Fastest Fords of the Signal Hill Model T Hill ClimbMark VaughnArgue all you want, but it was the Ford Model T that put the world on wheels. Before that you had to be a prince or a potentate to get a car. Henry Ford's assembly line gave the world mass production, which in turn lowered prices to previously unheard-of levels. For a generation or more, everyone was a Ford Man.To celebrate that global upheaval, we have car clubs, in this case, the Model T Club of Long Beach, California. The Long Beach Model T Club was founded in 1954, and by 1957 held its first hill climb. Routed up the challenging, 1/10th-mile, appropriately named Hill Street bordering Long Beach and Signal Hill, the Ts conquered the hill's 22-percent grade with aplomb. The event ran for the next 23 years, until the cost of liability insurance, combined with squabbling from property owners, meant the end of the line in 1979.But wait, there's more! To commemorate the City of Signal Hill's 100th anniversary, the city asked the club to do it again two years ago. Then they did it this year to commemorate the 250th celebration of the United States. So who knows? Maybe they'll do it again next year?AdvertisementAdvertisementFor now, scroll on down and pick your favorite. And go buy a Ford. Maybe a Mustang or a Raptor.1914 SpeedsterPrice When New: $440Hill Climb Time: 14.33Chris Craig has owned this car for three years. With a Weber side draft carburetor, 1928 Chevrolet head, and a Ruckstell two-speed rear end, it's the hot rod of Model Ts... along with all the more modern hot rods made from Model Ts over the years. You could call this one a period-correct hot rod.Mark Vaughn1921 TouringPrice When New: $535Hill Climb Time: 19.53Dave Seiler has owned this for 32 years. He and his wife restored it, doing their own painting, upholstery, and wheels, the latter which Dave made himself. They have even driven it to Tacoma and back.Mark Vaughn1926 PickupPrice When New: $281Hill Climb Time: 35.84AdvertisementAdvertisementDoug Mullin has owned this for 11 years. In that time he's rebuilt the engine, transmission, front axle, steering, and added a new top and radiator.Mark Vaughn1914 TouringPrice When New: $550Hill Climb Time: 18.75This car was owned by current owner Fred Spivey's grandfather, who owned it in the 1950s. He's been maintaining it after it was passed down to his mom. The car is retrofitted with a distributor, water pump, and a Ruckstell two-speed rear end. Fred says it's been in hundreds of parades.Mark Vaughn1912 Torpedo RoadsterPrice When New: $590Hill Climb Time: 12.74Gene Carrothers has owned this for over 50 years. It's been restored to its original appearance, but Gene has added performance accessories that were available when the car was new.AdvertisementAdvertisementHe has taken it on tours in many events and even took it to Canada once.Mark Vaughn1915 TouringPrice When New: $490Hill Climb Time: 21.01Glenn French has owned this for 10 years. He's rebuilt the engine and added Warford transmission and Sure Stop brakes.A Warford is a popular aftermarket auxiliary transmission for the Ford Model T. It is installed between the engine and the stock rear axle to provide under-drive, direct-drive, and over-drive, transforming the T into a highly capable cruiser and hill-climber."Sure Stop" (or Sure-Stop) brakes for a Ford Model T are popular aftermarket hydraulic disc brake kits designed to dramatically improve the car's stopping power. Because the original factory Model T setup relied on a single small band inside the transmission, retrofitting these kits is a highly recommended safety upgrade.Mark Vaughn1921 Depot HackPrice When New: $455 (for the chassis)Hill Climb Time: 27.59AdvertisementAdvertisementOwner Jason Anderson calls this the proto-station wagon. It's equipped with an antique GPS called a RadioScout, as well as a record player, and an accessory air pump to pressurize the gas tank.The RadioScout is not a real antique, but rather a functional piece of steampunk artwork created by maker Jase (known online as HardlyHumanFX). While it looks like it belongs in the 1920s or 1930s, it connects to modern satellites to give you precise directions.Mark Vaughn1915 TouringPrice When New: $490Hill Climb Time: 21.66Jeff Hood has owned this car for 20 years. It was restored in the mid-1950s and has dash plaques from the 1957-1960 Hill Climbs.Mark Vaughn1920s Model T-Powered Sprint CarPrice When New: $575 before race car conversionHill Climb Time: 11.71Jerry Sherman Jr. says this is his dad's car from 1970. In the 1920s, it was a dirt track racer, in the 1940s and '50s it was a dry lakes racer, and from the 1970s to the present it is back as a drag racer/hill climber. This car holds the overall speed ascent record at Signal Hill with an 8.97 recorded two years ago.Mark Vaughn1920 TouringPrice When New: $675Hill Climb Time: 11.96AdvertisementAdvertisementJohn Van Karvaly has owned this car 15 years. He says it was created by Judd Palmer, who fished the body out of the Santa Ana River. It has a clear Rajo overhead valve conversion, extended hood, modified frame, lowered suspension, "and lots of details."A Rajo overhead valve (OHV) conversion is an aftermarket performance upgrade from the early 20th century designed to replace the restrictive flathead cylinder head on Ford Model T engines. By putting the valves directly above the cylinders, it significantly increased horsepower and airflow.Mark Vaughn1915 TouringPrice When New: $490Hill Climb Time: 12.92John and Karen Pope have owned this car for eight years and in that time they have "done lots of work and repairs."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe car has a lot of miles on it, the couple says, it's been on tours, including tours in Europe, and it was even the cover car of Vintage Ford in September/October 2024.Mark Vaughn1916 TouringPrice When New: $440Hill Climb Time: 18.06Lana Stephens inherited this car from her father two years ago. It has been in the family for over 60 years. She drove it on the Hill Climb in 2024, too.Mark Vaughn1926 TouringPrice When New: $375Hill Climb Time: 25.86Mike Spaziano purchased this car in 1999. It was sold new by Fortner & Loud in Pasadena, a prominent, authorized Ford dealership and service center historically located in Pasadena, California, with roots dating back to the 1920s.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe car was restored by Ed Bebeck, a dedicated, longtime member of the Long Beach Model T Club who is fondly remembered by early Ford enthusiasts for his contributions to the vintage Model T community.Mark Vaughn1923 Paco-Bodied SpeedsterPrice When New: $330 for the chassisHill Climb Time: 14.22Steven Chase says this car beat Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the 1969 Golden Gate Park Psychedelic Road Rally. Its license plate reads LBMTC, for Long Beach Model T Club.Mark Vaughn1922 TouringPrice When New: $355Hill Climb Time: 32.66Tim O'Gorman purchased this in 2016. It was his first Model T. The previous owner had the car since 1960. Since then, Tim has rebuilt the engine and added a Warford transmission.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It's the perfect car for climbing Signal Hill on a Saturday and taking a country drive on a Sunday," he said.Mark Vaughn1914 TouringPrice When New: $550Hill Climb Time: 14.23William Smith has owned it for six years. He once drove it all the way to its ancestral home in Dearborn, Michigan, and back.Mark Vaughn