When Henry Alexander drove his Model T Ford to the top of Ben Nevis it was an epic achievement of man and machine.
Now, more than 100 years later, the impressive feat of “motor mountaineering” is being commemorated as a bronze sculpture of the cast is about to be installed in Fort William’s Cameron Square.
It was in May 1911 when Mr Alexander drove from Edinburgh, halting a while in Cameron Square en route to Ben Nevis.
Local group, the Ben Nevis Model T Ford Committee, has been inspired by the event. Members have been raising the profile and funds for a sculpture at local and national events over the last four years.
Now a total of £89,000 has been raised to have “The Bronze Ford” cast and installed in Cameron Square.
In May 2018 a bronze replica of the Ford car with Mr Alexander at the wheel will arrive in Cameron Square from Edinburgh.
Instead the sculpture will become a permanent memorial to his epic achievement. The sculpture will be sited in Cameron Square between the High Street and the West Highland Museum where the concept of “The Bronze Ford” was born.
Chris Robinson, chairman of the Ben Nevis Model T Ford Committee, said: “It will be a real icon for the place. There is a bronze statue at the end of the West Highland Way named Sore Feet, of a man nursing his feet after walking the West Highland Way. There is also a full size bronze man, a worker from the aluminium factory, in the village of Inverlochy, and the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge. This will create a bronze trail.
“This will bring passing car enthusiasts who might not otherwise have stopped, into the centre of town.
“There will be an empty seat in the front and two in the back for people to jump in and have their pictures taken.”
Highland Council Lochaber Leader Andrew Baxter said: “Congratulations to the team behind this bold project for raising the money needed to construct what will be a fantastic centrepiece to the town. Councillors were pleased to make a modest contribution from our ward discretionary funds towards this funding. I’m looking forward to seeing the Model-T finally in place in Cameron Square and the reaction from visitors.”
