# Were there still a lot of Model Ts on the roads in the 1970s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801 "2007-05-12T03:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/61 "2007-05-14T20:51:53Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] On the other hand, compared with the cars built from the 90s on, old (meaning anything built before 1990) cars are dogs. They just weren’t built to last, foreign or domestic. [/QUOTE] Don’t tell this to [Irv Gordon](http://www.v1800reg.org/pages/irv_gordon.htm) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/62 "2007-05-15T11:52:23Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Don’t tell this to [Irv Gordon](http://www.v1800reg.org/pages/irv_gordon.htm) [/QUOTE] What most people don’t realize, is that Gordon’s Volvo has had the engine replaced/rebuilt 3 times, and major transmission work. It is no more original than your granddaddy’s axe 9where you replaced the handle and the head-but it’s still his axe!) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/63 "2007-05-15T12:16:42Z")
Model Ts were antique by the 1950’s and rarely seen outside of shows or parades. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/64 "2007-05-15T12:17:42Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] Older pickup trucks sort of slip under the radar. Outward appearances have changed - but a 40 year old pickup doesn’t look _that_ out of place. But in 1965 a 40 year old pickup truck would have looked like something out the Beverly Hillbillies. [/QUOTE] Which gets me thinking - sure, in most parts of the US, the sight of pre-WWII cars on the road in the 1970s would have been very unusual. What about Appalachia, though? Could one see old 1920s-era pickups, Model As, and so on, as daily drivers in West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, or elsewhere in deep rural Appalachia in the 1970s? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/65 "2007-05-15T15:11:41Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] I’m not sure what you mean by this, could you elaborate? I still see a lot of Mercedes 300D’s around, that car is built like a tank and the 5cyl diesel engine is nearly indestructible. [/QUOTE] _sigh_ Of course, the Benz Diesel is an exception. I was thinking more of cars many more people bought. Back then 100,000 miles was considered a car’s “three score and ten” and few people expected more and fewer would take the car that far, with all of the rust. On the other hand, yesterday I saw an [Austin America](http://www.austinamericausa.com/) operating under its own power, a state rare enough when they were new. There are always outliers in any discussion of automobile reliability. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/66 "2007-05-15T15:42:09Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Could one see old 1920s-era pickups, Model As, and so on, as daily drivers in West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, or elsewhere in deep rural Appalachia in the 1970s? [/QUOTE] No. ---
**Author:** ![citybadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@citybadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/citybadger)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/67 "2007-05-15T16:16:15Z")
Growing up in Milwaukee, we always had a Model T in the garage until about 1985. Didn’t everyone? ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/68 "2007-05-15T19:24:51Z")
When my wife and I were married 10 years ago, we hired a Model A and its owner/driver for the day. The guy had a couple of nice antiques that he hired out for special events. He advertised in the yellow pages. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/69 "2007-05-15T19:57:45Z")
I can’t imagine that anybody was driving a Model T Ford by 1950-by then, cars were so much better (in braking, handling, performance, and comfort) that only an eccentric person would drive one. For another thing, the “T”'s brakes were TERRIBLE (mechanically actuated drums, rear wheels only). You could not stop with modern traffic! I’d wager that stopping from 45 MPH (about top speed for a T) would take over 150 feet! Also: no heater, so self-starter, no radio. Only Jed Clampett would be driving one! Finally: in a collision, the “T”'s occupants would be killed (no seatbelts). Cars that seemed to stay around though, were the 1960’s Plymouths-those cars seemed to last forever. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/70 "2007-05-16T00:24:00Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] _sigh_ Of course, the Benz Diesel is an exception. I was thinking more of cars many more people bought. Back then 100,000 miles was considered a car’s “three score and ten” and few people expected more and fewer would take the car that far, with all of the rust. On the other hand, yesterday I saw an [Austin America](http://www.austinamericausa.com/) operating under its own power, a state rare enough when they were new. There are always outliers in any discussion of automobile reliability. [/QUOTE] Well, _sigh_ aside, what modern cars do you see being so vastly superior? What should I go out and buy from the mid 90s-mid 00s that is going to last 500,000 miles? Are they all _that_ much better, or are there select models that IYHO are extremely well made? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/71 "2007-05-16T00:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] Well, _sigh_ aside, what modern cars do you see being so vastly superior? What should I go out and buy from the mid 90s-mid 00s that is going to last 500,000 miles? Are they all _that_ much better, or are there select models that IYHO are extremely well made? [/QUOTE] You can’t go wrong with a Honda. They’re well-neigh invulnerable. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/72 "2007-05-16T00:59:01Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] You can’t go wrong with a Honda. They’re well-neigh invulnerable. [/QUOTE] Or a Toyota. In this country at least, you’re paying a bit extra for the Honda brand and style, but if you don’t mind being suburban, a Toyota will arguably give you as good or better reliability than a Honda. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/73 "2007-05-16T01:07:49Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] Or a Toyota. In this country at least, you’re paying a bit extra for the Honda brand and style, but if you don’t mind being suburban, a Toyota will arguably give you as good or better reliability than a Honda. [/QUOTE] I’m a bit biased, since my mother works for a Honda dealership, but Toyota’s are certainly good cars. If you’re going for a hybrid, though, you’re better off with a Honda, than a Toyota, as there’s not quite the demand for Honda’s, so they’re cheaper and you don’t have to wait to get one. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/74 "2007-05-16T01:12:54Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] I’m a bit biased, since my mother works for a Honda dealership, but Toyota’s are certainly good cars. If you’re going for a hybrid, though, you’re better off with a Honda, than a Toyota, as there’s not quite the demand for Honda’s, so they’re cheaper and you don’t have to wait to get one. [/QUOTE] Probably a part of my own bias is that in Australia, Toyota is famous for having a dealership or at least a spares place in just about every town with more than two houses in it. Hondas are seen as much more stylish, but also more urban (they are HUGE with the Asian market here). Toyotas have part of that market covered, but also the 4WD and pickup/ute/truck market pretty much owned. Even the racist rednecks in the outback are strangely quiet when it comes to their beloved Japanese motoring. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/75 "2007-05-16T05:06:56Z")
So what is the expected longevity of Toyotas and Hondas in terms of mileage? 200,000? 300,000? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/76 "2007-05-16T12:30:49Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] So what is the expected longevity of Toyotas and Hondas in terms of mileage? 200,000? 300,000? [/QUOTE] With proper maintence 300K, easy. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801/77 "2007-05-16T16:17:46Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] Well, _sigh_ aside, what modern cars do you see being so vastly superior? [/quote] Superior to the junk built in the 50s-70s? Pretty much anything. Not just for longevity, too. Speed, handling, braking, safety, you can name the criterion and modern cars are better, except for having the room to spread my fat ass. Other comfort features are better, though. And the likelihood to survive a crosscountry vacation without needing a major repair is reduced to zilch. Remember that Chrysler nearly went broke honoring its 5 year/50,000 mile warranty in the 60s while Hyundai has had twice the warranty for long enough to see if it was a bad idea but they still offer it. Your Dart is exceptional. Around here it would’ve been reduced to a pile of limonite (with the Slant 6 chugging away in the middle) thirty years ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-still-a-lot-of-model-ts-on-the-roads-in-the-1970s/403801.md?page=3)