Betcha y’all didn’t know 155

[953 nut 66,312]

June 4, 1896, in the shed behind his home on Bagley Avenue in Detroit, Henry Ford unveils the “Quadricycle,” the first automobile he ever designed or drove.

Ford was working as the chief engineer for the main plant of the Edison Illuminating Company when he began working on the Quadricycle. On call at all hours to ensure that Detroit had electrical service 24 hours a day, Ford was able to use his flexible working schedule to experiment with his pet project—building a horseless carriage with a gasoline-powered engine.

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 25,382]

  I’ve owned/driven Toyotas, Chevys, Dodges, RAMs, GMCs, Nissans, Plymouths, Hyundai’s and Kia’s (and probably some other brands) …but never have I owned a Ford. Closest I had was a 1976 Mercury Capri with a v6 and a 4 speed manual. Very quick car! 
  Funny enough I’m researching the mid/size trucks right now and the 2026 Ranger is very appealing. 
 

[953 nut 66,312]

 

Henry's Quadracycle had no brakes and was able to go 20 MPH.   

Ford and the rest of the automotive industry has come a long ways in 130 years. When I was a kid driving $ 50.00 clunkers if a car or truck had 100K on the odometer it was destone for the scrap heap, now 300K is very common. Heard the other day that the average age of cars on the road in the US is about fifteen years old. My wife's car is eighteen years new and she won't even consider replacing it, my truck is seventeen years young and I feel the same.

[Handy Don 16,686]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

the average age of cars on the road in the US is about fifteen years old

Once the auto industry got past “planned obsolescence” (courtesy of Japan’s entry into the global market) and focused on durability, reliability, and longevity a bit more, things have advanced a lot.

In the 70’s the average new car usually cost about half a year’s salary. Today it is often more than half. 

[Beap52 2,278]

7 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Once the auto industry got past “planned obsolescence” (courtesy of Japan’s entry into the global market) and focused on durability, reliability, and longevity a bit more, things have advanced a lot.

In the 70’s the average new car usually cost about half a year’s salary. Today it is often more than half. 

In 1971, straight out of high school, I earned $2 per hour as a apprentice carpenter.  I purchased a new 1971 El Camino for $3,688.  (See my posting today "Blast from MY past")  It's got about 190K miles on it but it's required almost everything to be rebuilt or replaced.   

 

Yes, Japan really challenged our automotive companies.  

 

 

[Handy Don 16,686]

8 minutes ago, Beap52 said:

$2 per hour as a apprentice carpenter.  I purchased a new 1971 El Camino for $3,688

Most of the whole year’s wages at straight time! I suspect you had some overtime?

[Beap52 2,278]

30 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Most of the whole year’s wages at straight time! I suspect you had some overtime?

Not really any overtime.  We worked 5 1/2 days a week but time you miss work due to weather cut into pay.  I was considered self-employed so no retirement, medical or paid leave.  It was my decision and most of my career was self-employed.  I was a pretty motivated worker and have no regrets. 

[953 nut 66,312]

8 hours ago, Handy Don said:

auto industry got past “planned obsolescence” (courtesy of Japan’s entry into the global market)

              Competition rather than collaboration, what a concept.