The Ford Model T, built between 1909-27, is one of the world’s most-produced cars of all time. In no less than 17 body styles or editions at one time or another, 14.7 million of the little machines were built as the industrial revolution found the automobile. This 1925 version of the Model T, likely a Runabout, hasn’t run since 1984 and may have been in this barn since then. Located in Sparta, Tennessee, there’s no telling what it will take to get old Ford functional again. The T is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,000.
At the turn of the 20th Century, the horse and buggy found themselves put out to pasture as the thirst for “horseless carriages” took off before World War I. Henry Ford was at the forefront of these efforts, and Model Ts were everywhere before you knew it. Sales peaked at two million units in 1923 but were still strong as the Model T began to give way to its successor, the Model A. During 1925, when this one was built, more than 1.9 million units were assembled and 293,000 of those were the Runabout.
The Runabout was a two-seater and was ideal when you didn’t have a family to haul around. They came in any color you wanted as long as that color was black. Power was provided by an inline 4-cylinder engine cast in a single block, and the cylinder head was detachable for easy access and repair. That motor generated about 20 hp and could propel the car to as much as 40–45 mph (fast in those days). In the beginning, most models were started by a hand crank, which activated a magneto connected to the flywheel, but after 1919 battery-powered starters became the norm.
This Model T is said to have had just three owners and is completely original. It was last used in a parade some 37 years ago and has been dormant ever since. These are simple machines, so perhaps the work needed to get it going again won’t be difficult, but the lighting in the barn is poor and it’s hard to tell what’s there or what’s not. But it’s 96 years old, older than most of us, and deserves a fighting chance if someone will step up to the plate.
I cant help but think of the old saying,”A picture is worth 1000 words”. That very first picture, in the barn, says it all.
Somebody should frame that!!!
It would be fun to get that running again.
I thought the same thing. Maybe an improved picture would be without the modern equipment, with a bit better composition. But what a cool shot of a very old car in a basic, likely old barn.
Top picture looks like a museum display. Maybe it’s the lighting? The license plate hanging is a nice touch.
Clearly staged.
“That’s Sho-Biz… “
Love the romantic barn staging. Hooray for Hollywood. However, the 2021 reality of owning, restoring, and operating a 1925 Model T on modern roads is another thing. No harm here, but the $8,000. for Model T that has been sitting 37 years is more than anyone is likely to pay. Not even a (more desirable) Model A Ford in the same BF condition sells for $8,000. in 2021.
Not staged. I am not sure why you think it is. Look at the wheels. They are sunk below the dirt. It hasn’t been touched or moved for a long time. It’s called composing a good photo. Something people don;t know how to do anymore.
1st, a little “verklemph”, looking at this. Russ did a great writeup, as usual, but didn’t mention, unless I missed it and someone may correct me, I believe this was what was called a “Doctors Coupe”. In the 20’s, a huge portion of the population lived on rural farms, too far apart for “Ol’ Dobbin”, and a Model T was the only way. These cars enabled a doctor to be ready at a moments notice, cover a lot more ground and they saved a lot of lives, thanks to these cars. I’m sure it’s why someone saved it. I think because it is a doctors coupe, it has special meaning, I just wonder if there will be enough interest to save it. It’s been sitting this long with no takers. Kind of sad.
BF should grab the first picture and use it for the header of the site. Classic in all respects. Agree with Howard.. several weeks ago there was one similar to this called the Doctor’s Coupe.
I agree that it is a nice cover shot. Reduced to $6000.00 but still 50% too high. They are easy to work on, but that doesn’t change the number of hours it will take. They “will” go 45 mph, but sudden steering and stopping at that speed is a tricky situation.
It’s a Coupe. Runabout is what Ford called a Roadster. Changed to Roadster when Model A came out.
1925 thru 1927, parts interchange …. Which is interesting. Nothing before 1925 will work and of course the first Model A was in 1928. I have a 1926 Coupe, but it has all 1969 Ford drive train which includes 351 V8
Dirty, early model, one owner! Always garaged, never raced? Love it!
Holy crap, a honest to God barn find! It would be a shame to move it from where it sits imho. Anyway, I believe it is overpriced by 3k or so as the old guys that like these are dead or dying and the kids don’t want them. It’s a standard coupe, not a doctor coupe as they have a wooden box on the back for medicine and equipment instead of the turtledeck. There was a doctor’s coupe in Horsehead Ky 30 years ago at a antique store that had 200 +/- miles on it that I looked over pretty well. The Dr was a miser and when he filled it up he was upset at the cost, drove it the 200 miles and put it in the barn and went back to the horse and buggy.
It’s “Lizzie” from the Pixar movie “Cars” in the flesh ! Great picture , great car ! That would be so fun to toodle around town in. As a side note , was almost hit twice last Saturday while out in the speedster right in town … a distracted old guy in a Mercedes almost hit us head on in a parking lot lookie-looing at the Ocean and a lady with an ear bud in her ear blabbing away pulled right out in front of us . The man was oh so apologetic, the lady was clueless and got the Aooga horn so long and loud she pulled over thinking it was a fire engine and she heard a thing or too…. people are just so absolutly clueless and self absorbed these days ……
Matching numbers??? Original miles? Lots of folks on this site want to know. Usually.
My daily driver is a 25 truck. Divorcing the freeway lifestyle as a previous given, there is nothing problematic with using a car like this today. I do it every day.