Dad's Model T "Flivver"

[Drbrown]

My Dad built a "Flivver" (also spelled "Fliver) during his 1924 sophomore year in college. The photos show he made a custom wood frame and used a Model T engine, steering column, body parts and running gear. It was later stolen and recovered in 1926 stripped of its tires and whatever else not mentioned. He later owned a "Henry" (??).

Deffinition: Various but first use is from 1910. The Model T was first sold in 1908, so it's possible the word was originally used for the Model T, since it was one of the few cheap cars of the time; one cite from 1924 indicates that a flivver = Model T Ford = cheap car. Later used as name for a few military ships often referred to as "tin cans".

[Seth Swoboda]

Perhaps the "Henry" you made a reference of was a Henry J?

[Drbrown]

Seth Swoboda: Today would be my Dad's 113th birthday and I'm scanning old photos .... thank goodness for old family photo albums.

Could be a "Henry J" .... I only remember what they looked like in the 1950's.

(1) Another photo of my Dad's Flivver during his Junior year of college - it doesn't have a body yet - and that must be a college buddy making a "move" on the gal.

(2) the car referred to as his "Henry". Nice upholstery. That's my 19 year old future mother adorning the hood.

[rotorwrench]

It didn't take long for a Model T to get old on the roads of the era. The term jalopy is pretty much synonymous. It just goes to show that there have been hot rods about as long as there have been automobiles. I've seen a few T "speedsters" out there.

[fourfords]

Henry J Kaiser. An important ship builder during World War 2. In the 50's created a car company. His car was call the "Henry J"

[jagnweiner]

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Well, that's not a Henry J in the photo, as they weren't released until 1950. It appears it could have been the Henry automobile company, which manufactured cars from 1910-1912. http://american-automobiles.com/Henry.html

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Drbrown

Seth Swoboda: Today would be my Dad's 113th birthday and I'm scanning old photos .... thank goodness for old family photo albums.

Could be a "Henry J" .... I only remember what they looked like in the 1950's.

(1) Another photo of my Dad's Flivver during his Junior year of college - it doesn't have a body yet - and that must be a college buddy making a "move" on the gal.

(2) the car referred to as his "Henry". Nice upholstery. That's my 19 year old future mother adorning the hood.

Just an observation, where is the guys right leg? The one making a move on the young lady leaning on the fence? It's probably just an illusion as he was moving his leg as the photo was taken. That gal doesn't look too happy!

[jimTN]

That is a 17-21 model T touring in the Henry pic.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by fourfords

Henry J Kaiser. An important ship builder during World War 2. In the 50's created a car company. His car was call the "Henry J"

There's a little more to this than what's stated here, but it is essentially correct. (Who can forget the supercharged Kaiser Manhattans from the mid '50's? Henry J's made great gassers, though.)

[cmbrucew]

Originally Posted by tubman

There's a little more to this than what's stated here, but it is essentially correct. (Who can forget the supercharged Kaiser Manhattans from the mid '50's? Henry J's made great gassers, though.)

Henry J Kaiser
Started Kaiser automobile, Frazer automobile, Henry J automobile, Kaiser Permanente heath care, Hoover (Boulder) dam Kaiser Steel, Kaiser permanente health care, also a few shipyards on the west coast were building Kaiser coffins AKA destroyers.
He was a brilliant engineer and builder with great ideas and no money.
Millions of dollars passed thru his hands but alas he died poor.
Interesting man.
Bruce

[jagnweiner]

Originally Posted by cmbrucew

He was a brilliant engineer and builder with great ideas and no money.
Millions of dollars passed thru his hands but alas he died poor.

Don't mean to continue straying from the original topic, but I don't think that's true. As far as I know, Kaiser Industries was still thriving when Henry died.

[Drbrown]

Seth Swoboda: Good observation regarding the fellow pursuing the lady at the guard rail. She does look a bit annoyed. I didn't notice your point about the fellow's leg. I think his left leg may be directly behind his right leg and out-of-sight. And the blurred movement may just be his suit coat flapping in a breeze. He's pretty broad-shouldered and doesn't appear in any other of my Dad's photos.

Reminds me of the old TV show titled "The One-armed Man". How about a sequel "The One-legged Man" ? No wonder the gal is not appearing receptive.

jagnweiner: Your comment about the "Henry Auto Company" would fit. A college student probably would be driving an older vehicle as such.

[flatford8]

I also don't want to stray further from the OP but I think his right foot is on the bottom fence rail on one side of the bored young lady and his right arm is on the other side.... he's got her trapped...... a real smooth operator........ Mark

[GB SISSON]

Really cool photos and story. I bet that flivver would scoot down the road with that light wooden frame and no body.

[jagnweiner]

Originally Posted by Drbrown

jagnweiner: Your comment about the "Henry Auto Company" would fit. A college student probably would be driving an older vehicle as such.

It made sense to me when I came up with it, but jimTN is right. It does appear to be a T of the late teens, which your dad presumably named "Henry" the Ford. The wheels looked a little too "thick" to me for a Model T, but everything else checks out, based on internet photos.

Neat photos. Thanks for sharing.