A classic car will soon be making a cross country journey – including a trip through the Quad Cities – to commemorate a piece of automotive history.
The Museum of American Speed recently announced plans to make the coast-to-coast trip from New York City to San Francisco in a 1924 Model T Ford to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 10-millionth Model T Ford.
The trip will depart June 2 from Battery Park in New York City and travel along the historical Lincoln Highway ending in San Francisco, California. If it remains on schedule, the Model T should be traveling from Sterling, Illinois, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 7, along Interstate 80. That leg of the trip would go through a part of the QC region.
In June 1924, the Ford Motor company drove the 10-millionth Model T from New York to San Francisco via the Lincoln Highway as a promotional effort.
The ten-millionth Model T recreation on display at the Museum of American Speed was donated recently by the family of the late Dr. Alan Hathaway. This isn’t the vehicle’s first trek across the country. The Hathaway family completed the historic journey twice, once to celebrate the 50th anniversary and again for the 75th anniversary.
“Our team is excited to be part of a third trip in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 10-millionth Model T Ford and for the vehicle to become part of our permanent collection for years to come,” Tim Matthews, curator of the Museum of American Speed, said in a news release.
“This journey is more than a trip across our great country, it is a celebration of the vehicle which gave freedom to millions of Americans,” he added. “The Model T Ford changed the world’s landscape and way of life forever. We are excited to take this 100-year-old car out of its museum display and prove it can make this monumental voyage once again.”
Recognized last year as the top “Attraction for Car Lovers” in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice awards, the Museum of American Speed is currently home to over 240,000 square feet of display space over three levels.
The museum, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, was formed to present a continuous chronology of automotive racing engine and speed equipment development. It also preserves, interprets and displays items significant in racing and automotive history. The museum’s collection grew from “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith’s personal involvement in racing and hot rodding. As well as their family’s lifelong passion for collecting and preserving racing and automotive history.
The museum also features other unique displays including the largest collection of vintage pedal cars, gas-powered miniature race cars, automobile-themed toys, automotive art, lunchboxes and more.
For more information about the ten-millionth Model T, the coast-to-coast campaign or the Museum of American Speed visit MuseumofAmericanSpeed.org.
