K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

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Rob
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K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Rob » Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:43 am

Kim sent this video of his successful test drive of this early production (#51) Model B. Click on the link below to view his drive:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ffohhcozh9v64 ... B.MOV?dl=0

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KimDobbins
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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by KimDobbins » Sat Jun 20, 2020 10:34 am

Thanks Rob, that's the first time model B #51 has been on the road in a very long time. The cars owner asked me about 2 years ago if I'd get the car running . I thought it would be a 2-3 month project. Well 18 months later it's on the road. Everything had to be gone through, radiator to rear end. I took the radiator down to the shop I normally use to get a few leaks repaired. The owner called me the next day and said it's junk and I need a new radiator. I went down and met with him told him there is no new radiator and this one must be fixed. When I picked it up, he said he did the best he could and it doesn't leak a drop. The water pump had to be remade and new pump gears cut. My friend Don Skille did a nice job on it. All the engine and cam bearings were very loose and need lots of filing and shimming. The valves were pretty good, I got away with just lapping them in. The aluminum intake was cracked and broken, all the water fittings had to be remade and new tubing bent. The distributor had to be rebuilt and a new exhaust pipe bent. R. V. Anderson did a real nice job on the coil box. The transmission was the biggest challenge. Many of the parts were badly worn and other parts were incorrect. There are only 6 of these cars in existence and all of the old timers who restored or rebuilt them have passed on. So there isn't much collective knowledge out there about these cars. I got lucky and found all the transmission drawings for the model B at the Bensen research center in greenfield village. Glen Rand made me new clutch discs and Robert Sinsly made me a new clutch ball and fingers. Ray Wells rebuilt and painted the body which I'll be putting on the chassis today. After fender and top installation. Freighter Jim will be taking the B back home to Oregon. It's been a great experience working on a car so rare old obscure. I'm hoping to get it to the old car festival in Detroit so more people can see this great car.

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Rob
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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Rob » Sat Jun 20, 2020 1:18 pm

Kim,
Thank you for sharing this journey with us. A few facts and figures to add. 500 Model B were produced, selling for $2,000.

A few things to consider about the Model B. In 1904 and 05 when the B was designed and primarily sold, if a carmaker produced and sold over 100 cars per year, they were usually a viable car maker. Widely known brands of the day, including Pierce and National, produced similar numbers. Secondly, Ford also produced 800 - 900 Model C, selling for about $800.

Model B and C were Ford’s two offerings for fiscal year 1905 (Oct 1, 1904 - Sep 31, 1905). Both models were considered 1905 models only, with Models K and N already on the drawing board during 1905. The Model F, a refined and more powerful two cylinder touring car, was added during the spring of 1905. At this point in time, most automakers were making dramatic changes year by year, as technology was moving forward rapidly, making a year or two year old car obsolete in many cases.

For 1906, FMC transitioned to three year models, with the K and N planned to span 1906 - 1908. As we know, Ford continued to move toward a multi year model, settling on the Model T for model and fiscal year 1909.

I estimate about 450 Model B were sold in fiscal year 1905. This is a significant number for a mid to upper tier model, and I believe probably made more money for Ford than the Model C, and possible equal to or more than the Model F. We do know this was the case during 1906, when the new Model K made far more money for FMC than Model N (due production delays and choosing too low a retail price for the N).

Lastly, the Model B continued Fords technological advances, with the first enclosed driveshaft (Ford patented) four cylinder offering. It possessed a large, powerful, 283 cubic inch motor. A good friend of mine owns a 1905 Columbia. After he watched Kim’s video Thursday, he told me his Columbia cost about the same amount, and he thought the Ford looked and sounded like much more car for the money.

63408C4B-C3B4-45AB-8F02-B0229C3752E2.jpeg
Again, Kim, thank you for sharing.


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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Sat Jun 20, 2020 4:26 pm

Wonderful! I hope it makes it to the OCF (this year or next?) so many people can see it, hear it, and watch it go! Historians need to correct their views on Ford's earlier large models and put them into the proper context of their time. As you said, technology in those years was changing very quickly, and cars became obsolete in sometimes only a year or two. Comparing the model B with a model T and declaring the B a failure is ridiculous.


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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Original Smith » Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:53 am

We put the body back on yesterday. It sure is heavy. There were six of us!

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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Rob » Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:15 am

Pics please.


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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by KimDobbins » Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:46 pm

Pics of body on chassis.
Attachments
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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Rich Eagle » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:56 pm

What a wonderful car.
Thanks
Rich
When did I do that?


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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:14 pm

If you are not careful? That thing is going to look really sharp!

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Re: K.D. driving one of the rarest Ford’s on the planet, 1905 Model B.

Post by Duey_C » Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:46 am

My drool dried from my keyboard.
Thank you gentlemen.
OR
That was freaking awesome!!!
Depending. :)
Since I lost my mind mind, I feel more liberated

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