Minnesota man surprised with ride in Ford Model T his father bought new in 1921

A car show in Alexandria, Minnesota, turned into something much bigger for one Ford Model T enthusiast.

Among the polished chrome and classics, he spotted something familiar.

The same car his father had bought new back in 1921.

And this time, it wasn’t just on display – it was there especially to surprise him.

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A family car that never left

The 1921 Ford Model T Touring Car has been in the Larson family for more than a century.

Bruce Larson’s father, Elden, bought it brand new in 1921 and used it as the family’s workhorse for decades.

After 40 years of daily duty, it was passed to Bruce, who spent the next 30 years pouring his time and energy into bringing it back to life.

Rust, wear, and age couldn’t stop it – not when Bruce was determined to keep the car alive.

Eventually the car, and the responsibility, moved to Bruce’s son, Greg, who continued caring for the Model T and keeping the family’s connection intact.

When Bruce moved into Vista Prairie at Windmill Ponds in 2024, the car stayed behind – and so did that chapter of his life. 

At least, that’s what he thought. 

So when the community rolled out its annual car show last week and Greg turned up behind the wheel of the family’s Model T, Bruce couldn’t believe it.

“That’s my car!” he said, spotting the Ford straight away. 

With a little help he climbed in, and Greg drove him around the grounds. 

For Bruce, it was a chance to sit once more in the car he had spent years rebuilding, this time with his son at the wheel.

The day ended with root beer floats and a simple toast: “To many more years and more rides.”

The Ford Model T is constantly reinventing itself

The Ford Model T isn’t just another antique – it’s the car that put America on wheels. 

More than 15 million were built, and it changed not just the auto industry, but everyday life. 

And yet, it’s still finding ways to stay relevant.

Designers have reimagined it as an EV challenger to Tesla, proving its simple silhouette can still spark ideas more than a hundred years later. 

And in Oregon, the century-old Pig-N-Ford Race keeps the Model T in the spotlight in a much messier way – drivers scoop up squealing pigs, crank-start their stripped-down Fords, and sling them around a dirt oval.

For the Larsons, though, the Model T represents family. One car, three generations, and a connection strong enough to last a century.

And on a sunny day in Alexandria, that connection gave Bruce something rare: not just a ride, but a trip back through time.

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