Trivia and Tidbits

Touring Vs. Phaeton

The SAE standards committee met in 1922 to adopt nomenclature for automobile bodies. The name "touring" had been used by most car manufacturers to indicate a four or more passenger open sedan. The SAE chose the word phaeton to replace the touring, so in 1928 Ford called their open sedan Phaeton. Phaeton is a Greet word meaning the son of Helios, reckless driver of the chariot sun.

Free Library of Philadelphia

If you are ever in Philadelphia, be sure to visit the "Free Library of Philadelphia." They have Murrey Fahnestock's complete collection of Model T Ford and other literature. They have a complete run of Ford dealer and Serpid Field Magazines from 1914 to 1955.

(2001 ... Can anyone tell us if this library still exists and the publications referred to above - Ed.)

Right Hand Drive

Q. Why do Americans drive on the right side of the road and the British on the left? (E.H.F., AZ)

A. Some historians theorize that the ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman generals ordered their chariots to be driven and heir armies to march on the left side of the road so that their men could more readily draw their swords if attacked by opposing traffic on the right. It was Napoleon, some say, who arbitrarily broke with tradition and decreed that his armies would march on the right and all traffic in France would do the same. Each country he conquered was compelled to adopt his drive-right rule. The British, however, continue to drive on the left -- as do drivers in most former British Empire countries - and their steering wheels are on the right.

In the U.S., according to one theory, we drive on the right because Henry Ford refused to build his popular Model T with anything but left-hand drive, and by 1915 most U.S. automakers had followed suit. Others say the practice began with the covered wagons of our pioneer days, whose drivers sat on the left on a perch called the "lazy board."

From the Spark & Throttle, July 1990