I’ve not completely lost the plot.
Ford
Where are the old time traffic cops ?
Where are the old time traffic cops? Not that I was ever a big drinker and it has been well over 40 years since I have been guilty of even the slightest form of drink driving.
I recall one evening back in the 1970’s when I was pulled over by a traffic cop for driving along Railway Avenue Mt Isa in my 1959 Ford Fairlane. (similar to photo right)
I loved that car. It had a huge Canadian V8.
The Cop asked me why I was driving on the Highway at only 10 miles an hour?. I explained to him that “I was drunk and did not want to run anybody over“. That I was nearly home as I lived in the B.S.D barracks (a few hundred yards up the road)
I recall the Policeman severely shaking his head. He then escorted me home following me in the Police car. When when arrived the barracks the cop gave me the biggest bollocking I ever had and threatened to drive me five miles out of town and make me walk home if was ever caught drunk at the wheel again.
Back in those days I was earning good money. I could happily pay whatever fine that he could impose. But The thought of walking five miles home drunk was scary enough to keep me driving sober for the next 40 years.
I have told this story many times, hoping nobody ever followed it up by locating the cop concerned. I am guessing that by now he has safely retired. . So I can Blog about it without worrying about causing this Old Time Cop any repercussions.
1965 Ford Zodiac Mk III
1965 Ford Zodiac Mk III – 2.5 litre colour Green This car was previously part of the Yorkshire car collection on display at Keithley and Hornsea . The car has done over 100000 miles and is mainly un-restored. The car has appeared in the TV series Heartbeat.
Continued from page 3 More Ford UK History
The Ford Y engine was 933cc and managed around 8 horsepower. During this early period at Dagenham Ford restricted itself to the English production of small engines in small cars, Ford Anglia and the Prefect. The Prefect having the larger motor 1.172, side valve. And the Anglia received the bigger motor in 1949. During this same period Ford assembled American models with V8 engines.
Ford Anglia 1939 to 1953 production 166.864
Ford Prefect 1939 to 1953 production 379,339
1914 Ford “T” Model Tourer
1914 Ford “T” Model Tourer owned by Mark Rand-
Gladys Emmanuel, the 1914 Model T – Tourer was built in Detroit in early 1914. She lived in Uruguay until 1979 when she was exported to the UK. Like all Model T’s she has a 2.8 litre engine, two forward speeds and a transmission brake. She lacks what would nowadays be considered essential items like front brakes, windscreen wipers, instruments and shock absorbers. Even so, the ride is not harsh, though stopping requires some anticipation. The three pedals are (left to right) clutch, reverse gear and foot brake (think about it). Ignition is by trembler coil, one for each cylinder. The headlights are acetylene and the sidelights are paraffin. Air conditioning comes as standard equipment. Top speed is 45-ish on a good day but 35-ish is less of a strain on man and beast.
The Dales Historic Vehicle Club
Welcome The Dales is a small, friendly car club, whose rules limit its membership to 100. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month at Steeton Hall Typically, we have an outside speaker though quiz evenings run by our own members are popular too. We try to get speakers on a wider range of subjects than just cars and car related topics. Unusually for a car club, around half of our membership is female. We have been described as a social club with old cars thrown in. Throughout the season we attend many country shows and take part in the increasing number of old vehicle runs which take place in the glorious Yorkshire Dales countryside. If you would like to join us (ownership of an historic vehicle is not essential), get in touch with our secretary, whose details are on the committee page. You will be made most welcome.
Some Ford UK History
The first English Ford factory was opened in 1911. The Model T ford and a few years later when the new model was introduced the Ford Model A were built in Manchester at Trafford Park.
In 1932 Ford moved to Dagenham alongside the Thames River. It was from this factory that the first of the truly British Fords evolved. (continues page 6 ) Ford Y
1915 ‘T’ Model Ford
1915 ‘T’ Model Ford entry number 15 Driver Gavin Pocock Navigator Karen Pocock
1915 FORD ‘T’ MODEL
Car of the Month From BVAC Newsletter ‘Vintage Views’
The car of the Month belongs to Warren and Maurine Pockock. The remains of this car were found In the country town of Tara in 1966. This restoration took seven years costing approximately $800. Model; ‘T’ Ford Runabout
Club: Brisbane Vintage Auto Club (Inc)
Gavin had to chisel the original pistons from the block and had sleeves machined for the middle two. He poured his own middle main in white metal and hand scraped it to suit, all the others are still original. The radiator, aluminum bonnet, rear mudguard, doors and boot section have been made from many patterns and photos. Maurine, apart from putting up with Warren restoring his pride and joy, made the hood and upholstered the seats in the backyard.
The first rally the car went on was in 1975 for the Celebration of 50 years of Ford in Australia, in an unfinished state. 1976 saw the first rally in a completed state and it is still going strong today. Maybe not as bright and shiny as back then but just as reliable.
Today the car is rallied by Gavin and Karen Pockock who have recently returned from the Barossa Valley, SA after a T Ford Rally with 175 other cars (or shall we say cranks)
1924 ‘T’ Model Ford
1924 ‘T’ Model Ford Entry number 6 Driver George Schoenauer
Navigator Chris Schoenauer.
You could say my life started in the foundry. I do not care to think about what happened before that day but on 31st March 1924 I distinctly remember being extremely hot. When I cooled down I was the engine block of a Model T Ford.
Someone came along and hit me on the side with some sharp instrument and I became known as number C 481771. My memory is a bit fuzzy around that time however I recall being placed in a chassis with some other parts and then started up and driven out into a yard with hundreds of my peers. After a while I took stock of the situation and noted that I was not getting a body, but instead I was loaded in a crate and put on a boat bound for Australia. I eventually ended up in Adelaide at a local Ford distributor called Duncan Motors where under their guidance I was fitted with a runabout body. Boy I was proud.
1930 ‘A’ Model Ford
1930 ‘A’ Model Ford Entrant number 20 Driver Bob Bragg Navigator Cecilia Bragg
The Ford Model A was available in a wide selection of body types, Coupe Standard Coupe Deluxe, Business Coupe, Sport Coupe, Standard Roadster Coupe, Deluxe Roadster Coupe,Convertible Cabriolet, Convertible Sedan, – Standard Phaeton, Deluxe Phaeton, Standard Tudor, Deluxe Tudor, Town Car, Standard Fordor 2-window, Deluxe Fordor 2-window Standard Fordor 3-window, Deluxe Fordor 3-window – Victoria, Station Wagon, Taxicab, Truck, Commercial. production ended on August 1931, with 4,320,446 Model A’s made in all styles
1920 T model Ford
1920 T model Ford owned by Michael and Sharon Anderson
Michael and Sharon bought the Car from Victoria, it had originally been restored around 24 years ago.
There were a good few late nights bringing the Ford up to roadworthy standard, but even with all the long hours the first outing was a bit of a let down.
This photo taken at Gladstone recently is evidence that the problems have been solved and the car rallies well.
1954 Ford F-100
Story by Doc Find him here
Last year, my brother in law bought himself a nice little project truck, a 1954 Ford F-100, and asked me if I’d build the engine for him. It came with a 351 Cleveland that someone had dropped into it, and I was all for building that, as I’ve always found it to be a great engine. Unfortunately, the affordable options for the 351 are limited, and since I wanted more than the stock compression, we finally settled on a 35 engine.
I couldn’t convince him to go with a standard transmission, so we picked up a THM400 GM transmission and I started the build on the power train, while the truck was being totally stripped down to the chassis. She was intact, for the most part, and surprisingly, not too badly rusted. But she hadn’t rolled in over 20 years, so I knew we had our work cut out for us to get her ready to show.
We picked up a very low mileage 350 cid engine and the transmission out of a GM motor home and I stripped the engine down for inspection. She was in great shape, and only needed a .015” shaving on the cylinders. The mains and heads were in great shape.
New pistons and shaved heads promised a considerably higher compression ratio than the stock 350, and I stopped just short of needing to upgrade the valves. That gave me plenty to do while the body shop started working on the chassis and body.
The chassis work included new motor mounts and transmission cross-member, as well as a swap-out to a new Mustang II front end conversion. A hood conversion seemed to be a nice touch, too. We decided that power steering would be a good addition. Besides the standard dent removal, priming and preparation, we went through a number of color matching exercises, to find the right paint. We finally settled on a two-tone scheme – black over metallic copper.

Eventually, I got around to the fuel/air system, and settled on a Weiand Street Warrior intake manifold with a manual Edelbrock 650 four barrel carb. The other end of the mill will be handled by some Hooker headers and Thrush glass-packs.


Meanwhile, I was busy on my end, and as happy as a pig in the mud! Plenty to do. And by the way, the color chosen for the block and heads was not my idea, and has since been changed to a hi-temp copper.
Eventually, I got around to the fuel/air system, and settled on a Weiand Street Warrior intake manifold with a manual Edelbrock 650 four barrel carb. The other end of the mill will be handled by some Hooker headers and Thrush glass-packs.
That means a lot of tiny details to work out still. The project has already been a year in the making, but several months of that was waiting to get the truck back from the paint & body shop. We’ll be ordering the wheels and rubber this week, so little by little, she’s coming along. Here’s a basic idea of what our project will look like when she’s done.
1933 Ford Sedan
Owned By Laurie & Carol Kyte , Gladstone. I can remember taking these pictures outside the Clyde hotel on a market day. I recall taking 12 pics because my intent was to make a calendar. I do not remember If I made the calendar or not.