The English Model T Ford - A Century of the Model T in Britain
Right from the start, Ford were selling in Britain with the help of one Percival Perry, and the Model T was first shown to the world at the London Motor Show on November 13 1908. Ford’s first and largest overseas plant was opened in Manchester, England in 1911, and Britain was to become the most significant overseas territory for Ford.
This book, THE ENGLISH MODEL T FORD, is the first detailed history to be published on the subject. It is not just a catalogue of production facts and figures, not a picture book of Model Ts, nor a re-run of existing well known Model T facts. This is a complete and fully researched work on Model Ts in Britain covering social and people issues as well as the very large number of model variants not made in the USA.
The three authors, Bruce Lilleker, Martin Riley and Neil Tuckett, with help from other members of the British club, the Model T Ford Register of Great Britain, have spent more than six years creating this wonderful book. Drawing on many sources for their information including original Ford of Great Britain records, as well as personal and public libraries, the authors have brought a wealth of information together into a very professionally produced hardback book. The authors themselves have also called on their own accumulated knowledge, with over 100 years of active interest in Manchester built Model Ts.
But this is not a heavy to read book. You can read the 300 pages from cover to cover if you wish, or you can browse over 250 mainly period pictures. You can also use the very useful index to look up a specific fact. You may wish to read about the English Ford in the First World War or the effect of taxation on Ford production and sales in Britain. How about the technical problems of producing right hand drive models? Its all there.
This book has been acclaimed by leading motoring journalists commenting:
Michael Worthington Williams – Motoring Historian “This book...is a model of what a single model history should be. The book is beautifully produced on art paper and copiously illustrated with contemporary photographs.”
Bill Boddy – Motor Sport “Whether you own a Model T, used to own one, or simply find them fascinating, this will be an essential treat”
David Burgess-Wise – Former Ford Archivist and Motoring Historian Detailing every aspect of the Manchester Model T, you have a book that should be on the shelves of every serious motoring enthusiasts library”
Kit Foster – Automobile Historian, USA The book is illustrated comprehensively with period photos and diagrams, interrupted just briefly for a 16-page color spread of recent and relevant photos. Production quality is very good, particularly the photos, which exhibit exceptional detail. Obviously essential for enthusiasts of the British Model T, it is a worthwhile resource for anyone with interest in Model Ts, British motoring in the ‘teens and twenties, and the global reach of the car that put America on wheels. I can highly recommend it.