/*from pinterest*/

This past weekend, Rolf & I visited the town of Cochrane (Alberta, Canada) just west of Calgary to see the “Cochrane Classics Car Club Show and Shine”.

Our neighbour Ross had entered his 1914 Model T Ford – ‘C’ cab. This is what it looks like. I especially like the leather diamond tuft seats.

This car is similar to the car Mr. Lyon drives in THE GHOST AND CHRISTIE MCFEE except Mr. Lyon’s car is a 1911 Model T.

Several readers have asked me if Mr. Lyon is a ghost, and I don’t know. But I do think there are several ghosts in that story, not just Christie’s ghost. At any rate, I never figured out if Mr. Lyon was a ghost or not, although I suppose, if he really was a ghost, he may have brought the car with him from 1911 – when the original town of Bandit Creek flooded.

Like most antique cars, Mr. Lyon’s car has had several modifications. For example, the buffalo wire wheels. Wire wheels were not available in 1911. And neither was the electric start conversion he added.

This is what it’s like driving a Model T on the highway in Alberta sunshine.

Model T Ford

Ross provided us with some interesting Model T Facts. Did you know that in 1914, it took 93 minutes to assemble a car, with an 8 hour day at $5.00 per day? Back then, $5 a day was an excellent wage and it attracted the best workers.

Not only did Henry Ford provide good wages, he was an early promoter of the 8 hour day. Although Ross wonders if that was because of the better working conditions, or the fact that an 8 hour day allowed for 3 shifts to work in the factory.

And then there were the colours. Colours, other than black, were only available for the Model T in 1908 – 1912, and 1926 – 1927. Ford wrote that “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” Black – because it had the quickest drying time.

I don’t think Mr. Lyon liked black, because he had his 1911 Model T wearing a fresh coat of metallic red.

Have you got a favourite colour for your car?