Reading the seller’s listing for this 1926 Ford Model T, I realized that I share their sentiment: We both hope that if we reach a century, we both look this good. It is a rock-solid project candidate that has generated significant interest since it hit the market. Anyone seeking a DIY restoration may initially find it attractive, although the seller’s decision to list it with No Reserve may make it irresistible. The seller has listed this wonderful Model T here on eBay in New London, Wisconsin. Bidding sits at $3,150, and with No Reserve, it is only days away from finding a new home.
After hitting the market in 1909, the Model T remained on sale until mid-1927. This gem rolled off the line in 1926, and while it wasn’t the car’s most successful showroom year, the sales tally of 1,554,465 vehicles was far from a disaster. The car’s history is unclear, but it has two characteristics that many enthusiasts would find crucial. The first is that, apart from a couple of small items, the Ford is essentially complete. The second is that, as a project candidate, it is rock-solid. The listing images reveal plenty of dry surface corrosion, but no penetrating rust. The panels have minor bumps and bruises, but none are severe enough to justify steel replacement. That raises a tantalizing prospect for those preferring originality. There is no reason why the winning bidder couldn’t treat the corrosion to prevent deterioration, preserving the Model T’s survivor status. I guarantee it would command plenty of attention and respect if left in its current form. The wheels are an unknown quantity, and having them inspected to ensure there are no problems would be wise.
Henry Ford made it quite clear to anyone who would listen that he had no time for engines with more than four cylinders. He experimented with a couple of alternative configurations while the Model T was on sale, including a radical motor with an “X” cylinder configuration. However, the “T” reflected his love for a four, with its 177ci flathead producing 20hp. The transmission was interesting, with Ford adopting a two-speed planetary setup that was incredibly robust. Some owners initially struggled with the two-speed, but with the Model T dominating sales, operating the transmission soon became second nature to most motorists. The seller states that, although they removed the carburetor and are awaiting parts for a rebuild, they have coaxed the flathead to life with spray. Therefore, returning the car to a mechanically roadworthy state could be a realistic short-term goal.
The interior images set my fingers itching, because I wanted to dive in and perform a deep clean. The seatcover and door trims look pretty tidy, with no holes or other problems. The painted surfaces look tired, but refreshing them during a restoration would be easy. Once again, they could be left as-is if the buyer chooses a preservation path. Whatever the future holds for this Model T, whipping the inside into shape will be one of the easiest and most rewarding tasks.
Promising projects cross our desks fairly frequently at Barn Finds, although some are better than others. This 1926 Ford Model T is one of the better candidates, because it is ideal for someone seeking a first project. It has already received thirty-nine bids, and with a healthy Watch List tally, the action is far from over. Are you tempted to join what could fast become a bidding war?
The Model T has graced this screen here probably more than any other car. I was sure we saw this one before, but apparently not. For some reason, they all look the same( cough) They are literally coming out of the woodwork, and I don’t have to tell you why. I’m usually the only one mentioning this, but this was called a “Doctors Coupe”. It replaced “Old Dobbin” and the buggy, and many lives in rural areas were saved, thanks to this car. Think of all the gunslingers that might have been saved, only to be hung later. It increased mobility, was a welcome site puttering down the lane, I’m sure. Not sure if this is still the pedals for the transmission, I have never encountered one, and the list of people that DO know how, is dwindling. Judging by the dust here, nobody has tried in a while. My (Packard) grandfather explained to me once how they operate, I hadn’t the faintest clue what he was talking about. It has a tad more interest than the Lincoln, but at $3grand, it’s only the ones that really want it, and not to flip and make money. It’s an outstanding find.
This was my father’s “teenage car”. He said,” if a spark plug went bad, you could make one with a corncob and piece of bailing wire to get by”. Just one of the many stories he told me about these fascinating vehicles. The most versatile utilitarian vehicle ever made.
The old bloke who I used to buy firewood from told me that the “tough young blokes” at rural dances would prove their mettle by holding a spark plug until the engine stalled! Was his better talent as a storyteller?
Zero appeal. Needs to go the way of stove pipe hats and hoop skirts.
Now THERE’S a person with zero appreciation of history
SMH
Well, hold on now, and the 46 folks that agree with you, in defense of Fox Owner, I think you are jumping the gun on that. I think they are very interested in history, or they wouldn’t be here. Quite frankly, it should come as no surprise, I agree with them. In fact, it’s refreshing to hear from a negative Joe like me, similar views. It has limited appeal today, and will only go down from here. Plenty of bids now,(47) but still only about $4grand, so it’s clear to me, the only folks bidding are older folks that can/want to drive this, but just not a lot to spend.Younger folks seem to have no issue spending 5 figures( or 6) on some musclecar, but a Model T? Please,,,
I know, it’s a tough nut to crack, I of all people have the toughest time with it, but,,,turn the page, I guess, we had our time, and wouldn’t trade it for more years, well, maybe, we’ll see., :)
Zero appeal,but 39 bids.This is a beauty
Perhaps modern drivers can’t handle a Model T
I can’t think of a more fun project! Not a vehicle for the main roads, but if you live in a small town or a very big subdivision, buy it, clean it up and drive it EVERY chance you get. What fun!
That’s what my Dad did many years ago and we still have it! (‘20 Touring)
Rat rodder red meat.
In a freakin’ heartbeat! And other than a good clean, I’d get it roadworthy and take it everyplace. Again, a car that in this day and age, if you ever see it on the road, you stop and salute…
Please keep stock. Rebuild, repaint, reupholster, but please keep stock for an attention grabbing grocery getter!
Well, maybe a vacuum advance for the spark, and a water pump…
Leave it as is. Clean it up, get it running and enjoy it.
My brother and I have a 21 T. Completely original in very used condition. Runs and drives. Draws crowds away from all of it’s over- restored brothers everytime it is shown.
Learning to drive one there is definitely a learning curve, but not too hard with a little practice. Really fun cars and surprisingly peppy for 20hp.
I’d love to know the backstory of this survivor. I would have thought such cars were restored, parted out, or crushed years ago.
These were quite the beast. Almost impossible to break. Lots of colorful histories associated with these.
There’s a story about the high school principal in my hometown. He was there for so long he was becoming a permanent fixture. I was told he taught (3) generations before he put the chalk (white board markers for the modern crowd) down. I might have already shared it with this crowd so bear with me as I share it again.
He was a typical teacher–CHEAP! On those Model T’s, the low and reverse bands were identical. Since low bands were always worn out, the typical action was to switch out the low and reverse bands and get along without a reverse until you had a chance (or the two bucks) to get the band relined.
Well, Mr. “Earl” liked to head down to Shelby on the weekends to purge the frustrations he accumulated during the week in his classes. The place was a large house on top of the hill (Yes, it was a brothel and several generations, down to my younger brother’s age, patronized it). His car ran just fine in high so when he lost both the low and reverse he just parked the car on a slope so he could get a head-start.
Just as long as he could make his weekend rendezvous.
He carried a flat rock and a large L-shaped tree branch he could place in front of the rear wheel to use as a chock. He would set the wheel brakes then chock the wheel and go on to where he was headed.
Unfortunately there was this one time the brakes didn’t get set and the chock didn’t either. The car started rolling down the slope and got away on him; it turned off the street and bounced across one yard and into the back door of the local church, crashing through the door and attempting to head downstairs.
Needless to say, the next couple of weekends were spent sharpening up his carpentry skills…
I got my first ride in a T this past spring. I learned the basics about how to start and operate one. It was a lot of fun. I was surprised at how peppy it was. Like Howard, I for some reason thought that this is what they called a Doctors Coupe. If I remember correctly, I think I learned this factoid from one of the many car books that I devoured as a kid. This would be a neat little car to have in the stable. Too bad I don’t have a place to have a stable. GLWTS.
I really enjoyed seeing Grandma Duck’s car again.
I had a 1926 Durant “ Star”. Folks sold it to a passerby when I was away to college. Looked like this. Wood spoke wheels, Continental red seal motor.
These were great vehicles for folks who had no experience with motor vehicles. Virtually everything else had sliding gear transmissions that required double-clutching for every shift. The T had an unbrakable transmission that could be easily mastered by almost anyone, had no water pump or fuel pump to fail, could be repaired easily with a few simple tools, and was metalurgically sophisticated enough so it was really hard to break. Perfect for ones like my predecessors who had horses for transportation and for farm power. You could buy kits to make a T car into everything from a farm tractor, to a truck, to a snowmobile, to a power source for running a hay baler or forage blower or a sawmill. A real Model T truck had a very low-geared worm drive rear axle, which made it an extraordinary workhorse, capable of far more work than the T engine and transmission would had led you to believe. All in all, just about the perfect vehicles to come into existence when they did. It had been said that in a crisis, you could panic and put your foot sideways across all three pedals, jam them down, and you’d stop! Almost as simple as hollering “whoa” and pulling on the reins.
What a great example, it would be a shame to see that become a Hot Rod, and I am a rodder. That should be either driven as is with mechanical checked out or restored to its former glory. The trouble is a lot of these are disappearing and in my opinion worth more value, not $ wise but nostalgic ways in original form. It would be a fun car to take to coffee mornings and listen to the experts and people talk about chopping it etc.
Agree completely and I’m a rodder too. Actually I’m into original stuff too and like them all. Some things should be left alone. This is one of em. Besides that hot rodded T’s are yesteryear. If I didn’t already have a garage full of projects I wouldn’t hesitate.
You’d get launched by a Lambo doing 80+ on Geogetown Pike on your way to the Great Falls, VA cars and coffee. This car is kind of a death wish on these twisty suburban two lanes, as well as the local boulevards, where tolerance is in very short supply.
I just went to a class on driving the T. There were young people in the class. It was at the Gilmore museum, if anybody’s interested.
That’s interesting; I’ll share it with my Brazilian friends living in the US.
Best regards.
Interessante, vou divulgar aos meus amigos brasileiros que moram nos EUA.
Um grande abraço.