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Is it a myth or, dare I say a legend, that the Ford Model T actually got better gas mileage than most autos do today? After researching this so-called myth over the past few weeks, I have come to the conclusion that the Model T was indeed a far more fuel efficient auto than those we see on the road today. Of course, I am fully aware of the fact that there are quite a few autos out there that can easily hit over 30 miles per gallon, but the goal of this piece is for drivers everywhere to think in terms of the past and realize that just maybe, the answer to our fuel woes over the past few decades has been sitting right in front of us the entire time.
25 MPG: Myth Or Fact?
It is usually reported every year after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases aggregate fuel mileage data that spans across all manufacturers that a 1908 Ford Model T gets better gas mileage than all of the autos combined on the road today (I say this in present tense due to the fact that there are indeed still quite a few Model Ts on the road today). Some may find it hard to believe, but from my personal viewpoint, it’s hard not to see it as a fact. I’ll get into why I believe this is so a bit later, but first let’s take a look at the data. In 2008, the U.S. EPA stated that, on average, all model year 20 autos from all manufacturers got around 20.8 miles per gallon. Keep in mind that this figure includes everything from heavy duty pickup trucks to hybrids. On the other hand, it is widely reported that a 1908 Ford Model T gets around 25 miles per gallon. How can this be so? How can one of the first widely produced autos from over a century ago get better gas mileage than our technologically advanced autos on the road today?
Proof
In proving this myth to be true, it is necessary to look at the specifications of the 1908 Ford Model T. I know it is strange that an auto with a top speed of 45mph can somehow out-do an average auto on the road today in terms of gas mileage, but it isn’t so hard to believe when we take a look at its motor and its curb weight.
The design and components of the Model T were relatively standard over the 19 years that it was produced (October 1, 1908 to May 26, 1927), so it is feasible to believe that this analysis could prove to be true for all Model T Fords. The engine included in an original Model T was a 2.9L, 177 cubic inch, four cylinder “monster.” In comparison to some fuel efficient autos on the road today, this doesn’t seem to be all that different. The only difference can be found in the output numbers of the motor: 20 to 22 horsepower and around 83 foot pounds of torque. Frankly, you could probably find a lawn mower engine that puts out more power than that, but power wasn’t everything back then. Henry Ford’s simple goal was to mass produce an auto that was affordable ($550 US in 1908) and to make life easier for those who purchased one of his autos. In comparison to a horse and buggy, 22mph was like flying.
The next figure to look at is the Model T’s curb weight, which ranged between 1200 to 1500 pounds (depending on options). You would be hard pressed to find a road worthy auto that weighs that much today (maybe an Indy car, but those aren’t exactly street legal), but in 1908, that was the norm. Put frankly, you do not need much power to propel the above mentioned weight (even with passengers included), hence some fairly impressive fuel mileage.
So What?
With that said, the fuel mileage numbers of a 1908 Model T may or may not reach 25mpg. Again, it is all relative to weight. If you load up a Model T with four passengers, you will surely not see 25mpg. But the fact of the matter is that in a time when we have some vehicles that can barely hit 12 or 13mpg (highway included), the answer to our fuel woes has been right in front of us the entire time potentially. It is likely that petroleum based fuels will be our primary source of propelling our autos over the next few decades, so why not go back to a simple design? No, I am not saying that we should drive around in archaic boxes. Instead, we should really look into even more lightweight and, at the same time, safe materials to construct our autos out of.
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
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