Over rocks and through snow – descending Britain’s highest mountain

Ford’s PR was not that slick; they did no filming during the climb even though it had taken a fortnight to reconnoitre and prepare the route. The standard 20h.p. Ford-T took two and a half hours spread over five days to climb the seven miles and 4406 feet to the top by the “easier” east route, completing it on Saturday 13th May.

However, P.L. Perry, Ford’s London manager and his cinematographers were not informed of the ascent until it was completed. Rushing from London on Monday 15th May, they were able to film it still at the top on Wednesday; it took two hours spread over two more days for the descent. Their film was misleadingly called “Ascent of Ben Nevis in a Ford Car” and was shown widely in cinemas in 1911-12. The “feat” was used in adverts.

The car wore out a set of chains although it was fitted, somewhat prophetically given their later off-road credentials, with Goodrich tyres.

Seventeen years later, Alexander repeated the stunt on Thursday 13th September 1928, in “The New 24h.p. Ford Car”, also an open tourer. It took ten hours from 10:30hrs until after dark, to climb by the harder west route. He left it at the top and walked down but next day drove it down in two hours. He confirmed the 1911 ascent had taken four and a half days, to justify that the new Ford was four-times better for the money.

Ford advertised that, even by that date in 1928, no other make of car had yet made the climb and also filmed this event for cinema. George Simpson took his Austin Seven unceremoniously up and down in only one day (7hrs 21 min. up; 1hr 55min. down), on 6th October 1928.

The 1928 Ford ascent was much more eventful, as a horse carrying sandwiches and refreshments for guests was spooked by the car; it reared up, lost its footing and fell 300 feet to its death. Whereas, the car only need an axle replaced, which had to be brought up by another horse...

These were great times, with people who had courage and initiative.
Not like now, when some snow and discomfort cause the country to be in turmoil and it is advised with "Code Red" not to go outside.

Also done with an Austin 7 in 1928.

If anyone is travelling (when the world opens up again) near Fort William, Scotland then a detour to Cameron Square is called for. A life-size bronze was unveiled in 2018 complete with the correct registration number.