So, I got an email a couple of weeks ago, asking If I knew anybody who'd be interested in a '26 Coupe. Well, I couldn't help asking for a bit of info on the car. I need another T like I need hole in my head. But once I saw the car, I couldn't help myself.

It turns out that the emailer's father had been doing a very thorough restoration on the car back in the early eighties, but got side tracked with only the hood and window trim left to do. Reportedly, he drove car from his home to the storage shed, the only time he ever drove it. But, he never got around to finishing it. It's been sitting for eighteen years. Now, Ed the gentleman who's owned it all this time, has lost interest in fiddling with it and is happy that its going to be put back on the road. I really enjoyed meeting him today when I picked the car up.

I'll have a bit of work undoing the effects of time in storage, but this should be finished and back on the road, where it belongs, in a week or two. I've promised to send Ed photos, once I get it roadworthy again.

WOW Copy me on future emails HAHA Congrats... Looks Great!

Eric,

Will you be parking with the Doctors at the hospital now? Will you have this car ready for your 4th of July tour? I'm looking forward to it.

That is a fine machine. You are a lucky dog.

Have you dusted it off yet???

Very funny Lance! We'll drive the '14 on the Annual 4th of July Tour and Potluck Picnic; it'll be all four of us. I do intend to bring the Coupe down to the All T Reunion in Farmington, this Sunday.

Jim,
I was surprised that all four tires took air after sitting so long. The Garfield brand tires are new, only driven about three blocks; virtually no weather checking after all this time. The tubes are still holding air today.

I stopped at the self-serve car wash on the way home and blasted the car clean. It looks pretty good. A light buff and wax looks like it'll do the trick. Tomorrow, I plan to change all the fluids, flush the tank and clean the carb. I hope to hear it run before supper. Thankfully, Ed showed me photos of the differential rebuilding;he used brass thrust washers, so I don't have to tear that apart.

Eric,

That has to be the nicest "barn find" in a long time.

Very sharp car.
Hope I could be so lucky for my next T.

Larry

Eric,

Congratulations on your “Improved Ford!” The paint even looks shiny on the cowl where the dust was kept off – probably by that hood that needs finishing. Great find.

If you run across a Branch Assembly marking on the metal channels holding up the front floorboards please let me know. (For additional information see: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/111490.html ).

Again congratulation on your new coupe!

Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 Model T Ford touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and l907 Model S Runabout. Sumter, SC.

BEAUTIFUL!!! As to "holes in your head", you would suffocate without a few of them. Figuratively and literally.
W2

I took a minute to look up the frame number last night. It turns out the car is actually a '27, made in late March of '27. The engine block has been replaced with one from a '24. It has the correct headlight mounting for the '27 time frame. I don't know of any other changes on the improved Fords.

Hap. I'll try to find a body number tomorrow.

Hap,
The cowl was not covered by a hood; the dust didn't settle on the vertical surfaces. I got your body marking picture. It's really hard to make out the number in the photo. but it reads:
T SP-1572-11-17-26
I'm guessing that means the body was built in mid-November of '26. The chassis is number 14,508,xxx. It's conceivable that, as production was winding down, it could take until March of '27 for the body to be painted and upholstered and meet up with the chassis.

The car is cleaning up pretty well. I flushed the sludge out of the, rebuilt the carb, changed oil and installed a new battery. I fired it up this afternoon. Compression is a bit low on #4, but it runs pretty good. It's nice strong motor. I can't wait to see how it pulls when the rings are fully seated and all the cobwebs are blown out.

That SIR really looks great!! Glad to hear it is running.

Okay Eric .... I just gotta ask .... how does a fellow of your stature get inside that car?

VERY nice!


Garnet

Eric, I 'might' have a nice hood that you can have for like $20. Does this year T have a whoooole bunch of louvers on the side? Like more than the 23-24 cars?

Garnet,
"Stature", that's a very polite way of saying big oaf! Actually, I can get in and out okay, even from the driver's side. But, I really don't care for the low seating position. It causes me to really fold up my long legs. I doubt I'll ever get used to sitting so low and folded up in a T. I'm really spoiled by the high seating position and leg room in our '14.

Patrick,
Thanks for the generous offer, but the new hood came with the car; I just need to paint it. Yes, they have a bunch of louvers. FYI, nice '26/'27 hoods go for around $200 on ebay and new ones are $330. I checked it out when I was deciding whether or not to buy the car, because the former owner thought he had a hood, but couldn't find it. Luckily, he located the hood between the time that I bought the car and when I picked it up.

Wow! It looks great!

Sure washed up nice.

Eric:

Are those plates registered to the car? If you are a purist, the Minnesota "B" plates are incorrect for your car. It should have "A" plates (less than 2,000 lbs).

Erik