This week we had a car in one for a little rectification to fix some ongoing issues. The owner didn’t want the car on our little blog today, that is of course absolutely fine with us and we respect his privacy. The simple reason being is that another Mustang ‘Expert’ had ‘fixed’ it before it came into us. We will just leave it at that, we’re pretty sure that you can work the rest out.

While all that was going on Adam had a little move around of some cars and opened the trunk on one of his old cars with only 6,500 miles on it. In the trunk he found an original, still inflated and unused spare tyre.

This tyre is a concours car owners dream, not only does it have the markings on the tread, it still has the original 1965 Detroit air in the tyre too. Although this is not a rare tyre tyre in itself as millions were fitted at the time, but it’s very rare to have survived is such amazing condition with all the original factory fitted markings. This really brings a new meaning to NOS; New Old Stock. Although we suspect that Adam wont be putting it into ‘stock’.

Even the white wall strip still has the protective blue coating on it.

What did Adam say when he found it? “I forgot I had that!” He then took it to a little known storage area where he keeps some real rare goodies, Like the original set of wheels and tyres from the same car. They aren’t in the amazing shape as this tyre of course, which hasn’t been out of the car’s trunk for 55 years, until now!

Remember, Adam never sells anything. However, if you make an offer and have the cash to back it up, it could be yours! We do suggest that you have have some deep pockets with long arms that can get to the bottom of them as well.

While we are on the subject of old nostalgic things we found this.

Article:

Quadricycle 125th Anniversary: Henry Ford’s First Vehicle Takes Maiden Voyage on Detroit’s Streets.

In 1896, the founder of Ford Motor Company built his first car and took it for a spin on the streets of Detroit. In the early morning hours of June 4, Henry Ford made a trial run in a small, four-wheeled vehicle he called a Quadricycle, later described by historian Allan Nevins as “strikingly small and light – the lightest vehicle of its type yet produced.”

With his wife Clara and a helper, Jim Bishop, anxiously watching, Ford put the clutch in neutral and spun the flywheel, then slowly drove his Quadricycle along the streets of Detroit, with Bishop on a bicycle ahead and a few passersby staring incredulously. A spring actuating one of the “ignitors” failed on the short run, but it was quickly repaired, and the two men returned triumphantly home, got a few hours rest, then reported for work at Edison Illuminating Company.

The outing was a success, but Ford was not satisfied, so he practically rebuilt the Quadricycle over the following months. He and his helpers replaced many wooden parts with metal, installed a cooling system in the engine, and fitted sturdier wheels. Ford then built other cars and, on June 16, 1903 – seven years after his trial run – he launched Ford Motor Company in a small converted carriage factory in Detroit.

For the 32-year-old inventor, the Quadricycle’s successful first outing was the result of the inventiveness, determination and hard work that later earned him the title of “genius of the automotive industry.” In the early 1890s, Henry Ford began tinkering with a tiny vehicle in a small workshop at the rear of his home at 58 Bagley Avenue in Detroit, a few blocks from the plant where he worked at the Edison plant.

At that time, any man experimenting with “horseless carriages” was considered something of an oddity. An elderly Detroiter said Henry Ford – no exception to this prejudiced rule – was regarded with some suspicion around the neighbourhood. The young inventor was supported by his wife, Clara, whom he had married in 1888, and by the help of friends and colleagues from the Edison Company – David Bell, Bishop, George Cato and “Spider” Huff.

The Quadricycle had a 49-inch wheelbase and was 79 inches long overall. It was only 45 inches wide – but still too wide for the door of the garage where it had been built, forcing Ford to expand the opening with an axe – and 43 inches high. Apart from the motor, wheels, axles and steering tiller, the vehicle was constructed of wood and weighed only 500 pounds without fuel. It had a buggy-like seat and ran on bicycle-size wheels with pneumatic tires.

Ford’s “horseless carriage” had two speeds – 10 and 20 mph selected by twin drive belts. It had a neutral gear, but no reverse. Gear changes were made by a clutch lever mounted on the floor to the right of the driver. Final drive was by a single chain. Perhaps the most worrying thing, there were no brakes, but Ford did make up for it by including a doorbell as a horn. During the two days before his invention was finished, Ford hardly slept at all. Finally, in the early morning hours of June 4, 1896, the vehicle was ready.

Henry Ford sold the Quadricycle later that year for $200, though he repurchased it in 1904 for only $65, and it still survives today in a permanent display at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.

Source: https:/www.at.ford.com/en/homepage/news-and-clipsheet/news/2021/6/quadricycle1.html?cid=BOC-2021-06-04

WebShop & postage:

We would like to thank everybody who has messaged us, left comments or just spoken to us about our ‘case studies’ and how to improve our service for you. People are taking notice we think and we are still here to help.

We have sent out some sheet metals to a few customers and they have been very please we could help them out. We will continue to provide what we can when we can of course.

We have also noted that other Mustang suppliers are putting up their prices too regarding their parts. Remember we still have a huge selection of parts in stock on the shelves ready for you, pre-price hikes!

Short & sweet post this week, due to the fact we can’t show you what has been going on as we explained earlier.

Enjoy the rest of ‘Father Day’ in the UK, and yes are still taking the vouchers that have been purchased for the lucky recipients – Mustang Maniac WebShop awaits your order. 🙂

Stay Safe & Take Care!