The sight of a 99-year-old car driving down the street is an impressive sight, particularly when the 1926 Model T is also a YouTube star on the ‘Cold War Motors’ channel.
Scott Newstead is the Model T’s owner, as well as the entertaining host of ‘Cold War Motors’, a car guy channel for people who enjoy an unpredictable format mixed with plenty of funny moments.
Jim Sutherland
Scott takes an unscripted approach to his channel and relies upon his ability to riff with his army of like-minded car guys who are not afraid to get their hands dirty on a project. One of the projects was his ’26 Model T, a stylish throwback to the early days of the automotive age when the famous car model was a huge part of Henry Ford’s pioneer success in mass production.
The Model T was sold with an affordable price tag and became the backbone of the factory domestic car industry during its 19-year production run that ended in 1927. There was only one more production year left for the famous Model T vehicles in 1926, but they had already sold over 14 million Model Ts before the curtain was dropped on them in 1927.
‘Cold War Motors’ fans already know that Scott runs an orphanage for neglected and abandoned cars, most of which are saved from a grim date with the crusher. He is a very talented auto body guy who also knows his way around a wrench, so his formidable skill set provides a solid platform for his weekly YouTube channel because every vehicle is a stiff challenge for Scott and his car buddies.
His 1926 Model T provided an interesting challenge for Scott because he had to apply his mechanical, bodywork and even carpentry skills bring it back on the road. The Model T used wooden components in its body, and some required replacement, so Scott had to substitute his metal work for woodwork to get the job done on it.
Eventually the Model T was deemed roadworthy enough to be registered in Scott’s province (Alberta Canada) so he put plates on the car. The most important part of the equation was Scott wanted to retain his Model T’s long history etched on its exterior and not restore it to showroom condition.
Instead, Scott chose to concentrate on any mechanical repairs he felt were necessary for the Model T because he intended to drive it as much as possible. For the record, Scott drives his ’26 Model T a couple of times a week and enjoys every road adventure.
He is also glad he lives in a rural area that offers plenty of quiet roads for leisurely road trips in his Model T. Scott told MyStarCollectorCar “Its job is to be a Model T–every other car I own is faster”, but it’s clear his T runs near the front of the pack on his ‘Cold War Motors’ list of favorite vehicles.
However, Scott’s dog Frankers (Francine) does not share the same affection for his Model T and is reluctant to go for a ride in it. Instead, Frankers just sits down whenever an opportunity for her to go for a ride in the Model T arises, according to Scott. His theory is “the car is too slow or too stinky for Frankers”, an active poodle with a canine’s excellent sense of smell.
Nevertheless, the 1926 Model T has become a big past of Scott’s world, and it is very doubtful he will ever part with it. Good thing he can take Frankers in any number of other ’Cold War Motors’ vehicles.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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