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1904 & 1905 Ford Model C (Ford "Alphabet" Cars)

The 1904 Ford Model C was seen at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. http://www.fordpiquetteavenueplant.org/
The 1905 was seen at the AACA Museum in Hershey. http://www.aacamuseum.org/

This auto can now be seen with the rest of the Alphabet Ford Collection at The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan
Model: Model C
Base Price: $950
Engine: Two-cylinder, 10 hp

For 1905, Ford offered three vehicles, the B, C and F. With the new offerings and a production increase, came the move to a new plant on Piquette Avenue in Detroit. For the first time, Ford began production of their own engines and planetary running gears. Most historians recognize the 1905 model as a carry-over from 1904 as the move to the new plant brought increased production problems and dramatically increased new-model production time. The C version was available in two models – an open-air runabout and a runabout with a tonneau style covering. An optional windshield was available from the factory. The Canadian built cars included a side-entry door on the tonneau model. This vehicle’s body was painted by Barry and Lindie Eash of B & I Enterprises, Windber, Pennsylvania, as a gift to the AACA Museum.

Museum Collection: Larry Porter Trust – “Alphabet Ford Collection”

This information below came from the Model T Ford Club of America:

THE FORD MODEL C

The Model C Ford combines all the good features of the popular two cylinder car of 1904, known as Model A.  
It is now well proven that the public demand a medium priced, roomy, light car, a simple car and one with ample power and minimum motor vibration. The whirlwind of success brought us by our 1904 Model A is ample proof that it supplied just what is needed. The car of utility is the one which anyone, knowing little of mechanical construction, can count upon every day of the year to take him out and bring him back safely, with no trouble and at low cost. A car that is comfortable for two and ample for four persons.  

That this is to be found in our Model C the hundreds of our 1904 friends will testify.  
The best proof of the success of the 1904 car, is that the most important changes from it in the Model C are an increase of wheel base and a hood in front, thereby greatly increasing the appearance of the car and allowing an increased gasoline capacity. The Model C is in fact a small edition of a touring car with ample power, and greater simplicity and ease of control.  
The reasons for the great popularity of the Ford car may be summed up principally in the following:  
It is powerful, strong and beautiful.  
It is absolutely simple to care for and control.  
It is hard to break and easy to repair.  
It is built of the best of materials and is of the finest workmanship.  
It is easy riding, comfortable and free from vibration.  
It is practically noiseless.  
It is thoroughly tested and sold under guarantee of the most successful motor car builders in the United States.  
It is inexpensive to buy and economical to maintain. 

THE MOTOR

The motor is of the water cooled horizontal two cylinder opposed type, giving a maximum amount of power for its size and weight. The cylinder with its water jacket is cast in one piece, thus obviating packed joints so likely to leak. The crank shaft is a steel drop forging with bearing surfaces ground to gauge. The valve cams are hardened and run in oil. The inlet and exhaust valves are of the same size, both mechanically and separately operated. They are easily removable by taking out the threaded plug in the valve chamber and removing the spring seat pin from the valve.  
The water cooling system consists of a tank near the motor, a pump on the main shaft outside the motor, and a radiating coil of ample and increased capacity placed in front of the hood.

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Heritage Days

On April 8, 2018 there will be a special unveiling of this wonderful collection.

Join us for a very special annual meeting as we dedicate the return of the Ford "alphabet" cars to the plant where they were assembled and honor the people who built them. 

It's a new chapter for the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant and we want to share it with you. We will have a special reunion for the descendants of the original workers and shareholders of the plant.

Details: Sunday, April 8, 4:30-6:30 pm
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
461 Piquette, Detroit
Dinner by Slow's BBQ and drinks served by Miss Mixology

Member tickets: $29
Non-member tickets: $34

Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 313-872-8759 x2 or by visiting:

http://www.fordpiquetteavenueplant.org/register-for-heritage-day/

I will have quite a bit of information about this collection and early Ford History in the next little while.

Some of the images I will feature will be in this collection and others have been seen a other locations.

I hope you enjoy the presentation and get to see The Porter Collection of "Alphabet Ford" cars during the special event or in the near future at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan.