Engine trouble in Greensburg interrupts cross-country Model T tour; crew vows to return

Engine trouble sidelined a 1924 Model T on Monday night in Greensburg, two days into a planned 19-day trip from New York to San Francisco.

A crew of three volunteer drivers and mechanics affiliated with Nebraska’s Museum of American Speed realized they’d have to haul the antique car by trailer for extensive repairs after experiencing difficulty driving it to their Hempfield hotel room from a dinner hosted by the Greensburg Rotary.

“It was making a knocking noise,” museum volunteer Bill Vocasek said. “We thought maybe it was carbon buildup. Then we found out it had more issues deeper in the engine.

“We had a rod that had failed.”

After initial help from Vince Altieri, a Hempfield resident and fellow member of the Model T Ford Club of America, the volunteers on Tuesday continued to their next planned stop, in Mansfield, Ohio.

They transported the 100-year-old car in a trailer that the museum had provided for the “Sea-to-Sea” trek and dropped it off at an Ohio repair garage that specializes in such “Tin Lizzies.”

The crew bought some parts along the way and ordered others for express shipment from Arkansas. They expected by Thursday to have all the components needed to get the Model T back in running order.

They said they’re determined to return to Greensburg to resume their cross-country journey — under the Model T’s own power — from where it was interrupted.

“We’re expecting to have it back together (Thursday) or the next day,” volunteer Mike Vaughn said. “The plan is to do the entire trip.”

“We said it was sea to sea, and we are going to hold to that,” said Vocasek.

The trip is meant to recreate a promotional coast-to-coast trip along the Lincoln Highway that was completed in 1924 by the 10 millionth Model T produced by Henry Ford.

Though not that exact vehicle, the restored car involved in the current trip is representative of the more than two million Model Ts that came off the assembly line in 1924.

The restored car, with added “10 millionth” promotional lettering, previously completed the Lincoln Highway excursion two times — in 1974 and 1999, on the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the original vehicle’s cross-country tour.

Behind the wheel in ‘74 and ‘99 was the car’s previous owner, the late Dr. Alan Hathaway, a dentist from Davenport, Iowa. Several family members, including four of his children, drove along on the first leg of this year’s trip.

Son Ted Hathaway of Bettendorf, Iowa, is among those planning to meet up again with the Model T once the trip has resumed in full gear.

“It’s a temporary setback,” he said of the interrupted trip. “It’s just been delayed a couple days.”

He accompanied his father on the 1974 trip.

“At that time, the worst that happened was a couple of flat tires,” he said.

Vocasek called the unexpected engine breakdown “part of the experience. It’s another story we’ll have for the rest of our lives.”

Earlier this week, the museum crew had to make extensive repairs to the Model T’s exhaust system.

Responding to an invitation for other Model T enthusiasts to join the 100th anniversary tour on portions near their hometown, Altieri met the crew in Schellsburg. Driving his own 1925 Model T, he led them west along the Lincoln Highway to an overlook 17 miles west of Bedford, where the landmark Grand View ship hotel once stood.

“They were able to get some photos,” Altieri said.

He rejoined the Model T team later, during their stop in Greensburg, and was able to provide them the use of his Jeannette hobby garage as they assessed the extent of the engine trouble.

“They came down to my place, and they were able to drop the pan and pistons out and determine what the problem was,” Altieri said. “I’m hoping they can return in a few days and then be on their merry way back to Ohio.”

The Hathaways donated the Model T to the museum in Lincoln, Neb., where it will be displayed after the road trip is completed.

Progress of the Sea-to-Sea trip can be tracked by visiting museumofamericanspeed.org and searching under the “Events” heading.