Why did all early cars have running boards and detached fenders and headlights and a body in the shape of a box
>>15308164
They still had that "horseless carriage" mindset.
>>15308175
There were lots of carriages that weren't just shaped like a box and carriages don't have running boards. Those traits are specific to early automobiles
>>15308164
Running boards to keep mud out the windows, and detached fenders because that's how they gave them crash protection.
They didn't have paved roads back then. Rutted dirt tracks, horse shit EVERYWHERE.
>>15308466
Also, the running boards were for ladies in long skirts to enter without having to show their ankles.
>>15308466
and the body is in the shape of a box because that's literally what it is - a wooden box bolted onto a frame.
Because Henry Ford sold functional cars and didn't give one shit about stroking someones subjective sense of aesthetics.
>>15308662
>Henry Ford
>made ugly cars that fall apart
>still makes ugly cars that fall apart
>>15308716
Henry ford is dead, actually
>>15308729
No way!!!
So even after the old fart dies they continue his legacy of terrible products?
Thats mighty nice of them to do that.
>>15308164
Early cars were designed for slow speeds on dirt roads. No aerodynamics needed but good ground clearance and lots of ventilation were important. They had to work well in mud, roads with deep ruts, and off-road.
The hood design was convenient for constant maintenance, the fenders and running boards for keeping dirt, mud and horse shit off the rest of the car.
Fords were successful because they were simple to repair and maintain, reasonably reliable, and because Ford kept standard designs for a very long time so getting parts was easy. Remember drivers relied on LOCAL auto stores and those weren't restocked daily like today. Babbit bearings meant you could rebabbit many times. Babbit is quite tolerant and an ideal bearing material for the time.
Fords were tools. They were commonly made into light trucks, tractors and other specialty vehicles.
They were well engineered. Pedal operated band clutch transmissions on Model Ts were easy to repair on the road. Don't forget you had to be a mechanic to own a car or you were helpless if you weren't rich. You had to be able to change tubed tires, tighten water pump gland nuts, service all fluids, grease your Zerk fittings, and many other tasks. You had to understant ignition coils, and Ford provided trembler coils for each cylinder on the Model T so a single coil failure would't strand you.
