Veteran Fords embark on epic tour
CLOSE to 40 Ford models manufactured before 1930 will take part in an epic, five-day Veteran and Vintage tour ahead of next weekend’s 22nd George Old Car Show.
Fifty-two vehicles, among them 38 Ford models, will be joining the tour which leaves from Wilderness on Tuesday, heading to Oudtshoorn and Meiringspoort and then arriving back in George next Friday between 3 and 6pm.
There they will be an important component of the 2018 George Old Car Show kicking off at the town’s PW Botha College next Saturday and Sunday February 10 and 11.
Among the historic Fords to join the tour and display, will be two Ford Model T’s belonging to friends and namesakes Philip Kuschke and Phillip Rosser.
Kuschke’s interest in veteran Fords began at an early age.
“My father played around with Model T Fords and taught me to drive his 1915 Model T when I was nine years old.”
Kuschke’s own 1915 is his favourite Ford. He received a brass radiator from Ignus Bucher in Alexandria in 2006, and started collecting the rest of the parts.
“If one can get hold of a brass radiator, the rest of the parts will follow. Phillip [Rosser] and I travelled many kilometres countrywide to collect parts.”
Kuschke was able to do most of the restoration, except the upholstery.
“Kevin Casey, my friend and mentor, contributed a great deal to my knowledge of the restoration process. I started working on the chassis and engine because I had many of the parts.”
The bodywork was more of a challenge as many parts were missing and some had to be imported from the US.
“The body of the early Ford Model T contains a lot of wood. I used to own a furniture factory, and as I am quite handy with woodwork, I was able to manufacture the wooden frame of the bodywork and spokes, and do the steam-bending of the roof trusses myself.”
It took four years to restore the vehicle to its former glory.
Kuschke’s wife, Rosita, enjoys driving his 1923 Model T.
“This vehicle has a self-starter so she does not have to crank the engine. She loves driving it and will be the designated driver during the 2018 veteran tour.”
The 2008 Ford Model T Centenary was a major highlight for Kuschke. “This tour kindled a new enthusiasm for antique vehicles.”
The 2018 Veteran and Vintage Tour which he has planned, is a direct result of the 2008 tour.
“We are always looking for an opportunity to enjoy the company of like-minded people.”
This year, 10 years after the 2008 tour, the Ford Veteran and Vintage Tour will celebrate a double centenary, as the Model T will be 110 years old, while the Model A will be 90 years old – 200 years in total.
Rosser, on the other hand, fell in love with the Ford Model T when he acted as navigator for Kuschke during a veteran rally.
“Philip thought it was a good idea to teach me how to drive the car. I was so impressed that I immediately decided I also want to own one.”
In 2006, he bought a bakkie-load of 1926 Ford Model T parts. The badly corroded parts represented about 60% of the vehicle, and he and his namesake scoured the country for more.
It took much effort to repair and build the parts. Some of the tasks, such as cylinder boring, were done by an engineering workshop, but Rosser was able to manufacture the spokes for the wheels and parts of the body himself.
Kuschke often helped and the car could be reassembled. Four years later, the 1926 Ford Model T was restored to pristine condition.
Rosser loves driving his Model T. “Fortunately my wife, Amanda, shares my passion for old cars, and we are always looking for opportunities to take the Model T for a weekend drive.”
ý Tickets for the 2018 George Old Car Show can be bought online at www.scocc.co.za.
Only vehicles manufactured before 1975 will be exhibited. For more information, contact Klaus Oellrich on 076-764-0897.