March 3, 2005


Fit to a T

A family club dedicated to the restoration,
preservation and enjoyment of Model T Fords

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Allan Greenberg thinks the best thing about driving his 1923 Model T touring car is the expression on people’s faces as he drives by.

Allan and Lucy Greenberg dressed for touring.

It’s hard to disagree with him. Dressed in period costumes, Greenberg and his wife, Lucy bring a smile to everyone passing by, let alone when they’re at any of the Santa Clara Valley Model “T” Ford Club [SCVMTFC] events, where he serves as president. Lucy is the secretary and historian and loves to dress up in one of her four vintage outfits.

“I like the camaraderie of the members,” said Lucy Greenberg. “It’s one big family. When a car breaks down everybody stops and helps.”

Lots of fun activities
One hundred twenty-five families are members of the club which meets monthly. And at least every month there’s an event like the tour to Shoreline Park for kite flying on March 19 or the participation in the Bunnies and Bonnets Parade in Campbell on March 26. A tour to Gilroy to visit Eric Anninger’s collection of 25 antique cars is eagerly anticipated on April 9. Then there’s the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras in May.

The club members don’t just show off their antique cars to admiring auto fans, they also take a leisurely tour down the coast to Cambria the last weekend in April.

But the crème de la crème for this hardy group of auto enthusiasts is the 36th annual Endurance Run and Lowland Tour. All that is known about the event is that it will be held on the back roads to Santa Cruz and will cover 200 miles. Greenberg plans to drive the1926 Model T speedster he rebuilt a year ago (and is still putting the finishing touches on). Lucy will drive shotgun as navigator on the unknown terrain.

The Silicon Valley Model T Ford Club’s February tour to the Morgan Hill Museum started on Blossom Hill Road. Photo by Charles Sullivan

“SCVMTFC began in 1968,” said Jim Boyden who is from Almaden and a past president of the club. “There were only about a dozen people back then. But, we encourage visitors and anyone who is interested to attend our meetings.”

Greenberg remarked that Model T’s prices range from an old auto stored in a barn for $1,000 to restored $20,000 to $30,000 models, and everywhere in between. Parts are easy to come by as long as you are a member of the club. And ownership of a vehicle is not required to join though many members end up with multiple vehicles collected through the years.

The first Model T was assembled in Detroit on Oct. 1, 1908. Over the next 19 years Henry Ford would build 15 million automobiles with little change in its design. Ford succeeded in his quest to build a sturdy, low cost car for the masses. By 1914, the moving assembly line enabled Ford to produce more cars than any other company. The 1923 touring car sold in the $300 range.

Greenbergs move to Almaden
The Greenbergs were originally from Endicott, NY, moving to the Almaden Valley’s Trinidad Drive in 1981 when a job transfer with IBM relocated the family of five to California.

Greenberg always wanted an antique auto but family responsibilities came first. They did cash out some IBM stock once to invest in a vintage auto but unplanned expenses surfaced leaving Greenberg with only a toy model car. The couple’s three children grew up attending Bret Harte and Leland and now have children of there own who love to go for rides in their grandparents’ Model Ts.

In 1991, Greenberg retired from IBM and sought volunteer work to fill his time. He helps out at History San Jose rebuilding trolley cars and also teaches computers at Senior Net. Not surprisingly, the Model T club will host their fifth annual event at History San Jose featuring antique autos built in 1945 or earlier, along with vintage motorcycles and boats and with plenty of music and activities for children.

On your marks, get set, go! The Endurance Run 2004 was held in June starting in downtown San Jose and continuing to the top of Mount Hamilton and back again. The 2005 Endurance Run will be held on June 12. Photo courtesy of the Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club

In 1999 Greenberg’s dream came true when he bought his four-passenger, 1923 Model T touring car.

Endurance race
Last year was the first endurance race the Greenbergs completed. Staging began at Sun Microsystems [the old Agnews State Hospital site], started in downtown San Jose and proceeded up to Mount Hamilton and back again.

The endurance tour is not about speed, in fact, points can be lost for going too fast. Skill and precision must be exercised on such a tour as the Model Ts only have brakes in the back. There are several check points along the path of the all day event.

Unfortunately the Greenbergs, who were hoping for the Rookie of Year trophy last year, came in a bit too early.

But Allen says he was just happy to safely complete the tour because six other cars didn’t make it.

“It’s really a great way to see a lot of the back roads,” says Greenberg of his favorite activity. “We’d never see the back roads if we didn’t belong to the club.”

Club members also enjoy speaking to groups at senior centers and schools, as well as other casual groups who are simply interested in Model Ts. One such engagement at Gunn High School in Palo Alto met with such enthusiasm that the kids are building a Model T with the help of club members.

For more information about the Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club write to P.O. Box 2081, Saratoga, Ca. 95070 or go to www.scvmtfc.org. or stop by a meeting the third Friday of the month at 8 p.m. at the Maridon Room at 464 N. Winchester Blvd., Santa Clara.