The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903. The very first mention of the founder’s name in a New Zealand newspaper was in 1905, when The Press reported that, in a motor racing event in Michigan, a Mr Harry Ford became the first motorist to exceed 90 miles an hour. By the tenth anniversary of the company the correct name of Henry Ford would be a household name. By then, true to his word, Henry Ford was putting the world on wheels.
Over time, a great number of books have been written about the history of the Ford Motor Company, and on Ford cars. But nothing had ever been written of the Ford New Zealand history. Then, in 2003 when I was organising the largest event in this country to celebrate the centenary of Ford, I thought surely the time had come to change that? “How hard could it possibly be?” I asked myself!
So, the starting point for the Ford in New Zealand book was the Centenary of Ford Show, where we built a walkable timeline of Ford vehicles 1903 to 2003.
“How hard could that be?” I asked myself! But, of course, the biggest challenge was right at the start – to fill the first few years of the timeline with the early models – the so-called “letter cars”. That is, the Fords that were built before 1909 – which just did not exist in this country. There were just three of them, in fact….
The Colonial Motor Company sent us their 1904 Fordmobile (the Fordmobile became retrospectively known as the Model A when the next Ford model, to be known as the Model B, was offered). Robin Dickson despatched his 1905 Model F to us from Gore. The only other letter car in this country at that time was a 1906 Model N, owned by Bill Troughton in Matamata. But sadly that car was committed elsewhere and so was not available.*
The unique 2-owner “Fordmobile”, owned by The Colonial Motor Co and happily steered by Ivan Taylor, gave rides to visitors throughout the event.
But once we were in to the Model T era, there was no problem filling each year of the century timeline with a representative Ford. Even the war years, when civilian production had ceased, was possible by using, for instance, a Ford-built Jeep, a genuine Ford V8 staff car (one of just 8 built) and a Ford CMP truck.
With another 250+ Fords on show in Ford clubs displays at the venue, including commercials and tractors, this was a massive event that truly showed us the Ford in New Zealand history. The collective knowledge available to us that day was humbling. Unsurprisingly the Ford in New Zealand book was therefore to be a souvenir picture book of that historic event. But even Ford New Zealand was unable to provide a short and, importantly, accurate account of their history in New Zealand to glue the photos together. And that’s when I asked myself “How hard could it be?”
Left to right – the show organisers: Chris Dyer at the wheel of the 1905 Model F, beside sponsor John Luxon (Avon City Ford) and, in the rear seat, show organiser and author John Stokes, beside Model A Ford authority Peter Bayler.
Many years later, the job is done! We now have available not just a picture book but a full history of the Ford Motor Company in New Zealand.
*Richardson’s Transport Museum in Invercargill has since acquired a full set of the pre-Model T Ford letter cars, with the exception of a Model B. Their world-class display even includes a 1907 Model K, the controversial and rare six-cylinder Ford that today would command a 7-digit price. Visit Transport World here
Whilst Bill Troughton’s rare and historic 1906 Model N Ford was unable to be at the Centenary of Ford show, author John Stokes was later able to visit Bill and take photos of his unique veteran Ford.
