101-year-old gets behind the wheel of a Mustang Mach E

A great-grandfather has taken a Ford Mustang Mach-E out for a spin after originally learning to drive in a Model T when he was aged just 10.

Born in 1920, Harold Baggott had his first taste of getting behind the wheel in a Model T, driving the family’s milkman’s delivery float on a farm.

He went on to get his licence in 1936 (the first year they were introduced in the UK), and purchased his first car – a Ford 8 Popular in 1937 for £100 and a Ford Anglia – the next year.

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Since then the family has owned 20 Fords privately, as well as Ford commercial vehicles in chassis form, converted into coaches for a fleet of 140 run by their travel and coach business.

Mr Baggott, now 101, was reminded of his Model T experiences with rides in a 1915 model from Ford’s heritage collection, before moving bang up to date and behind the Mustang Mach-E’s steering wheel.

Driving great-grandchildren 15-year-old Felix, who has ambitions to be a racing driver, and his 12-year-old brother Charlie, Mr Baggott was struck by the quietness of electric motoring.

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He said: “Since the age of 10, I’ve retained my interest in motoring and today find myself interested in the switch to electrification following the [British] Government phasing out the traditional combustion engines I’m used to.

“I have reminisced about my driving history with the Model T and seen what the future has in store. It was exciting to get behind the wheel of what I expect my great grandchildren will be driving.”

The Mach-E is Ford’s first all-electric SUV on sale in the UK and US now, with a maximum electric driving range of 379 miles.

Unfortunately, Ford Australia told WhichCar earlier this year that it has no plans to bring the Mustang Mach-E Down Under – despite the EV being homologated for other right-hand drive markets like the UK.

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