HIN BE
D THE WHE
EL
A Novel T Ford 1914 Model T raceabout Words Greg Price, photos Kevin Clarkson, Greg Price
I really must get my hearing checked. When Editor Kevin told me of my next Behind the Wheel assignment, I could’ve sworn he said it was a ‘Novel T Ford Radio’, and initially wondered why BW was doing articles on old novelty transistor radios, (and how did he know I had a few?) but as you’ve come to expect, I got it hopelessly wrong again.
I
t was in fact Joseph and Fiona McClintock’s superbly restored 1914 Model T raceabout. I’d seen this car before when it featured among some pictures taken during a previous Irishman Rally so I expected to see a rather well-used vehicle showing all the signs of having been rallied over mostly unsealed country roads and farm tracks with lots of sheep and cow poos. I was gob-smacked when this pristine example turned up at what has become our traditional venue for the customary road test and photo14 Beaded Wheels
shoot. There was Joseph, resplendent in his motorcycle gear and crash helmet, effortlessly motoring down McLeans Island Road to Cutler Park – and not wasting any time, either. Once the introductions were dispensed with, and while Editor Kev was taking some photos, I was examining the T for any obvious signs that would indicate its rallying history. I had to get really close before I spotted any, and even then it was only some stone chips on the wire wheels, which I initially thought were spots of mud – until I couldn’t wipe them off. But who cares? This was yet another Veteran that actually gets used, and probably abused at times, yet shows very little sign of its recent life on and off the roads. At least I didn’t have to race for the reference books for this one as I had been in a Model T previously, and in rush-hour traffic. In the early 1990s I used to travel to work with fellow VCC Canterbury member John Irvine, who bought his Model T tourer in 1965, and still owns it today. Despite the best efforts of the 14,000 or so Christchurch earthquakes to destroy most things (including John’s house) his Model
T escaped pretty much unscathed save for some stuff that fell on it or against it. I vividly recall car-pooling with John and another individual back then, and from time to time we would take our classics. John would take the Model T or his 1946 Ford V8, and I would take one of my MK I Zephyrs. John also has a red project Model T raceabout that has been on-going for about as long as I’ve known him. Joseph and Fiona’s Model T (or rather some miscellaneous bits and pieces thereof) was found in 2003 with just the basic running gear in various places on a farm at Horseley Downs near Hawarden north of Christchurch. Rumour has it that it was left there by a shearer in the 1930s. A search of the farm located the front and back axles, the chassis, and parts of the engine which were scattered all over the rural property. Joseph had been collecting Model T bits for some time. Joseph’s Dad, Andrew, had restored his 1912 Model T back in 1980, when Joseph was a mere eight years old. When Joseph was just 12 he was allowed to drive Dad’s Model T at McLeans Island. That was it – Joseph was hooked on Model Ts. Andrew had
