Summary

'Model T' Ford engine and gearbox unit, donated to the museum by the Vivian Expositions Co. Pty Ltd, of Fitzroy, Victoria, in 1976. The engine and gearbox were sourced by Tom Fraser of Vivian Expositions as part of an exhibit prepared for the 1975 Melbourne International Motor Show, to celebrate 50 years of Ford production in Australia.

This 2.9 litre capacity four-cylinder vertical petrol engine was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd at Windsor, Ontario, which held the manufacturing and distribution rights for Ford motor vehicles throughout the British Empire (with the exception of Great Britain and Ireland). Production of the model T Ford commenced in the United States of America on 1 October 1908, and in Canada shortly afterwards, although output in Canada was initially limited with only 1,738 vehicles by the end of June 1910. Initially the Canadian built model T's were assembled largely from American-made components and engines, however, in about May 1913, Ford Canada established their own engine assembly line and began assigning unique Canadian engine numbers to the vehicles they built, beginning with C1. Some components, such as cylinder block castings appear to have continued to be supplied from the Highland Park Plant in Chicago, as they evidently carried the "Made in USA" label in raised lettering that was ground off. Cylinder blocks with the "Made in Canada" label, as appears on this engine, were introduced from December 1919, though for a time there remained some overlap.

This engine has serial no. C479040, indicating it was built around March 1924. At that time the Tarrant Motor Co. Ltd., of Melbourne, were still acting as import agents and distributors of Ford motor cars throughout Victoria and the NSW Riverina, and were assembling Canadian-built Fords with locally-made bodies from Tarrant's own Motor Body Works. In October 1924, Ford announced plans to establish its own assembly plants throughout Australia, at an estimated cost of £3 million. The Ford Motor Company of Australia Pty Ltd was incorporated in March 1925, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd, and began assembling Model T Fords with locally manufactured bodies at a new purpose-built factory in Geelong, Victoria, by the end of the year. Additional assembly plants were subsequently established in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide in 1926, and Perth in 1930.

Physical Description

Incomplete 'Model T' Ford engine & gearbox unit, including starter motor and foot pedals. The unit presented as a static display, mounted on a 3-legged stand, and has been 'cosmetically' restored being painted silver and hammertone sky blue, neither of which are original Ford colours. Engine Specifications: Type: 4-Cylinder Inline Vertical Ingnition: Spark Fuel: Standard Grade Petrol Capacity: 2.9 litres Bore x Stroke: 95 mm x 101.5 mm Power Output: Rated 15 kW at 1,600 r.p.m.

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