This 1914 Ford Model T is owned by Eileen Fredrickson and her son Eric Martinson.  When I found out that I would get the opportunity to speak with this mother/son team over breakfast @ Perkins, I jumped at it.  Listening to the deep love they have for this car, was truly inspiring.  This will be our websites FIRST Pioneer car and believe me when I tell you that this was an excellent choice for our first feature car of 2011 as it was voted in an international poll as one of the most influential cars of the twentieth century.

The “Turnquist T”, as it is affectionately called and known by, was originally owned by Eileen’s father, Lauren Turnquist.  Lauren owned the Peterson&Pinney Hardware store in Anoka.  Lauren was known far and wide for his love of old cars and for his love of polka music which was always on the radio in the hardware store…even with the AM radio static.  Back in 1958, he heard thru the grapevine that two old bachelors in Brooten, Minnesota were looking to sell their old 1914 Model T and being that Lauren was born in 1914 it was important to him that he get that car.  Lauren brought his 12 yr old son to go look at it.  Once they got there, they were brought out to the chicken coop and even though it took a little bit to get it running, they did finally get it going.  I did ask if they knew what Lauren paid for it back in 1958, but no one seemed to know.  I can’t imagine he paid much more than $50-75 (new, the car sold in 1914 for $440-490) for the car, given the time era.  The two old gentlemen wanted to celebrate the sale of the car and wanted to have a drink.  Lauren, not being a “drinking” man watched them pull out an old jug filled with some kind of liquor and he did have that drink with them to celebrate. Then they towed it home.   The family still has that old jug as that was part of the sale.  

Lauren had owned several classics or Pioneers in his time.  He owned a 1915 Model T Hardtop, a 1936 Coupe and a 66 T-Bird.  He was most definitely a Ford man.  Eileen also recalled that her dad had a couple of “piles” of cars…disassembled.  He loved to tinker and has had many people come up to her over the years whowould recall to her going into the store at any given timejust to talk “cars” with Lauren.  He spent the next few years restoring the car, physically hunting down the parts he needed to restore the car.  Since Lauren finished the car nearly 50 years ago, it has remained untouched.  Since Lauren’s passing no one has been able to drive it as it isn’t as simple to drive merely putting in the key and turning the car over.  The car is a crank start so no key to start.   So Eric enlisted the help of his Model T buddies to instruct him on “How to drive a Model T”.  2010 was really the first year they have had it out and have brought it to Anoka’s show many times during the season.