Driving 101: We Get Behind the Wheel of a 1912 Ford Model T!
As the automotive universe speeds towards a future where autonomous driving rules, it’s a bit incongruous to talk of driving an early Ford Model T. But this was the first really mass-market vehicle in history; 15 million Model T cars sold between 1908 and 1927. At that time, most buyers had to then learn how to drive. At that, as we’ll demonstrate, was no simple task in those early days.
While there were far fewer vehicles on the roads back then compared to today, and those that were had far fewer restrictions to deal with, it required a ton of concentration, know-how and cool-headedness to master driving the Model T.
Put otherwise, today those who learn to drive must pass government-regulated tests and be aware of a litany of regulations and laws governing the act of driving. Back then there was little of that, but on the other hand motorists needed to master the technology of their vehicle.
Fewer and fewer people today know how to drive a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission – we’ve seen how manufacturers are phasing out that option in their new-vehicle product offerings. If you’re not able to engage in three-pedal driving, forget about climbing behind the wheel of a Ford Model T!
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