Ford is known for offering reliable and long-lasting pickup trucks — but exactly how durable are they? Here at Downtown Ford, we recently came across the story of a Nova Scotia man who owns a Model T truck that is older than he is — and he’s been driving it for the last 70 years. If that doesn’t highlight Ford durability, we’re not sure what does.
Randal Pitman, an 87-year-old from Nova Scotia, bought the 1927 Ford Model T when he was 17 years old. After pumping gas part time for 10 cents an hour, 17-year-old Pitman had saved up $50. With this money, he went to a car auction where he knew the Model T would be up for sale, determined to purchase it.
“Eventually, I bid $45 and the auctioneer, as auctioneers do, kept saying, ‘Forty-five! Who will give me 50?” he told CBC. “I stupidly said, ‘Forty-seven fifty,’ and he said ‘Sold!’”
To get the Model T to start, Pitman has to twist the crank three times. This truck doesn’t have turn signals, so he must signal his direction at every turn.
Now, the truck continues to make journeys around Pitman’s hometown of South Ohio, Nova Scotia. In the past, he’s traveled near and far with the truck, though, sometimes going more than 600 kilometres to vintage truck shows across Canada.
When he makes this type of trip now, the truck tends to travel on a flatbed to ensure he won’t have any trouble on the journey.