2010 Peking to Paris Rally

Our car was purchased from a gentleman named Donald Ross in New Hampshire.  Don owned the Ford for 30 years.  He decided to restore the car and took it to pieces.  He reduced it to frame rails and nuts and bolts.  Realizing that it was a much bigger job than he imagined he located a professional restorer.  The restorer completely disassembled the car and started over and restored the Phaeton piece by piece.  After the car was restored, Don used it occasionally for weddings and a few parades. ... (more...)

Model A finally reaches Iowa We brought the car back to Iowa and have driven many miles on the back roads. We are still modifying the car and continue to find things that need changes or improving.  We are spending 3 days with Ora Landis, the rebuilder of our car, and making last minute adjustments and going over all of the spare parts and how to use these parts to keep the car running.  We are building a roll bar for safety and peace of mind and will discuss the mounting to the frame with Ora. ... (more...)

Bundled up for a road test! (4.21.2010) Our first drive was just plain scary. We had to learn to shift a non-synchromesh  transmission and drive in a very close and uncomfortable sitting position. We learned very quickly that you must give 100% attention to driving and not sight seeing. We accidentally got the car on a freeway and reached the speed of fifty-five miles per hour – we’ll admit it – we were scared.  Next we got into traffic and got to try out our double clutching technique... (more...)

Model A is perfect. Very happy with purchase! Next we flew to Strausburg, Pennsylvania to see our purchase and meet Ora Landis, who would be rebuilding our car.  We were very pleased with both the car, which was perfectly restored, and Ora Landis, who is an extremely capable rebuilder. We agreed on the work that was to be done (basically rebuild and fortify everything) and asked Ora to start work as we only had 2 years before the start of Peking To Paris. Neither Lang nor I had ever driven a Model... (more...)

After the 35 coupe we decided to take some time and reflect on what our rally car had to have.  We knew the terrain was going to be challenging.  From what we’d heard and seen, some of the route would barely qualify as more than a worn path.  There would be blowing sand, water crossings, and lots of rough road.  Plus the car will have to be basic enough for inexperienced mechanics to diagnose and repair in the middle of nowhere with limited parts and tools. 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton. The... (more...)