What Do I Have Here

This is a photo of an original, as in stuck in a warehouse for decades, 1921 Ford Model T Runabout/Roadster.  This is how my car would have looked when it began its life.

Here is another photo of a similar one soon after it was sold to a couple of happy folks

Here is a receipt for a similar model.




My engine number indicates that it was built May 1923, almost at the end of the 1922 model year.  It was built at the famous Highland Park plant, as the Rouge plant had not yet been opened.  There are a couple elements that indicate this is a bit of a mutt - the crank has a sleave on it for instance.  Others may see more obvious anachronisms.  But otherwise it is a low hood 1922 with a wooden firewall.

Body Goes To New Home

Red from ND needed a Roadster body for his 1918 project, mine needed a good home. Struck a deal and met by the side of I94 east of Billings yesterday. That part of the T makes its farthest journey back east since it was new 90 years ago.

I think it is probably unhappy, having gotten used to CA weather, then being taken on a trip in January from Wyo to MT to ND. Glad to see it go to someone who appreciates its rarity and will put it to good use...

So, What To Do

After reviewing the project status, I decided to continue the path of a Speedster, rather than take on the project of a full restoration.  With the re-wood of the body, and the expense of the restoration generally, I was looking at at least 5 grand and probably more, for a vehicle not worth more than 9k when done in the current market.  To say nothing of the fact I have 4 kids to raise and should be focused there.  So, the path I decided on was to sell the pieces I did not need, and use those funds to pay for my project.  First up, finding the body a good home.

Mysteries Solved

The following Saturday,  I proceeded to go through the half dozen or so boxes of parts.  There were many repro parts in bags, lots of nuts and bolts, and parts fragments as well.  All of the new parts were certainly money saved, but nothing was more than $20 each.  Still happy and satisfied with the purchase.

The first real highlight for me was realizing that in the box were 3 sets of Hassler Beehive shocks.  Why 3, not 4, I have no idea.  But everything I have read thus far says if you put them on the back it makes the ride too stiff anyway.  For some reason, all of them have RH cast on them.  I am hoping I do not own 3 sets of shoes for the right foot only, but will have to research.  Also amongst the parts was 2 sets of fender irons, 3 sets of headlights, new wiring harnesses, new Champion X sparkplugs still in the wrapper, etc. etc.

What no one could/would ever tell me was the status of the engine.  No one at the consignment location would even affirm that the engine would turn over.  It was the first thing I checked prior to putting it on the trailer in Billings.  I grabbed the crank and gave it a turn to confirm the engine was not frozen.

Apparently, Wayne the former owner could not complete the project due to illness, and the status of it at the time work stopped was unclear for all.  One of the things I found in the boxes was a "to whom it may concern" note wishing the new owner well in completing the project.  I felt really bad for a man who obviously had put so much thought and work into the project, only to not see it to completion.  Eccelsiaties

So, time to really see what I had mechanically.  I removed the bolts from the transmission cover - my jaw dropped.  The transmission was rebuilt - so fresh that there was not oil in the transmission, just assembly lube.

I resisted the temptation to pull the head.  I removed a spark plug and peered into the hole.  Stunned again, I saw that it was spotless - as in never has been run.  Further, peaking up at me from the edge of the valve was a bronze valve seat.  The engine had been rebuilt for unleaded fuel.  Those two things alone, if you were to pay someone else to do the rebuilds, covered what we paid for the car.  I am just trying to relay the joy I felt that this was a solid project upon which to build.  Now what to do with the foundation we had acquired.

Hundreds Of Miles Completed.... Inches To Go....

There are many things that can trigger intense loneliness, but there are two that are guaranteed to leave you friendless - moving a piano and moving a Model T.

I made some phone calls for advice, even a very experienced but somewhat sour local T expert would not take the bait.  So, finally decided that even if I could only move it a few feet a day, that would be enough over time to get it into my garage.

I took a chain, a tow strap, and a come-along and anchored to a fence post.  Using this procedure, I slowly ratcheted the T across the yard.  When the cable of the come-along was rolled up, I moved up the fence to the next post, and so on.  After 3 days of after-work effort, I had it off the frozen grass and squared up in my drive way.  This got it close enough to air up the tires, and then I was able to more easily roll it. 

On day 4, it was finally in my garage.  After all these weeks, seeing it up close and in three dimensions was a real victory for me.  More importantly, I could now go over the project to see what a task I had acquired, and what was in those boxes!

The T Makes It To Wyoming... Finally

So it sat.  And sat.  October turned to November, November turned to... well you know.

Northern CA to Northern Wyoming, near Yellowstone Park.  Shipping quotes ranged from Heck No to $1200.  Finally, Dad found a truck with a load of steel wanting to come home for the New Year's holiday.  The truck showed up, a fork lift picked up our T and put it on the steel, body and parts on other pallets, strapped down and tarped.  So began the journey of the T eastward.

On New Years Day 2011, it arrived in Billings, Montana.  The next day, we retrieved our prize from a truck terminal in Billings.  A particularly funny moment was the AS-IS WHERE IS warranty sticker on the hood.  It was consigned to a California car dealer, so it had to be sold like any other used car. 

Someone with a sense of humor very thoughtfully made a cover to protect the radiator. Another fork lift plopped it onto our car trailer and we headed home. 

Quite a sight - the only beige Model T in the universe blasting down the Interstate in the Montana below-zero cold.

We arrived at my house in the dark, rolled it off the trailer, and there it sat.  The engine/trans were so cold, and the tires so low on air, that it would not roll.  It sat in my yard like a giant lawn ornament, drawing the attention of curious folks in our small Wyoming town.  It had traveled so far- now how was I to get it the last few yards into my garage??

How It Started

Like always, expensive things start with an innocent Internet search.  So did this poject. Saw this auction listing.


1922 Ford Model T Speedster Project.

It was a project all right, but it looked to be one that was farther along than you would think at first glance, plus a body and boxes of parts.

 My dad has a 1927 roadster pickup all done.  I also own the crumpled remnants of a 24 touring.   After kicking the idea around a bit with Dad, we decided to bid. To be more accurate, Dad said I was a whimp not to bid (the cost of transportation being a huge factor in my whimpiness).  Our bid was nowhere near the reserve, so negotiations began after that. To be more accurate, Dad showed up at the location where the T was located while on a trip.  He looked it over for all of 15 seconds, struck a deal, and called me after the fact to come up with my half.  My crumpled 1924 was a lot cheaper, and already in my driveway.  Sigh.

This was a project started by a man named Wayne who was unabled to finish it. His son consigned it. We finally settled on a price, money changed hands. And then the head scratching began. How would we get it from California to Wyoming - in the Winter!   I think I might have mentioned the cost of transportation to Dad...