MTFCA Forum

What is the difference between a coupe and a Doctor's coupe? Is it the size of the turtle deck? Is it taller? I saw a photo of a turtle deck which was taller/different from what I'd seen on others. Thanks,
John

Ford never called a coupe a doctors coupe. As far as a T is concerned, there is no such thing as a doctors coupe. If and only if a doctor owns said coupe, that changes things. Otherwise it’s just a coupe. This thread is from 2009. http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1240976188

Brad

Coupe is what Ford called their 2 seat closed Model T

Doctors' Coupe is what others sometimes call any car of this period and style.

Doctor's coupe, business coupe, opera coupe....

Thanks. I love the former thread. Lots of wonderful reading. Now I know.
John

Doctors coupe would have a stethoscope hanging from the mirror!

‘A coupe owned by a doctor’

Gentleman, Gentleman when are you going to stop reading stuff on the internet and state that information is incorrect. Go to a library and search primary sources.

In 1900 the Magazine Horseless Age ( page 31: 21 November 1900 shows the De Dion-Bouton Moterette Company's Coupe. It was described in 1900 as a Doctor's Coupe. In 1901 the Journal the Medical Times carries an advertisement for the De Dion - Bouton Motorette Co. DOCTOR'S COUPE is designed to meet th . requirements of members of the medical profession.

By definition a coupe, even a doctor's coupe is this: A coupé is a four-wheeled vehicle for the driver and passenger generally seats for two persons.


De Dion Bouton Cab (Coupe Doctor) from 1900

I believe there were Coupes made by other makers that were called Doctor's Coupes. We had a older character who always wanted an "Opry Coupe". I always loved the way he said it.
Rich

The 1905 Ford C was advertised as the Doctors Car.

My 1924 Buick Sedan, model 24-41, was billed as a "Dual purpose sedan", suitable for Doctors & Salesmen. The doctor's part I totally get, as the back seat area is large enough to deliver a baby in, (or perhaps to make one Maybe that's where the salesman comes in?).

There was a earlier post about Model T’s “old wives tales” and this is pretty much one of them. Kind of! I think there was a T add about the Coupes being used by Dr’s and others but it wasn’t meant to be used as a Model type.
Maybe a nick name but??? That’s about a far as it got.

It’s kind of like calling a T Fordoor a family sedan. It can be used as that but not a Model Type.
I’m sure others will have other ideas!

BOOTLEGERS COUPE a car used to run moonshine

In 1912, Ford put out a 13 page pamphlet titled

"WHAT THE MOTOR CAR MEANS TO THE DOCTOR"

In reading it it's not hard to see the reasoning on why the doctor preferred the coupe.
Warmth in the cab.
Ford claims a T could start in 10 seconds and up to 30mpg, a T would do 40 mph without taxing it's powers hour after hour.
And part of the break down of the running costs was alcohol. I'm assuming for the cooling system but could be for the passenger when
sitting on 40 mph on horse buggy roads

This is a challenge. Maybe another Ford First. Show an earlier manufacturer advertisement for a doctors car. Here is FoMoCo

This may be 1904, have to do a little more digging.

The following appears to be from 1900:
Yes, the Doctor's coupe is a total myth.

Sorry, all you guys, but I'm holding out for a "Draftsman's Coupe" and I'm not gonna stop until I find one.

Dropacent wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:37 pm

The 1905 Ford C was advertised as the Doctors Car.

Tim, you are so right that in 1905 Ford had a model called a "Doctor's Car", and I have an original magazine ad to prove it, but the car Ford called a "Doctor's Car" wasn't a coupe at all. It was a roadster. At no time that I have found, did Ford advertise an enclosed coupe as a "Doctor's Coupe" I have a feeling that some people just called Ford coupes that, because it was the body style most chosen and bought by Doctors, particularly country doctors.

There was 2 specific type of people that Ford targeted with period ads for the T Coupe.
Starting with.
1909 Coupe, as "THE IDEAL DOCTORS CAR"
And later on for Coupes.
"AN IDEAL CAR FOR WOMEN"

Any car that I am sitting in, LOL. My 1997 Honda Civic, single owner for 25 years next week 4 paint jobs 3-hits 2-floods, is also known as the 'Glamorous Doctor Car' and my staff calls it 'The Chick Magnet' as I climb out of it wearing my Walmart Croc knock-offs (best shoe $10 can buy), scrub pants, and t-shirt.

So by 1910 there is evidence that the Ford Coupe is indeed a doctors coupe. It took ten years since the introduction of the De Dion Bouton Cab (Coupe Doctor) from 1900. Medical Journals carrying advertisements of Automobile shows in 1910 and advertisements with testimony that the Ford Coupe is satisfying for a doctor on his/her rounds.

Footnote: It seams that Dr Hedback was a motorhead. In 1910 the good doctor was inquiring in the Automobile Dealer if a higher compression would improve his Ford.

Although it leave a bad taste in my mouth, the Ford Coupe fro 1910 to 1927 is indeed a "Doctor's Coupe."

Great stuff ! The De Dion Bouton is going to be tough to beat at 1900 ! Too bad they didn’t have an ignition system designed by “spider” Huff, they may have made millions

IT'S ALL A MATTER OF SEMANTICS.
From reading everyone's response.
Ford had a Model labeled "The Doctor's Car", other models included Model B, Model C, Touring, Torpedo, Commercial Roadster, Coupe etc.
Pictures of "The Doctor's Car" clearly show that it was not a Coupe. While there are vintage ad's referring to the Coupe as a Model called "Doctor's Coupe" they don't appear to be authored by the Ford Motor Company but local Dealer ads. So the real question is what is the difference in what the Ford Motor Company call's a Coupe and what colloquially is referred to as a "Doctor's Coupe". Surely there must be a difference to set them apart.
--
This article explains the origin of the term https://carriagemuseumlibrary.org/doctor_buggy.htm
"The word Physician or doctor became a word that was attached to many different kinds of vehicles, meaning that it was a vehicle that was comfortable in all kinds of weather and easy to get in and out of. " Remember in those days Doctor's made house calls....
--
So the term "Doctor's Coupe", in the early 1900's, likely was an indication of a vehicle's capability rather than one designed explicitly for Doctors.

"Too bad they didn’t have an ignition system designed by “spider” Huff, they may have made millions"

And there would be million of words, nay! Trillion, used to describe the proper way to set the coils for optimum operation.

I’d have to disagree with that, Frank. In my mind and thoughts ( and I don’t have anything to back it up) doctors were generally more well to do, and with the required income to afford an automobile then. Remember, automobiles were certainly not for the masses at that point in time.
I would guess it was just a segment of high society that they were advertising to, and smartly. JMHO
Country doctors are a different animal. Most didn’t have the scratch, and the roads to support an auto at the turn of the century.

Dropacent wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 11:37 am

I’d have to disagree with that, Frank. In my mind and thoughts ( and I don’t have anything to back it up) doctors were generally more well to do, and with the required income to afford an automobile then. Remember, automobiles were certainly not for the masses at that point in time.
I would guess it was just a segment of high society that they were advertising to, and smartly. JMHO
Country doctors are a different animal. Most didn’t have the scratch, and the roads to support an auto at the turn of the century.

No disagreement with a Doctor's economic status. This is Today's Doctor's coupe
In case your interested the Bugatti Chiron | Price: $3,000,000 (est)

Frank, to put your mind at rest, "The ideal Doctor's car." (Coupe) I posted was from the complete range of T's to be offered by Ford for the new models.