The New Ford is here, and all
who have seen it are unanimous in their verdict that nothing that has
been said in the advance notices of Henry Ford's latest contribution
to the motor world has been over-stated. The car itself is even more
wonderful that the published photographs would lead one to suppose.
The model in Mr. W. H. Youngs'
show room is the Sports Coupe with rumble seat, and even early this
morning a good-sized crowd had gathered to look it over.
Around 8.30 the demonstrator,
Mr. Walter Bradley of the Ford Motor Company, arrived at the garage
and after a preliminary exhibition of starting and stopping on the
garage floor, Mayor Austin, Chief of Police Muir and The Reformer man
were invited to step in for a road demonstration.
All abroad, and in a trice the
snappy little machine had slid out onto Colborne Street. From then on
the passengers were give a ride such as none of them had ever
experienced before.
Asked by the pilot what the
speed limit in Simcoe was, the Chief rashly replied "The sky, so
far as I am concerned." Mr. Bradley took him as his word.
Out onto the Norfolk highway
the car sailed and gathered speed at a rate that fairly took one's
breath. Soon after crossing the tracks the little wonder car was
hitting 63 miles an hour and doing it with an ease and comfort to
passengers that was amazing.
Every demand of the driver was
met with instant response by the machine, and through it all held the
road in a manner that would hardly be expected of a car twice its
weight.
Returning, Mr. Bradley
demonstrated the ability of his charge to hold the road under the most
adverse conditions. From side to side of the road the passengers were
driven at 45 miles per hour, and still this masterful Ford production
gripped the pavement with all fours, with not the slightest sense of
feeling on the part of those aboard that it would overturn.
At the intersection of
Colborne and Stanley Streets the ease with which the car could be
turned was demonstrated and here Mr. Bradley's "fares" were
spun around until they were on the verge of dizziness.
Next the machine was shot over
curbs and boulevards, and took these obstacles with the same precision
and ease that it traveled the level road.
The final thrill for the
passengers -- and it might be said the final triumph for the machine
-- came when Chief Muir was asked to direct the drive to the roughest
road in town.
We do not know whether the
road traveled was the roughest Simcoe can boast of, but it certainly
afforded opportunity to demonstrate when the car could do under bad
road conditions.
Down Sydenham Street and up
Pond through frozen mud at 45 miles per hour, taking sharp turns with
amazing ease satisfied all that the New Ford would meet every demand
that the most exacting driver could make.
On returning to Mr. Young's
showrooms, the place was found to be fairly crowded with people
anxious to look the long-awaited Ford creation over, and ever the
severest critic had nothing but praise for the New Car.
In outward appearances the
car, which has a wheel base of 103.5-inches and an all steel body,
presents a long, low, rather racy appearance. Smooth lines and
carefully rounded curves produce an automobile that is pleasing to
look at. Five steel-spoked wheels and front and rear bumpers add their
note of distinction.
Words are somewhat useless in
trying to paint a picture of the car. It has just that touch of
individuality that make it stand out to advantage either when it is on
the road or parked before the front door. There are any number of
color combinations to be had in six body styles: Tudor, Fordor, Coupe,
Sports Coupe, Phaeton, and Sports Roadster.
The new four-cylinder motor is
a triumph of Henry Ford's engineering ingenuity. It has a rated
horsepower of 24.03, but it actually develops 40 horsepower when the
engine is going at the rate of 2,200 revolutions per minute. That is
practically double the power of the old car.
The motor will carry the car
along at 60 miles per hour for hour after hour without overheating or
showing signs of strain. No matter what the speed, the car rides
smoothly.
Not only may the high speed be
attained and maintained, but the gasoline consumption is low. Thirty
miles to the gallon is given as a fair average, but the careful driver
can secure many more miles that that to his gallon of fuel.
The new car has a gear shift.
Three speeds forward and one reverse are operated by a gear shift
lever with standard movement. That is a question that has always been
asked by those interested in the new car. They did not like the old
system of changing gears with a foot pedal. They wanted the ordinary
clutch and lever. They get it with the new model. And the gear shifts
silently and easily.
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[Compiler's
Comment: After 18 years of Model T Fords, The Model A replaced it in
Dec 1927. The Model A sold for $500(us)
to $1200(us). Rearview
mirror and a heater cost extra.] -- also see Model A ad from
the same issue.
