Now go around to the front. See that wire loop on the left side of the radiator? That is the choke, or "gooser." Well, well, this Ford has a leather crank holder, an after-market accessory available for 79 cents from Western Auto, and worth every penny. Slip that crank from the holder, pull out the choke wire and give the engine a slow half-turn. Now release the choke, and give the crank a quick, quarter jerk and now another. There, she fired! Quickly now, dash around to the driver side and advance the spark lever a little and now the gas, slip your right leg over the door-careful, don't snag the cuff on that brake handle, scoot over and carefully draw the other leg over the door. Now shift your rear around to get under the wheel. Yeah, I know they make a fat man's steering wheel for guys like us, but you gotta make do with what you have.
The engine is skipping a beat now and then, isn't it? Maybe you best reach down on the right side below the windshield. See that rod that comes up through the firewall? That is the adjustment for the carburetor. Now, twist it a mite-whoops, try the other way. There, she levels off and purrs like a kitten. Let her warm up a bit and load up the kids. We're off...
Darn! I knew I would forget something. No, there ain't no gear shift, those pedals on the floor are the secret, the three on the floor. You best have small feet to drive a T, or at least make sure you push only one pedal at a time. That center one is the reverse. Reverse? Yeah, put the toe of your number tens on that pedal and push gently. Hey! Hold it! Reverse is geared pretty fast for the novice. Now, the left is the brake (better learn how to get your foot squarely on that one), and the right is low and neutral. Push it all the way down, and you are in low, push it in halfway, and you are in neutral. Go ahead, push her all the way down and give it a little more gas. Each now, push harder, more gas, more gas... Good: we are rolling. Now let up the pedal and throw that brake lever down and man, you are in high gear and rollin' right along! A little more gas now, don't crowd her, and she will perk along, and oh yes, the steering is a mite quicker than your modern car and the power steering is in your arms. Neat, eh? Man, that's livin'. Hey, feel that wind? Yeah, go ahead and wave at those folks on the curb. There isn't a single one of them that wouldn't trade places with you. Hey man, there is not too many 30-year-old guys who can brag that they've driven their grandpa's Model T. Go ahead, eat your hearts out!