While the Model T Ford is widely regarded as the most influential car ever produced, and Ford produced over 15 million of them over 19 years, who in the Barn Finds audience can claim to have driven one? With the odd three pedal arrangement on the floor and all of the other quirks to driving one, would you like to ramble down the road in one? If so, take a look at this 1914 Model T being sold on eBay out of Galion, Ohio. The seller claims that this car is in running and driving condition and has been gone through mechanically by the previous owner. With bidding currently at $7,600, this may be your chance to see what drivers had to contend with during the early years of the automobile.
When looking at a Model T Ford, the word “antique” immediately pops up in your mind. It just looks old and quaint and maybe seems a bit fragile. Upon closer inspection, you can see that every element of the design has a purpose. These were cars built as inexpensively as possible and repairs were intended for either the owner or the village blacksmith when it was first put on the road in 1908. Big Ford dealerships and cavernous service departments would come later. Most roads of the time were dirt once you left the city centers, and that dirt often turned to soupy mud. Fragile they were not.
If you look at the wheels and tires, you can see that they are rather tall and skinny. Early drivers found out quickly that there was usually a top layer of mud and a harder surface below. Having a tall tire and rim combo combined with ground clearance that would do an F350 proud and a very low gear would get you out of a muddy mess. A Model T could motor through a mud pit that would sink a modern car up to its frame.
Henry designed his Lizzy with controls that would not survive the evolution of the automobile. Today’s driver would be lost behind the wheel of a Model T. Car and Driver posted up a 2009 article on their website detailing how to drive a Model T. With spark and throttle stalks just behind the steering wheel and the three-pedal system (from left: gear selector, reverse, and brake) it would be easy to get confused. Yet millions of Americans learned to drive and motored millions of miles in these mechanical marvels.
Henry Ford was reluctant to change the Model T in any substantial way. Ford felt that the car provided basic transportation, and that was all Americans needed. However, the passage of time brought improved roads and improved competition. Ford had the market cornered when it came to price, but other automakers began offering faster, more luxurious cars, and, more importantly, easier cars to drive. Ford finally came around to the idea that the company needed to produce a more modern car. The Model A was the result, and the T’s successor became just as well loved as the original.
As for this particular Model T, the seller tells us that it was in a collection for a long time. As mentioned, the car runs and drives and has been gone through. The body appears to be free of rust and rot, the tires are in great condition, and the lights have been converted from gas to electrical. From what we can see, the car looks ready to roll.
I’ll admit that I have never driven a Model T Ford. That is a bucket list item that I have had since I saw a later model Model T coupe being pressed into service shuttling a group of friends around during the Thanksgiving Rod Run at Daytona International Speedway. We were camped next to this group who had towed the car down to use at the show. Every morning the car started immediately and ran like a top. As I watched it go back and forth over the few days we were there, I developed a desire to own one. Maybe one day.
Have any of you driven a Model T Ford? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Have driven a couple of Model Ts. Interesting and fun but not something I’d care to drive on a daily basis. Always appreciated the looks of the various renditions of the cars and trucks, and there are many.
My in-laws live in a small town in Cape Cod, and there’s a multi-generational summer home in their neighborhood that uses a model t as a daily driver. You never get above 30 mph in the town anyway, and it’s cool to see one of the younger grandkids running around town with kayaks or surfboards in the back.
I have had and restored several. A nice version of at at a decent price, (currently $11,400.00). Unfortunately with the built in quirks and the issues with old gas, poor spark and a hand cranked motor, these cars are almost predestined to just sit parked. Often requiring a gas change, spark plug cleaning and push start just to run after a 6 month sit. Driven regularly they are pretty reliable, but even then the slow speed and limited handling and braking ability ideally limits you to leisurely in town drives. 30 years ago these were fun little cars. Not so much fun today and the novelty ( which is the charm of these T’s) wears off pretty quickly.
My first car was a 1924 Model T. My neighbor brought me one in back of a dump truck. Simply said, if you can put it back together, it’s yours. That was 1964. Finished it in 1971. Loved that car at that time. Sold it for $2000 and paid off my college loans. I still have the owner’s manual, repair manual and original Ford stamped band adjustment tools! (3)
I can say I’ve owned and driven a ‘26 roadster pickup. Mine had an updated drivetrain, Datsun 1200 with a 4 speed so I missed the triple pedal drive the originally came with but was a great drive capable of hiway speeds all day long while retaining a completely stock outward appearance.
They are fun if you live in a small town or the country. But very dangerous in a City.
Yep, I drove one. When I was 13, my school had a pile of rotten wood and rusty metal sitting in a corner. Myself and 3 other boys took it on and restored it to a running, driving chassis with body panels. Missing was a cab and a pickup bed. The UK T Register told us it was the best restoration they had seen, but alas, when we left school no one came along to finish it. It was eventually sold off by the school for £10k. I had emigrated to California by that point so couldn’t buy it; It wouldn’t have been practical anyway – 40mph max!
I love Model T’s, and always thought they were fun to drive. There’s really not much to it. Push the clutch pedal in, and you’re in low, release it and you’re in high. Hold the clutch in the middle and you’re in neutral. With it in neutral, push the brake to stop, or reverse to back up. The T’s planetary trans was sort of like an early automatic, with three bands in it for forward, reverse and brake.
The first car I ever restored was a 14 T touring car I restored when I was 15 years old, in 1969. I got an AACA second with it at Hershey. I’ve also had a 23 speedster, a 27 coupe (AACA Senior winner), and a few others including an 11 speedster which I finally sold about 10 years ago. The 11 was the nicest running and quickest T I ever had, it was equipped with some neat old T speed equipment.
Good writeup. I have never driven a T, but 50+ years ago my Brother in Law had a ‘27 coupe, then a ‘15 Roadster. He drove them extended distances on tours. I was copilot a lot, and I watched as he explained how they operated. They were ingenious, and much more foolproof than a regular manual transmission. Mash the left pedal and it would launch. Let it halfway out, and it shifted into high.
They seem complicated today because they are so different than what we have grown accustomed to- back then many people had not even seen a car, much less knew how to drive one.
My Father told how, if my grandfather was successful in getting his manual shift car launched, and going in the right direction, he would rarely chance attempting to select another gear.
You have to let the left pedal out all the way for high. Half-way was neutral.
I owned and drove T’s all through high school in the early 50’s. “Emergency” braking was accomplished by slamming the center – reverse – pedal! As I’m surprised T owners writing here didn’t mention. And as also mentioned, great around town, not so much outside of it.