I drove it to a Model T swapmeet on Saturday, and one of the guys who looked it over and took my number came yesterday to look at the extra parts that go with it. Cale was pretty upset when I told him I sold it... got a little happier when I said we were going to buy a different one that might be more shiny.

So now the search begins... looking for a turn-key (or turn-crank?) tour-ready Model T.

No projects... for now.

Are you upgrading to get one with a little more room?

Derek. Without divulging what you got for yours. Whats the current market for restored T's? Ive never researched what these things sell for or how collectible they are.

What if you went on the tour and brought home a nice one? I would think there would be quite a few for sale at an event like that.

$10-12k will buy a pretty nice "black era" T (1917-1927) but the brass radiator cars are quite a bit more valuable. The 1915-1916 which I would prefer are about $15-$20k. Earlier than that, they gain about 20% for each year older.

I really wouldn't want one older than 1913 though, as they have way more brass than Jenna can polish.

John D wrote:

---

What?? "Brasso" is cheap!

Sorry to hear you let one of your "babies" go, but you'll find one to meet your needs. Buy your Dads and let him look for a replacement!

---

It is a bit sad, as I've owned the car since I was 17. It was my 3rd car, and I made some great memories with it, but I can't keep (or upkeep) them all. It's not going far, about 10 miles from my parents' place, and neighbor to one of my best friends.

Derek69SS wrote:

---

I'm hoping to get an older T and nicer condition... 

but we barely all fit in it this year. As the kids get bigger, it would just be more uncomfortable, so we need one with a back seat.

---

 I don't think they ever made a Model T Station wagon ?

You brought that up, so now you're going to get a history lesson... albeit brief, oversimplified, and possibly innacurate, but a lesson none-the-less.

Ford never made a station wagon in the "T", but they sold a bare chassis that you could put any body you wanted on it. These were commonly used with aftermarket or home built wooden bodies in whatever configuration the owner dreamed up. A common version was the  "Depot Hack" which was the forerunner to the "Station Wagon". It was used to haul people to and from railroad depots.

Later, in the late 20s or early 30s, people started calling railroad depots "train stations" and the term "Station Wagon" replaced "Depot Hack".

Well now that you did the research. Guess that one you should buy for a growing family !

The Model T left today... Cale dang near had me in tears when he was watching out the window, crying, and said "buh bye Lizzy, I love you" as it dissappeared down the road.

I've had a few leads on local cars, but there's a rare one in Alabama with the "wide track" option that I want to see.

http://modelt.org/index.php?option=com_aclassf&Itemid=115&ct=veh1&md=details&id=223

A little history on the "wide track" option:

From the May Jun 1996 “Vintage Ford”

by Russ Furstnow
Flagstaff, Arizona

A distinctive and unique Model T, known as the
“wide track” or “Dixie tread,” was produced on a
limited basis by Ford from 1909-1916.
The car looked quite different from a “regular”
Model T because the wheels were placed 60 inches
apart rather than the standard 56 inches.
The wide track Ford was made to be driven in
the southern United States, including Florida,
Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama, as these states
produced horse-drawn wagons with a 60” wide
track. Ford surmised that it would be easier to sell
his cars in the south if his cars would track in the
60” ruts produced by the wagons.
In the northern states, the 56 inch “standard”
tread worked fine, yet when the standard track
Ford went south, drivers had difficulty maintaining
control of their Fords while driving in the wider
ruts left by wagons.
The wide track Ford had numerous parts which
made it unique. Also, this option made the Model
T appear more massive and stable when driven on
a good paved highway-or at least, it was more
stable than the 56 inch standard tread car.
Early versions of the wide track Fords (1909-
12) had wider fenders, aprons and running board
brackets that were unique, yet the fender line was
smooth and appeared to “fit” together. (See Photos
1 & 2.)
In 1913, Ford began to utilize the “standard”
apron and running board brackets, necessitating
the use of very wide appearing fenders. (See Photo
3.) These fenders extended beyond the standard
width running board, making the car look somewhat
ungainly. These wider fenders were used
until 1916, when Ford discontinued this option.
The 60” tread Ford was identified in the sales
brochures as a special order option. It is assumed
that the cost of the standard and wide track models
were the same. This assumption is based on the fact
that Ford’s Price List of Parts did not add a premium
for the unique 60” tread parts over the standard
56” parts.
It is unknown how many wide track Fords were
produced, as no records have been found identifying
the production figures for these unique vehicles.
However, it is believed that a very small
percentage of Model Ts produced were ordered with
the wide track option.
The demise of the wide track was likely caused
by three factors: improvement in road conditions,
decreasing demand, and Ford’s need for stand-
ardization. The quality of roads in America were
improving and the mud and deeply rutted roads
were becoming the exception rather than the rule.
With improving roads, the demand for the wide
track option is believed to have declined.

New T's acquired... details here: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/325708.html?1354419287

Bringing it all home in 3 trailer loads tomorrow.

Congtrats Derek!  I hope you can keep it a secret from the boys and get some good pics of their faces during the reveal!

I looked at the linked pics.  Was the yellow truck in the background of the one picture a Studebaker?

Good eye Mike, it is a Stude.

I may have missed this. How far away are you going to get it?

Maybe you'll get lucky and find a Frontenac cylinder head in the mix. 

Nice haul and I'm sure you got a good deal but DON'T paint the wheels black..... The contrast really looks good. Maybe brown...

They were just outside of Austin, about 10 miles from my parents.

Ruckstell was an aftermarket 2-speed axle. High was standard gearing, and low was slower yet... It also has a Warford aftermarket overdrive transmission behind the stock transmission. Those have low/straight thru/overdrive. In Low/Low/Low I could probably plow with it. In High/High/High it will still be slightly slower than a Model T car. I've never driven anything with 5 levers, 3 pedals, and a steering wheel before.

The wheels will definitely be painted black, with silver rims and nickel plated hubcaps... just like Henry painted them. Some people strip the spokes then stain and varnish them, but I don't care for the look. The tires are pretty bad though, so I might "borrow" a set of '26-27 T wire wheels that Dad has laying around with good tires on them. If I put wire wheels on, then I might add some color, like a dark red or something.

Derek69SS wrote:

---

That extra cab was stuffed full of old boxes of NOS parts. Some Ford, some Mopar, some Chevy... looks like mostly 30s to 50s stuff. I haven't even started looking through the boxes, but I think I'm going to have a trailer load of stuff for the "Back to the 50s" swap next summer. If I find anything for a '38, I'll let you know Mitch.

---

 Cool, I'll even help dig thru it all....

With all the extra stuff to sell, you may have gotten the car for free...

If I spend the time figuring out what it all is, and get top price for it, the car will be damn cheap.

Trouble is, I need to work on my Chevelle too...

No Fronty head, but I did give him an extra $25 for this pedal car...

Have you ever bought anything and not gotten lots of free stuff?  Congrats on the "T" stuff and the cool GTO.  You're going to have to buy a couple of lifts so you can start stacking.

SteveS wrote:

---

Have you ever bought anything and not gotten lots of free stuff?  Congrats on the "T" stuff and the cool GTO.  You're going to have to buy a couple of lifts so you can start stacking.

---

 I might just have to push that purple car next to the door out in a snowbank this winter so my rust collection can come inside.

I figured you would have the green El Camino parted out by the time it snowed, that should open up a spot. 

Also, I swear I had more tread on my tires when I put it away? 

I thought if I rotated them and burned off all 4 the same amount you wouldn't notice.

In addition to your sons (and Jenna?), I imagine you dad will enjoy helping you work on your new vehicles.