Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

I was at the main Los Angeles library today looking at some Los Angeles Times archives. I came upon this May 25, 1919 article about Model T number 77 being in Los Angeles. I think you will find the article "Granddaddy of the Flivvers discovered in Los Angeles" interesting. I wonder what ever happened to number 77.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Can you copy and paste the article? It won't open for me.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

I love the reference to the "modern car." That's a neat story. Thanks for posting.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Tom,
I tried to copy and paste the article, but could not. If you email me at [email protected] I will email you a copy.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Maybe you open this version better?

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

The engine is in the basement of the Petersen Museum, saw it back in 2007. Bob

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Interesting article! After reading it I have 3 questions:
What was the date of this articles first printing?
Did any of 1-76 survive?
Why did Model T come before Model A?

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

The Model T did NOT come before the Model A. The Model A came first in the present Ford Mtr. Company. Do a search on Ford 'Alphabet Cars'.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Ford had already use the Model A before and got as far as model T. He then started over again with the 1928 Model A .

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Ford came out with the first Model A in 1903,then came B,C,F,K,N,R,S, then T in 1908. 1927 he started again with A.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Letter cars,
The early Fords

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Engine number 77 is still owned by the City of Los Angeles. They had it and many of their other cars on loan to the Peterson-they were not technically owned by the Peterson. It is pictured in either one or both of Bruce Mc Calley's books: From Here to Obscurity and/or the Model T Ford Encyclopedia-I don't remember which one.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Funny to read a 100-year-old article that refers to an 11-year-old Model T as "old-timer" and "ancient"

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

I looked at page 19 of "Here to Obscurity". It shows a picture of the top of engine number 77, which is owned by the Los Angeles County Museum. It looks like it is in a frame, but may not be in the car any more?

GZ, was it just the engine that was on display and not the complete car?
If so, I wonder what happened to the compete car?

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Neil-It is just the engine/transmission assembly on the front part of a frame. That is all that was ever there. Nobody knows where the rest of the car went. The City of Los Angeles did at one time own Model T Serial Number 714. I am not sure if they still own it or not.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

The other T mentioned in the article was #3,058,769 and was "one of the newest" so that puts the date of the article around the end of April, 1919.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

Funny how times change. Even in the 50's a 6 year old car was considered overdue for replacement. My dad bought a new 1954 Ford Country Squire wagon and kept it until he traded it in on a new 1960 Valiant staion wagon. He usually traded every 3 or 4 years, as most of the neighbors did. Today I consider my 1999 Olds a fairly new car, even though it's 16 years old already.

Re: Not Model A: What happen to Model T number 77?
 

I believe #714 is the "Eastwood 1909 Ford" sad how that car and the others in the City Collection are never seen outside the basement. Bob