Rich Mock, of Sun City, is celebrating the 100th birthday of his Ford Model T.

“I always wanted to learn how to drive a Model T,” he stated. “When this came available I jumped at the chance and purchased this T about 18 years ago in the Buffalo, New York area.”

Mock drove it for years in Buffalo, until the winter months when it sat in the garage and waited for warmer weather.

When Mock and his wife moved to Sun City, they had it transported out. They are members of the Vintage Vehicles Club of Sun City and show the vehicle at some of the car shows. 

“I believe it is still the oldest car in the club,” Mock stated, adding that the only work that has been done to his Model T is mechanical work, “and don’t let anyone tell you they are easy to work on because they aren’t.” The body remains untouched. All of the accessories are period correct.

The day this car was built, Ford built about 6,500 other Model Ts on that same day. Mock says the three pedals on the floor are a bit hard to get used to but then becomes second nature; they are low/high gear, reverse and break. There is no gas pedal and no shift lever. The speed is increased by moving a lever under the steering wheel and shifting by another lever on the side of the driver. There is only one door, which is the passenger door, and the gas tank is under the seat.

“I drive it around here in Sun City with my wife Jan,” Mock stated. “If you don’t mind cruising around at a speed of 30-35 MPH, with the wind in your hair, this is the car for you.”