The Old 999 Is Comin' 'Round The Bend... [PIC]

   For the year 1902, Henry Ford built two very similar race cars and christened them both the "999" after the record breaking steam engine, the "Empire State No. 999". They were powered by a massive 1156 cid 4 cylinder engine that produced an impressive 80 HP.  They're bare bones in design with a simple wood frame, no differential and no rear suspension. The job to help launch Ford's reputation with racing notoriety was given to a bicycle racer named Barney Oldfield who had never even driven a car before. It difficult to understand what he saw in Oldfield when there were already accomplished race car drivers around, but as it turned out, he picked a winner. The 999 won its debut at Grosse Point and propelled both Ford and Oldfield into national fame winning the Manufacturers' Challenge Cup . In 1904, they set a speed record of 91.37 mph on the ice covered Lake St Clair, Michigan.

   Exoto's model of the first 999 is a phenomenal piece of engineering with the entire drivetrain operational. Content on the model is just crazy. I have no idea how many tiny parts make up the huge radiator and the wire wheels are a work of art in itself. I just had to sculpt a driver for this beast, and if any of you want to see how that was done, let me know as I do have step-by-step photos of that process.