capngrog Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Today at 12:19 PM I think there's something a little fishy about the below - linked video. There's no way that car could've made it through some of the areas the video shows! Also, after it (there was probably more than one car used in the making of this video) turned completely upside down, the driver wasn't shown replacing the oil, all of which most certainly would have been lost while the car was on its side and upside down. I'm no expert on old cars, so I'd like some opinions of whether or not this video depicts the real capabilities of this particular old car, or cars of that era in general.The link:https://www.youtube.com/embed/nq2jY1trxqg?rel=0Just wonderin',Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Don't think they had Photoshop in the teens or 1920s.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vermontboy Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I've driven on old logging roads in mud season with a Model "A" Ford and yes, they can. The reason is the tires are narrow and bite down through the mud (or snow for that matter). That's why drivers of old hi performance cars that were smart took off those 60 series tires in the winter and went with smaller, narrower snow tires - you do not want to "float" on snow or mud. As for the rollover it was gentle. As to the oil question I suppose that it might lose some out of the filler and perhaps they did a film splice or just a retake after adding oil but I am not really sure how much oil would be lost in that amount of time.....I'll be interested to hear what other people who remember old fashioned mud seasons and logging roads think...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtnchev Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Vermontboy is correct. Those skinny, tall tires provided great traction in mud and snow, and the clearance the cars had made them able to cross almost anything. They had to be made like that to be able to navigate the roads then. There are many instances of people taking their old cars to places before any road was made, including Pikes Peak.Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 That vid has been on here before. I cant imagine abusing a car like that though it would be a hoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlCapone Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Two years ago our city roads were closed and I used my 28 Model A Ford Tudor to go 4 miles to the other end of the city. Never stuck once but plows and police were off the road. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 After a fresh coat of paint I could see it on the used car lot - driven by a little old lady to church on Sunday's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bob Call Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Note that the sign on the car says "Oilfield Dodge". I have been in the all bidness for 50+ years. Back in the 20's Dodge was a favorite in the oil patch. Conditions like those in the vidio were common prior to paved roads. I would say this was probably shot in central Oklahoma or East Texas for use as a sales tool by Dodge dealers in the oil patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I have been in some pretty thick stuff with my 1931 DB and have yet to get stuck or mired in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjamin j Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I operated a fairly good sized logging company in Michigan in the 70s. When I would go out to check on my crews I would find a model A in places that four wheel drive trucks were not able to get into. In the mornings one of my guys would who owned the model A would wait for the rest of the crew at the edge of the woods. The crew would climb in and he would take them in. The model A could use the same path as the skidder, ruts and all and if it were to get stuck the guys could jump out and reposition it. Those tall skinny tires and the steady pull of the model A engine were perfect for the woods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 It is legit. Obviously, made by a stunt crew for a publicity film. They probably wouldn't have been quite so rambunctious if it was their own car. But, those were the road conditions and driving conditions that prevailed in rural areas in the spring.The gas, oil and battery acid could leak out during a roll over but they would not lose much if they turned the car back on its wheels quick, which they did. Notice they rolled the windows down so they wouldn't get broken.Find some pictures of street scenes and road scenes taken in the twenties and earlier, you will see cars like the Dodge that have met life in the raw and come through battered but still running and giving good service.You probably won't find such beat up, worn out specimens today because they were all junked 75 years ago. The ones that survive today are the ones that saw little use, and what use they saw was on paved roads, for the most part. In other words they were babied and that is why they survive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uh6077 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Skinny tires saves the day. I always laugh at the huge hollbilly mud trucks with 46 in tires that are 18 in wide. Sure skinny tires may not look "cool" on a big truck but they get the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 I appreciate all of the responses, and due to the overwhelming credible testimony, I must admit that I now believe the Old Car Video to be REAL! I hate it when I'm wrong, but I'm used to it by now. Pardon me for doubting, but as I said above, I'm not familiar with the capabilities of pre-WWII automobiles/trucks. I realize that there was no photo shopping back when this video was produced; however, there were (and still are) very clever film editors that could make you believe almost anything. There was this old movie about a giant monkey climbing a tall building carrying a damsel in distress, and Captain Midnight and Buck Rogers were the emergency responders, and ... well, ya shoulda seen it, it was somethin'!"I'm a Believer",GrogP.S. Uh oh, now I'm in trouble with the Monkees! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 About all they could do is shoot movies for a week and edit out the parts where they got stuck and pulled the car out of the mud with a team of mules, or busted it up so bad it wouldn't run. Then use the most dramatic scenes and leave out the boring stuff. What you saw was all in a day's work back then. Dodge was known to make tough cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cben09 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Engine upside down,,,,The oil would run into the pistonsbut not so much run out the small fillerOn the T,,it was sorta in the middleSorry,,never had a A,,an i forgot where i filled the Dodge 4Cheers Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 "Dodge for dependability" was the motto and was a reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I know I'd read some where before that skinny tires were supposed to be great for mud & snow and I don't think they had limited slip back then (I suppose it could have a welded diff though). I must admit I'm still a little skeptical about the oil. The hinged oil filler cap (flap) on my '25 Dodge looks like it would leak quite a bit of oil out if turned upside down for several seconds. So maybe they did add some oil unless that was the last shoot for the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 (edited) Which side was the filler on? If it was on the left the oil would not run out when the car rolled over. When the boys flipped it back on its wheels it was only upside down for a few seconds. Maybe some oil ran out but enough was left to run on.Maybe they stuck a rag in the filler pipe and tied the cap down with baling wire.WW2 Jeeps were built with the gas filler, oil filler and battery positioned so you could roll the car up on its side for service or repair then flop it back on its wheels when you were done, and not spill any oil gas or battery acid. 4 GI's could roll one over. Edited January 8, 2015 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 The way the oil filler is situated there would be only the slightest loss of oil.Bear in mind that film is running extremely fast.In most of those situations that car would have been in first gear and with around an 18:1 ratio it would be barely moving without blowing the engine.Lots of times I don't even bother with first gear because by the time I get it into 2nd it's practically standing still anyway...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Good point. If that is the kind of road conditions and driving conditions they were built for, no wonder they are geared so low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 In the late 1970's we did a Model A Ford coupe for an older gentleman who had used it to deliver mail on a rural route here in PA. He used it as late as 1952 to deliver mail when the snow was especially bad. Those tall skinny tires were great in snow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 It's easy to forget the condition of roads back in the day. Our shop is on the only direct hiway from Harrisburg, PA to Baltimore, MD. prior to the Interstate built in 1956-57. It was and is a heavily travelled road. It was first hard surfaced only in 1921. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wolfe Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 In 1952 we lived back a long lane along a canal, Dad had a Model A flatbed truck and a Model A car. Dad never got stuck in the deep snow and used the truck to haul all the lumber for our new house he built. I remember my brother and I fighting over who would sit by the door of the truck and I opened the door and shoved him out and in the canal! Dad wasn't impressed..........My 1930 Chryslers have a "Granny gear" for snow, mud and sand...You take off normally in second gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhambulldog Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Regarding the discussion on the Dodge's engine oil running out while upside down. They might've edited out refilling the oil, or not filmed the re-oiling to begin with.At 2m46s in the video there is an obvious break in the action, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 If the car did get stuck the editor would have chopped that part out.In the roll over part a cable can be seen helping to get the car back upright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 You can see the back of the touring car they used to roll the Dodge over, as well as the ropes. I notice they threw out half the windshield that fell off but did not see them pick it up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 When he stopped the car in front of the oil rig you could see he had tire chains on the back wheels. You can go anywhere with chains ice, snow or mud as they dig in for traction and do not plug up. As long as the back wheels can turn you will be moving forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhambulldog Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 editing is evidentIt appeared to have been unattached and then re-attached (off camera) at a better vantage to provide more leverage ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Does anyone know what year the car is or what year the movie was made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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