I think I found something very rare...Ford Model T

Tamas Opra · 02-28-2012, 04:24 PM

So todays car hunt had a nice surprise for me.
I went to see a Ford Model TT.
Well it turns out to be a 1917,which is the first year the TT was offered,also Henry's sons date of birth.
The car has its original plates from 1917,currently titled in california though.
So to the point why would this be rare?
Because they only made 3 in the first year.(see it on wikipedia)
I checked the serial number on the frame and it does come up as a 1917 TT.
It does have a 25 engine in it currently,but the original matching number engine block is also included.
Check out the nice custom woodwork on the car.
This is anything but a truck.

So my question is I'd like to find out if there are any archives of where the first 3 model tt went to?

Original 1917 plates are from Oregon.Why would it go there?

Scuba Steve · 02-28-2012, 05:02 PM

Well... did you buy it?

edit: is the Carfax clean?

Laneco · 02-28-2012, 05:07 PM

This is an early truck. Alot of logging, etc., in Oregon. This one, if the woodwork is anything approaching original, may have been used as a tour bus. Crater Lake Park became a park in 1902. Don't recall when they made the roads but it would be pretty cool if this indeed was an early tour bus for the park. More likely it was used a truck like supply shuttle for logging operations, etc., but still... Love to know the history on that one.

angela

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I bet my friend has antique plates for that car. Let me know if you need any, he collected license plates for 60 years and is selling his collection. He's in the Ford V8 club...

LWJ · 02-28-2012, 07:24 PM

I might have a lead for 1917 Oregon plates as well. Let me know.

Larry

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

He said the plates that are on it are OR plates....

Tamas Opra · 02-28-2012, 09:29 PM

I have the original plates from oregon.Here they are.
I dont know if they offer any new info,some hidden message maybe ?
Havent bought it yet,working on a deal.Will go back over the weekend to try to start it up.Hasnt ran in 4 years,no gas,dead battery.Owner in wheelchair,what do I expect?
Anyway the plates:

Bill Douglas · 02-28-2012, 10:11 PM

It's a shame it's been "overly restored".

Tamas Opra · 02-28-2012, 10:48 PM

Bill thats been a few years ago,I can assure that is not that pretty anymore

tabs · 11:51 PM

On the Model T Henry Ford could do every job on the assembly line or the mfg of that car period. He would from time to go into the Rouge and do just that...

One would suspect that this being one of first 3 produced that Henry himself had a hand in either its building or personal supervison.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Very cool old truck! So, if you get it, what are you planning to do with it?

sc_rufctr · 02-29-2012, 02:50 AM

That would be a cool wedding car... Just imagine a beautiful summers day and that truck loaded up with the bride and her maids.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Yea, that would be a great toy and useful for hauling tourists around in a park or downtown area. That would be killer in a city like Savannah as a tour bus.

Rot 911 · 02-29-2012, 05:20 AM

Even in great condition I would not pay more than $8,000 for it. Even early models off the line aren't selling for all that much. And most people into Model T's prefer the Model T over the Model TT truck as they ride better and parts are easier to find. Good luck on the purchase!

Tamas Opra · 02-29-2012, 08:26 AM

Im planning to ship it to europe as I did with the last 2 model T's,the sedan and the touring 3 door one.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Neat. Terrific finding the original verification on it. I don't believe there would be a serial number on the chassis as they only stamped the motor. The versatile T. There were many versions of depot hacks, trucks, some halftracks and even ag tractors conversions for the T and many not made by Ford. There was also a company that made them as a snowmobile!

Talking of T's, I've been looking for anything about a single cylinder Ford engine in that the block, front cover and head look resemble the 4 cyl. casting and it has the same connecting rod and piston. Obviously its a single cylinder but curious if one knows anything about this. Experimental, utility application engine??

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

There was a single cylinder engine built in the 1920s that used Ford T parts, but the details escape me. It had it's own castings and crankshaft, but used Ford T rods, pistons, and valves. I'll have to think on this one and try to remember the details.

Tamas Opra · 02-29-2012, 03:44 PM

Also earlier cadillacs model e used a single cylinder(aluminium) engine.Creator of the cadillac and Henry were cousins,therefor the resemblance in between cadillac and ford t.

Regards the serial number the frame is stamped.On contrary with the regular T's the TT were sold as a frame so it had its own number.The owner would decide about engine trans and other accesories.So the TT trucks go by the serial number stamped on the frame.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamas Opra

Regards the serial number the frame is stamped.On contrary with the regular T's the TT were sold as a frame so it had its own number.The owner would decide about engine trans and other accesories.So the TT trucks go by the serial number stamped on the frame.

!!! News to me. You could specify the engine you wanted in your TT truck??? No.

Ford put the vehicle number on the engine into the 1950s. They started also stamping it on the frame sometime in the mid-1920s. Ford only offered one engine and one transmission in the TT. However, there were many aftermarket transmissions available that a dealer could install.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Been around the one lunger Cadillac's all pre'10. I'll try to keep it short. We also had serial #2xx Ford in the shop. (2 cyl opposed) and called a model 'A'. One of Ford's first production models and not to be confused with the later A. Dodge bros. built the engines for Ford. Also, one clearly sees the similar design including coachwork between the Cad and first Ford as he prior worked for Cadillac. As for those first 'A' and if you've been around them, you can see the differences of the knockoff clones that exist. As for numbers stanped on those chassis, they refer to a pattern or part number... others sometimes confuse it as a chassis number.

For the T: Quite sure the chassis is not to be stamped but what possibly happened, a later owner did this for their own security sake. About the chassis. A.O. Smith was contracted by Ford to build the T chassis and the first to use vanadium steel for resiliant. The chassis were then just moved down the street to the Rouge plant.

Here's the deal about T's. You have the purist who must have the correct or NOS equiped car and go for judging honors They can spot the incorrect front axle between years on a car miles away and deduct points. The right cars bring better money, early brass are the desirable.

The other owners just want a cute fun reliable driver. With so many around (and they never go away!) they are not worth much. Many bodies, conversions and homemade trucks, depots are out there but not many in its original configurations. Engines were swapped out by the hundreds of thousands so you don't know for a fact if it is the correct original. Titles to this day are swapped too. Thousands exist without them! T's are cheaper to buy complete and done. With an average $10k for one, you're not going to restore one for that money. For trucks and depot hacks, many kits are available or DIY for around $2500-3000.

Sure would appreciate anyones help or info about the 1 cyl Ford. This is surely dated after 1912 to possibly well after the T finished its production run.