Celebrating The Birth Of The Tin Lizzie

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- The Model T Ford wasn't America's first car, but it was the car that changed the automobile industry.  October 1st marks the 100th anniversary of the first Model T.  More than 15 million were produced, and some of those are still running just like new.

The Ford Motor Company produced the Model T from 1908 until 1927.  Fred Houston and Ted Forcum own seven of them.

"Last Saturday we drove the car from Tulsa to Okmulgee and around to Bixby," said Ted Forcum.

He says it's enjoyable to drive and people seem to enjoy seeing him drive it.  It was manufactured in November of 1909.  So, it is just short of 99 years old.  It sold for $900 which was expensive.

By the time Ford perfected the moving assembly line production, time to build the Model T dropped from around 12 hours to an hour and a half.  The price of the car dropped to less than $300 dollars.

"This is my car.  It's a 1913 runabout," said Fred Houston.

It's been converted to a pickup.  It's kind of an aftermarket conversion Houston says was common back then.

Fred also owns a speedster with Fords first tilt steering wheel.

"This is called the tilt or fat man wheel," said Fred Houston.

Starting a Model T could be a challenge, but Ted made it look almost easy.

The top cruising speed is about 35 miles per hour for a Model T.  The car gets about 20 miles per gallon and runs just fine on today's regular gas. 

But, you can't buy one for less than $300 anymore.

In 1999, more than 100 automobile experts from 32 countries chose the Model T as the most influential car of the 20th Century.