Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

The First Affordable Car: Pair of Ford Model T’s

While the VW Beetle was conceived as the “People’s Car” in the 1930s, it was really the Ford Model T that was the first affordable automobile. It had an impressive nearly 20-year run from 1908 to 1927 and sold more than 15 million copies in the process, in a variety of body styles. The seller has two of these ancient autos, one from the Model T’s earliest days and another from when production was beginning to wind down. Located in Mansfield, Texas, the pair is available as a package deal here on craigslist for $8,500. Another sleuthing tip from T.J.!

Few people are alive today who were around when Henry Ford introduced what would become known as the “Tin Lizzie”. Most attempts at car building before the Model T resulted in cars that the vast majority of Americans wouldn’t be able to afford (tailored more to the rich and famous). Ford set about to change all that and the Model T became so popular so fast that most Americans owned one, and it changed our culture forever, people being able to get to places faster and farther away. This relied on mass mechanization which Henry Ford was able to master at the turn of the 20th Century.

What the Model T wasn’t was fast or terribly comfortable that its successor – the Model A – would rectify just prior to the start of the Great Depression. The last Model T was built in May 1927. The seller has managed to squirrel away two of these breakthroughs in American transportation and they were built 18 years apart. We assume the 1908 edition photographed is the one that looks like a rolling chassis. The other, a 1926 version, looks more complete.

When the buyer takes these machines home, a ton of spare parts will be a part of the deal. Whether there’s enough here to restore both automobiles isn’t suggested, but you could end up with some spares of spares. We’re told that the 1908 “T” still has its wood spoke wheels, which were how car wheels were made before steel took over.

Comments

  1. Avatar RKS

    That 26 would be a fun little rod. My family had a 27 that I used to drive to school. The built 4 banger in it was enough to blow your hair back. Those were good times.

    Like 3
  2. Avatar dogwater

    Sorry days gone by not worth restoring theses days

    Like 0
  3. Avatar terry

    You say the T that put American on wheels ,
    Its a pity no other country got the pleasure of having the model T.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar BCB42

    Now, that looks like a REAL barnfind.
    Well done!
    Charming lil pieces of US history and ingenuity.
    Worth restoring? Absolutely.
    Will you make money? Seriously doubtful.
    But that ain’t why most of us are here….

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Bonz

    If only I was 25-30 years younger. They would be a couple of fun projects. Make em look fairly stock but with a Pinto 4 cyl. motor and Trans. Oh well…

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Lowell Peterson

    So sad that so many see the specialty car hobby as all about the money.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar William A.

    These Model Ts last a long time because they were built well so they are definitley worth restoring sure it will at least 30 grand in the hole but they will be lasting another 100 years if you take care of them and properly restore them.

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to terry Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.