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« on: October 08, 2018, 06:31:41 PM »
From a Model T enthusiast site:
The pedals aren't in the standard placement that we've grown accustomed to over the last 100 years or so, and in fact, only one of the three pedals does what we might expect from a floor pedal these days. I'm talking about the brake pedal. Yes, the brake pedal stops the car -- but even then, it's in the far-right position (where you would normally find the accelerator pedal). So what are the other two pedals for, you ask? Well, in addition to the brake pedal, you'll find a gear selector pedal that provides first gear (all the way to the floor), neutral (half-way out and used for stopping) and second gear (all the way out). Next to that pedal, you'll find a separate reverse gear pedal. In other words, if you're driving a Model T, you'd better be up for some pretty fancy footwork.
But it's not just your feet that will stay busy in a Model T, your hands will get a pretty good workout, too. Aside from steering the car where you want it to go, with your left hand, you'll be adjusting the firing of the spark plugs (down to advance and up to retard), and with your right hand you'll control the throttle (down to open and up to close).
According to the Car and Driver article, "The odd position of the throttle, brake, and shifter make driving a Model T an archaic and dangerous experience. It's like trying to do the Charleston while loading a musket after a big night at the speak-easy."
But the full Model T experience isn't just about sitting in the driver's seat and, well, driving. Before you can drive it, you have to start it. And, if you ever find yourself behind the wheel of a pre-1919 Model T (prior to being equipped with an electric starter), that can be another challenge. In fact, there's even the very-real risk of breaking an arm each time you start it up -- that is, if the engine backfires.
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