History, Ford A, Testdrive through the alps, September 1928

[SilverGhost]

Hello friends
I am living in Switzerland and own a Ford Phaeton 1930.
Last week I found in an old newspaper from 1928 a very interesting ad.
According to this ad (see picture attached) Ford tested its new Model A in a 6 day run through the Swiss Alps (detailed route plan at the end of my mail).
They startet in Zurich 20th Sept. 1928, 11am and the motor was the next 147 hours running and never switched off. The motor hood was sealed and this seal was checked 51 times by officials. The model A mastered this most difficult mountain tour in Europe without any repairs. It was a

I did not found any information on this testtour in the internet, but I know that Ford published a prospectus in America about this tour.

Does anyone of you have more information?

Best regards
eric


Details of the Ford Tour.
Values in brackets indicate the high of the passes.

Zürich (410 m), Luzern (439 m), Brünig (1005 m), Meiringen (598 m), Grimselpass (2176m), Gletsch (1764 m), Furkapass (2431 m), Hospenthal (1463 m), St. Gotthard Hospiz (2112 m), Airolo (1145 m), Locarno (205 m), Bellinzona (244 m), Lugano (277 m), Chiasso (235 m), Lugano (277 m), Monte Ceneri (553 m), Locarno (205 m), Brissago, schweizerische Grenze (202 m), Bellinzona (244 m), St. Bernhardin Hospiz (2063 m),Thusis (701 m), Davos Dorf (1574 m), Klosters (1210 m), Davos Dorf (1574 m), Flüelapass (2369 m), Süs (1429 m), Silvaplana (1816 m), Julierpass (2287 m), Chur (599 m), Rheineck (402 m), St. Gallen (673 m), Rorschach (402 m), Arbon (402 m), St. Gallen (673 m),Schaffhausen (400 m), Winterthur (450 m), Zürich (410 m), Basel (283 m), La Chaux-de-Fonds (1000 m), Sagnettepass (1125 m), Fleurier (748 m), Bullet-Pass (1153 m), Yverdon (438 m), Lausanne (519 m), Genf (394 m), Lausanne (519 m), Aigle (420 m), Pillon-Pass(1550 m), Bern (540 m), via Burgdorf—Solothurn (434 m), Biel (440 m), Bern (540 m),Solothurn (434 m), Aarau (386 m), Luzern (439 m), Altdorf (550 m), Klausenpass (1952 m),Glarus (480 m), Rapperswil (420 m), Zürich (410 m), via Bülach—Schaffhausen (400 m),Frauenfeld (421 m), Winterthur (450 m), Zürich (410 m).[/I]

[1930artdeco]

I wonder howmany cars to day could do that? I for one would love a shot at it just for fun and the view.

Mike

[John Butts in CT]

Hello, SilverGhost, and thank you for sharing.

Many Ford dealers around the globe sponsored endurance runs to promote the "New Ford," but this is he first time I've heard of a run through the Alps.

I notice that your I.D. is SilverGhost.

The concept of endurance runs harks back to (at the latest) 1907 for Rolls-Royce. In May 1907, Claude Johnson drove from London to Scotland and back. This run was a precursor to the Scottish Reliability Trial for which the motor car was later awarded a gold model by the RAC.


The original idea was to drive 10,000 miles without stopping the engine, but the Silver Ghost proved so reliable that the target was raised to 15,000 miles. Despite a stall at 629 miles, when rough roads shook the petrol switch to the off position, the Silver Ghost ran faultlessly for 40 days and nights.

Best regards,

JWB

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by John Butts in CT

...the Silver Ghost ran faultlessly for 40 days and nights.

Ah... but did it run in the rain ?

( After all, we are talking about a British car... )

[SilverGhost]

Hello John
Thank you for your answer.

The story with the RR SilverGhost is new for me. It is impressive that in that early days they were able to drive a car for 40 days without interruption.

It is even for me the first time that I heard from that Ford running through our Alps. I will try to get in contact with old local newspaper archives. Perhaps they can find some stories because officials from the towns and the ordinary people were invited in many towns to inscpect the car. This should have be attractive for the old journalists.

Best regards
eric

[ctlikon0712]

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SilverGhost, that is interesting. Hopefully you will be able to find more information about the trial. I for one am interested in the details.
Thank you,

[SilverGhost]

Hi ctlikon0712
I will keep you all informed.
At the moment it is very dificult to get additional information.
But time will help.

best regards
Eric (SilverGhost)

[400A-64]

We enjoyed our drive through the Alps on the Around The World Tour (1982). It was snowing when we left Zurich, however we did not need chains. We did appreciate the modern highway through the mountains!!
Bruce Davis,Tourmaster ,1982 World Tour
[email protected]

[roccaas]

Didn't two guys drive a Model A backwards from California to the Eastern Seaboard?

[glenn in camino]

In 2001 I drove mine through the Austrian Alps with The Model A Touring Club. One of the best tours ever.

[Bick in New Zealand]

Many Ford dealers around the globe sponsored endurance runs to promote the "New Ford,"

Here in New Zealand the Colonial Motor Company who were the Ford Agents, sponsored a record attempt in 1931. After the event they gave away postcards and a brochure covering the event and advertising the New Ford and all its virtues.

[Barney]

Hello SilverGhost, thanks for sharing.
Have never heard of this tour. That was probably an exhausting business and a real pioneer-effort. I would not necessarily make this trip with my A. The old lady would probably not happy with me.
Pictures of this trip would be very interesting.
Many greetings from Switzerland (Bernese Oberland)
Barney