Museum of Science and Industry

A Manchester-made Model T Ford will lead the Classic Car Rally from MOSI on 31 July 2011, to celebrate 100 years since Model T Fords were first manufactured in Britain, at Trafford Park.  

The Rally, which is part of MOSI's annual Transport Festival (30 July - 7 August 2011), leaves at 11am from MOSI and will include a variety of classic and vintage cars. The Rally will travel to the British Commercial Museum, Leyland and is in aid of Macmillan Cancer. After the Rally there will be a wide variety of free activities for families and a range of fascinating vehicles on display as part of the Festival.

John Williams, who restored MOSI's Model T, prepares the vehicle for display before the Transport Festival

A range of Fords will also be on display at MOSI on 30 July 2011 to celebrate Ford in Manchester. MOSI is appealing to anyone who owns a Model T built in Manchester to bring their vehicle along to the event.

The largest Ford factory for Model Ts outside America opened in Trafford Park, Manchester in 1911, and in 1914 this became Europe's first moving production line. The Model T or 'Tin Lizzie' was the favourite car of Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin, and it rapidly made its mark in Britain as the first affordable, reliable car.

Nick Forder, transport curator at MOSI said:

"The Model T is one of the most significant cars in British motoring history and Manchester was an important part of its success. Our own Model T will be on display during the Festival and we would love to hear from anyone who has a Model T, Model AF, or in fact, any Manchester-built car."

The Classic Car Rally is one of many events going on as part of the Transport Festival at MOSI. Visitors can expect to see a fantastic range of vehicles coming in to the Museum over the next week - from racing cars to bikes to trucks and even a tank. There will also be a chance to try out vehicles, including mountain biking on the weekend of 6-7 August.

The Trafford Park Model T factory was Europe's first moving production line. It was chosen as a location because Manchester's canal and rail networks provided cheap national and international transport links to import parts and export and distribute the finished products. Moving production helped to increased output rates and reduced costs, which in turn meant that customers received a better value product.

Until 1924 the T reigned supreme as the most successful car in the world, with the sale of 15 million cars and commercial vehicles, nearly 300,000 of which were manufactured in Britain. In 1920 more than half of the cars sold in Britain were Model Ts and throughout the 1920s it was the country's top commercial vehicle. The Model T's success was cut short because of changes in UK tax law in 1921, which charged more tax for cars with bigger engines. As a result, Model Ts were taxed at £23 compared to £12 for a Morris Cowley, and this led to a catastrophic decline in sales.

In 2000 motoring journalists voted the Model T Ford as Car of the 20^th Century.

The Classic Car Rally starts at 11am from MOSI on Sunday 31 July 2011 and travels to the British Commercial Museum in Leyland. More information on the Transport Festival is available at /whats-on/transport-festival.aspx

For media information or photos please contact Sarah Roe Tel: 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647.

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