Model T takes on a HUMMER in hill climb
It wasn't a fair fight at all, but for funsies, a vintage-car hill-climb allowed Forbes Magazine to enter a late model HUMMER H2. You know, just to see how the 316-hp, 4WD SUV would do against, say, a 100-hp 1921 Model T driven by a 70-year-old man. Like we said, it wasn't fair at all. The HUMMER climbed the 475-foot-tall hill in 10.74 seconds and didn't even break a sweat. Among those not surprised at the HUMMER's prowess was Gary Le Fever, the Model T driver who was waiting at the top of the hill for the H2. Le Fever and his 86-year-old Ford had finished the climb in 9.96 seconds!
Not a huge difference in a conventional match-up, but considering the participants, an amazing triumph for the Model T's engineering simplicity over the HUMMER's hefty muscle.
BTW, the photo is for illustration only. The hill climb was, we understand, much larger.
[Source: Forbes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MICHAEL J. SCHMITZ 3:59PM (12/23/2008)
WHO SAYS THE OLD ARE OBSOLETE AND PAST ITS PRIME. IN TODAYS TIME WITH ALOT OF AVIONICS AND EUROPEAN AND ASIAN STYLES, I WONDER IF AMERICAN DESIGN IS EVER GOING TO COME BACK TO AMERICA, ESPECIALLY THE LONG CARS LIKE THE 50'S, 40'S, MODELS, SEEMS TO ME THEY HAVE MORE AMERICAN STYLE THAN TODAY'S CAR AND TRUCKS AND GET UP AND GO IS STILL THERE. A GIFT FOR YOUR PART OF YOUR WORLD.= http://www.inventube.com/ooojay/blog/ MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. MIKE
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calebe 1:44PM (7/30/2007)
The 2.9L 4 cylinder in the Model T made 20 hp not 100 hp.
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Allan 1:49PM (7/30/2007)
Wow... I thought that number seemed REALLY wrong at first. I don't think my 94 Ranger I had a few years ago even made 100hp.
aSHIRTandTIEguy 8:56PM (7/30/2007)
Dear Autoblog,
Making mistakes about Canadian geography in previous articles is fine as Americans do not even know their own geography. However making mistakes about your own history in machinery is quite an embarrassment.
This just proves how superior Ford's products are to all others! 100 years from now, the Mustang will be seen as more iconic then the Jeep or Coca-Cola, or Mc Donald’s, and it's a FORD! :)
John 10:00PM (7/30/2007)
the Mustang will be seen as more iconic then the Jeep or Coca-Cola, or Mc Donald’s, and it's a FORD! :)
HA! in your dreams.
NateS 1:46PM (7/30/2007)
100 hp? 20 hp is more accurate.
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Allan 1:50PM (7/30/2007)
Ooh... this makes more sense now:
"Le Fever's speedster had 100hp, rather than the Model T's customary 20."
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the marais 1:52PM (7/30/2007)
Read the article. That particular Model T sported a 100hp engine, versus the original 20hp.
What a ridiculous comparison. Let's also see who would survive a 15 mph crash. Manual versus automatic, I assume, as well? How about uphill on a DIRT road? That Model T in the race was modified with double carbs as well. A 100hp engine in a vehicle the weight of a T would be racing car.
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Barney 5:21PM (7/30/2007)
I don't think Hummers come with a manual transmission. The model T had planetary gears..
ToMiTa 1:57PM (7/30/2007)
Not fair. The H2 should have been modified like the Model T obviously was. Maybe a supercharger.
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Sean Flanagan 2:15PM (7/30/2007)
What's really not fair is the Model-T's 4.5"-wide tires, compared to the Hummer's 315-sections...
Derek 7:19PM (7/30/2007)
Run whatcha brung, cut the whining. The Hummer lost this race, it's not the end of the world and there's always next year.
Besides, it really doesn't sound like this was a publicity stunt by GM or anything, just a guy competing in a hillclimb who happened to own a Hummer, just like the other guy in the Dodge and the Sheriff.
Brandon 2:19PM (7/30/2007)
"Le Fever and his 86-year-old Ford had finished the climb in 9.96 seconds!"
LOL. That made my day. You people whining in defense of the Hummer... did not LOL.
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SkiD666 2:34PM (7/30/2007)
The modified 86 year old Ford had 100hp and weighed in at around 1200 lbs.
Hummer has 300hp and weighs around 6500 lbs.
Wonder who would win the race?
frank 2:07PM (7/30/2007)
Wow, pathetic. Even 80 years old FORD are outrunning Hummer 2. Sometimes I wonder whay they put in those turds. GM is a waste of money. GOD'S MISTAKE
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mavkato 2:19PM (7/30/2007)
wow... who took a crap in your cereal this morning? I suppose if the Hummer had 5x the horsepower it came from the factory with, maybe the results would be a little different, eh?
Vexorg 2:39PM (7/30/2007)
Yeah, the Hummer probably would have exploded halfway up the hill.
Compy386 2:33PM (7/30/2007)
Some of you people need to lighten up. This is just an amusing little article. Yes the H2 is easier to operate and probably a lot safer, but that's besides the point. There aren't that many great simple vehicles anymore. You can thank all the safety nuts for that one. This a shame. Guess you can always go out and buy an Elise.
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Tim 2:39PM (7/30/2007)
Bad intelligence led Hummer to believe that the Model T had 20hp when in reality the model T had 100hp. Strategic mistakes were made including a serious miscalculation of the adversaries abilities.
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XJ 2:54PM (7/30/2007)
I agree. Back to the drawing board, GM. You've underestimated your competition once again!