Ford Model T Snow Flyer

A gem in Fairbanks: Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. But plan accordingly! Winter hours (September 22 to mid-May) are only Wednesdays & Sundays, noon to 6:00 p.m. Fortunately, we learned this at the downtown visitor center on a Sunday morning. Of course the bus system wasn't running on Sunday so we walked the 1.8 miles there and back with our friends Greg & Suzanne who arrived late last night.

“With a world-class collection of vintage automobiles and period fashions complemented by fascinating exhibits, accessories, photographs and archival videos, we welcome you on a vivid journey through the automotive age, from Victorian times through the Art Deco era.

“This ‘living museum’ is home to over 95 pre-World War II automobiles, with 65 to 75 … staged rare automobiles at all times. This expansive collection encompasses horseless carriages, steamers, electric cars, speedsters, cyclecars, midget racers and 30s classics.

“The range of this car collection begins in 1898 with Hay Motor Vehicle and continues up to our 1936 Packard 1408 series dual windshield Phaeton. Many other rare automobiles are included, like the only 1906 Compound, a 1920 Argonne and a 1921 Heine-Velox Victoria. All but three of the museum’s cars are operable and many get driven on a regular basis as weather permits, especially during the summer…

“Come to discover why the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, is consistently named the “#1 Attraction in Fairbanks” by TripAdvisor, and one of the best auto museums in the world, among auto enthusiasts.”

About the photo—
The front wheels are relocated to a third axle near the rear axle and treads are wrapped around the pair of tires on each side. Then skis are placed on the front axle and voila! The Snow Flyer. We were fortunate to still be at the museum when they wheeled it out and were giving rides, even though the outside temperature was single- or double-digits below 0°F!

» 95-second YouTube video of this vehicle's maiden run in 2010

» Dinner at Tiparos Thai Food with Greg & Suzanne; I had Tiparos Favorite!

[ IMG_0099S12x8Atm :: P&S ]

[Jesika]

Lovely old vehicle which sparks a memory of Ottawa in the winter of 1968, 2 snow mobiles, a dog team and a Chihuahua puppy..

[Jane Anderson]

So fascinating!

[GaryW]

Neat!

[Thom Mitchell]

@jesika2 @janeandcharlie @thewatersphotos I forgot to mention that it was approximately double-digits below 0°F … but we were able to take a ride in this vehicle!