuse this valuable antique but when questioned he said, "that's what these cars were built for" and reminded me that good roads were few and far between when his Buick was new.
This past summer more than 50 Model T's showed up almost in my backyard. They'd come from Washington, Oregon, and BC on a group tour and were parked at a nearby motel. It was a revelation to see the variety, marvel at the simple machinery, and to learn that not all Model T's were black.
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