1915 Ford Model T in epic around the world journey [video]
Dutch couple continue their epic around the world journey in their 1915 Ford Model T, their journey began in 2012 and is ongoing.
DUTCH COUPLE, Dirk and Trudy Regter have owned their 1915 Ford Model T since 1997, and began their journey to drive it around the world in 2012. Since then, the couple have covered almost 80,000km in support of the international children’s charity, SOS – Children’s Villages.
When the couple kicked off their drive in 2012, the Model T, now 100 years old, covered more than 20,000km across 180 days driving from their home town of Edam to Cape Town in South Africa.
In 2013 the couple drove through the USA and Canada, crossing 22 States during their 20,000km-plus, 180-day road trip. In 2014 they ticked off another 20,000-plus kilometres through South America in a further 180 days.
During 2016 and 2017 the couple plan to take their Model T through New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, and India, crossing the Himalayas to China, through Mongolia and back to the Netherlands via Central Europe.
The Regters’ Ford Model T is powered by a 3.0-litre petrol engine and is unaltered from its standard 1915 factory specification. The single exception is larger tyres for the wooden-spoked wheels.
“On the border of South Africa and Botswana we met a farmer who had an old Ford Model T in the shed”, Dirk said. “He gave us a tyre off it as a gift to help us on our way.
“In Africa we had to weld a broken front wheel at the local blacksmith. “I’m pretty handy, and a screwdriver, hammer, some duct tape, tie wraps and tensioning straps go a long way.”
Ford built 15,000,000 Model Ts between 1908 and 1927. Production started in the US but quickly expanded worldwide, including assembly plants in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Spain and at Trafford Park in the UK.
