New truck #@$%@#&

[Ford850]

The front of the truck has little damage. Look at the rear of the frame, with the axle ripped off and the frame twisted and torn to pieces. This looks like an offset front end collision sent the truck sideways through a tree or something, as it rolled and twisted the truck into pieces like a NASCAR wreck. The truck was fleeing from a murder scene so the driver had nothing to lose.

 

[ultrarunner]

Funny how a "while" ago, people knew how to make bumpers that absorbed low speed energy, and survived just fine.....

Model T Ford Forum: Will the bumper bracket fit with twin hasslers?

Guess we're too "smart" to understand that now.....

(More like they'd be too much of a drag on the economy.....)

Rgds, D.

Model A Bumpers are made of spring steel... the same used for the spring packs..

It was 90 years ago since the Model A debut... but it is fascinating how many things Ford got right and the proof is just how many have lasted so long.

I have hopped into my 1930 and had no qualms heading out from SF Bay Area to a show in Reno Nevada up highway 50 through Tahoe... it was a very pleasant drive... besides you meet the nicest people on the highway and plenty of photo ops...

 

[Industrial Toys]

Pictures would be appreciated.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ford Model A (1927& - Wikipedia

 

[Industrial Toys]

You are such an interesting man. Don't you take pictures of your stuff and adventures?

 

[ultrarunner]

Probably the least when it comes to taking pictures... and never been one for Facebook

I have a brother that was very much into photography and had some of his works displayed and did weddings for friends... and he took some beautiful pictures... I bet over the years he has spent 25k on cameras with always something better coming out...

No cell coverage here... so owning/upgrading phone has never been viable... and for a long time only dial up and now DSL.

I do carry a company phone with no data plan which means I can take a picture and then send it via email when wi-fi is available... I have had this updated phone a few months and started posting a few more tractor pictures lately...

One foot in the past and one in the present...

 

[3930dave]

It was 90 years ago since the Model A debut... but it is fascinating how many things Ford got right and the proof is just how many have lasted so long.

I have difficulty envisioning many of today's vehicles being around in 90 years.

I think it was Paystar who posted about hauling for a highway job in Northern Ontario. Time to kill on those jobs, so got talking with a local old timer with a nice property beside the highway, and a slew of new vehicles in the driveway. Fella said his A was his favourite vehicle, and if it had to, could go places that gave his 4x4 trucks pause.

That part of the history makes the survival rate even more impressive - what passed for roads on a lot of the continent (esp. seasonally) would be called "overlanding" today. Vehicles often took quite the pounding back when, with just "normal" driving.

Rgds, D.

 

[Oaktree]

I have difficulty envisioning many of today's vehicles being around in 90 years.
Vehicles often took quite the pounding back when, with just "normal" driving.

I doubt any of us will still be around in 90 years, so it's a moot point. I would say that if a modern vehicle is not usable decades down the road, it will have more to do with all the integrated electronics that have become unobtainium than anything else, especially since most of those modules must be flashed (by the dealer) with the VIN to operate.

Here in New England (and I would imagine in Canada as well) rust was the enemy. The copious amounts of road salt used in the winter does a number on vehicles. In the 50s thru at least the 80s 8-10 years was about tops for an American or European vehicle to last before it was rusted out, Japanese vehicles were lucky to get half that. I don't know when salt use became common, maybe they didn't use it during the model A's heyday. I also doubt cars in the 20s or 30s were driven much in the winter or foul weather either.

Consumers loved that era of car bumper. Low speed ding, the shocks on the bumper cycled in/out, and you often didn't even have a scratch (actual chromed steel bumper, for younger readers :thumbsup.

Modern bumpers - cheap, often unfinished raw metal impact bar, with something like styrofoam used, for a one-time event. They pass the standards, for one low-speed hit.

Vehicle manufacturers get to put out a marginally cheaper design; consumers get much higher repair bills for low-speed accidents.

Who, exactly "loved" those 70s-era energy absorbing bumpers? Most people I know thought they were ugly. The 70s were a horrible decade for cars, I'd be hard pressed to name anything memorable except for a handful of 60s carryovers like the VW Beetle or some of the GM midsize cars (Chevelle, Cutlass).

Keep in mind that government crash standards (such as they were at the time) were considerably less stringent 45 years ago than they are today. The requirements are for passenger safety, not cosmetic preservation. But you already knew that.

Model A Bumpers are made of spring steel... the same used for the spring packs..

It was 90 years ago since the Model A debut... but it is fascinating how many things Ford got right and the proof is just how many have lasted so long.

Other than the occasional restored one at a car show, I don't think I've ever seen any "in the wild" in my lifetime.

 

[ultrarunner]

Never have seen a rusted out Model A fender... if a Model A has rust it is usually a spot in the lower cowl panels...

The local chapter is quite active... a few years ago the SF Bay Area group toured New England States and drove a route home hitting National Parks...

As for rust... my work Van... year 1985 has never been inside... the underside is like factory new... no rust proofing... there is some truth to the California Car...

Here, the wreckers are filled with cars having great sheet metal and mostly retired because the 1976 whatever can't pass the emission test... I have several like this that run fine but will not pass smog.



Another Group has driven Alaska to Denali... Colorado and Oregon are favorites too.

Sadly... the longest trip I have made is SF to Reno and back... just don't have the time off others do...

I 1977 I picked up a brand new Mercedes in Germany for the company... it was US model... everywhere I went the locals were checking it out... especially the bumpers... saying what a wonderful option available only on export... plus no domestic car had cup holders... and A/C was quite rare back then...

 

[3930dave]

Who, exactly "loved" those 70s-era energy absorbing bumpers? Most people I know thought they were ugly. The 70s were a horrible decade for cars, I'd be hard pressed to name anything memorable except for a handful of 60s carryovers like the VW Beetle or some of the GM midsize cars (Chevelle, Cutlass).

Keep in mind that government crash standards (such as they were at the time) were considerably less stringent 45 years ago than they are today. The requirements are for passenger safety, not cosmetic preservation. But you already knew that.

Gearheads, and other informed consumers. Lots of people didn't care back then, and still don't. Yep, some junk designs back then for sure, but many years of the 2 door Cutlass were my favourites.....

IIHS #'s.

Tests show most bumpers are bad

There were some better designed (form vs. function) ones back when, but I'd take the ugly ones on the Escort myself. Econoboxes are function over form to me - but I get that won't cut it for many.....

Today many people pay no attention to the repair costs, for various reasons. Get down the road one way or another...... s'all good :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.