NEWS

A man and his Model T

The children of Albertus Avenue in North Toronto were in for quite the treat Saturday afternoon when their neighbour used the occasion of a street festival to give them rides in his restored 1914 Model T Ford.

Paul Doddington, 75, who lives in his grandfather’s 100-year-old house at 185 Albertus Ave., also invited neighbours into the family home to listen to early 20th-century pop music on a vintage gramophone.

“We decided, ‘Hell, it’s only 100 years old once,’” Doddington said as children crowded around him asking for rides and giggling at the Looney Tunes-type sound effects in Billy Murray’s “How Are You Goin’ to Wet Your Whistle? (When the Whole Darn World Goes Dry)”.

Doddington originally purchased the car in “derelict” condition for $250 in 1957 — when he was being paid 50 cents an hour to deliver groceries — and spent the next six years “tearing it down to the last cotterpin.” He replaced several wrong parts that had been added, he said.

As eager would-be riders watched, he started the car by turning a front crank, while getting a volunteer to pull the spark lever to the left of the steering wheel. In a minute the engine roared to life, and the people cheered.

Driving at a steady 5 MPH clip, Doddington took his eager passengers east on Albertus Avenue, around the inflatable castle and past children playing street hockey.

Grinning, he squeezed the black horn that sent out a rasping “a-hooga” sound, and playfully called for the young players to get out of his way.

“I can’t do it!” one boy said, laughing and running off the street in in slow motion in mock fear of the Model T’s speed. “It’s going too fast!”

Passengers felt the vibration of the engine, but otherwise the ride was surprisingly smooth.

“I felt like I was on a roller coaster at first,” said Emma Walker, 9.

“It was awesome,” agreed her friend, Rebecca Lawrence. “I was riding in a 100-year-old car!”

The childrens’ enthusiasm — giddy enough that grown-ups were soon asking for a ride too — pleased Doddington to no end.

“When you own something like this, it’s very important to share it with young people and have them understand why you’re enthusiastic about it,” he said. “Because someday, they’re going to be responsible for its care.”