Hey Guys,
My Grandfather sent me home the long way the other day to check this out. It's a Model T C-Cab truck nearly complete sitting outside! I took pictures and asked the guy if I could take a look. The engine still freely cranks, it's missing a drive shaft for the rear end though (easy fix, we have other rear ends we could use). It's on long term lone from a friend the man said. We want to ask for his information and make an offer. It looks really rusty but upon running my hand over the body discovered that the metal was nearly silk smooth.
Medical students are notorious for diagnosing themselves, but I'll save you the effort. You have Model T disease.
Steve: Yep and proud of it. I told my grandfather we'd go halves on it (I need to start saving then). He's thinking of offering $1000-$2000 for it, i'd be willing to go to $3000, but i'd need him to go in with me on it too to afford that.
It sure is nice to be able to enjoy other peoples discoveries on the Forum and not have to worry about dragging them home or finding parts for them.
Thanks Matthew and best of luck.
Rich
Looks like a great start for a really expensive project. Glad I don't have any place to put another one.
Matthew, Before you you throw an offer over a grand, check out the selling price of finished trucks like this 24. These trucks have been selling in the restored condition from $5,000 up to $7,500 on average. You should total up the cost to restore it before jumping into a project like this.
Mathew,
Well, the doors don't appear to have any rust out in them! What's amazing is the top wood is still there. I don't have any on my C-cab (both top sections)
Neat find. But what is is next to--a railroad car or ????
T'
David D.
Oh boy, Do I ever have a place for that cab!
Fred,
If we added up the total cost of restoring these cars we wouldn't do it. Still, your point is well taken.
Mathew, If you dont get it send me a PM
Restorations are always more expensive than finished ones, but the appeal to a restoration is that it can be had cheaper to begin with, and the cost can then be spread out over time as funds become available. There is also some pride that comes with haveing recovered a relic.
Best
Gus
David,
This place is an old car/Antique Haven: That is indeed a railroad car next to it. Out front is a completely restored Steam Locomotive. Off to the left and back from the truck out of the photo is what looked like a 1920's Mack Truck (had that characteristic hood) and many other classics. I am going to start saving my money up for it (need to also save for textbooks, engagement ring, engine rebuild, AGH!) Maybe i'll be able to make an offer at the end of the summer or next summer. It's not going anywhere anytime soon, my only concern is having it sit outside like that (It poured just before and after these photos btw).
If the funds cannot be found I will gladly disclose where this great truck is. I think it must have been stored in a barn for years in order to still be in this kind of shape
Wish I had the money I would be interested in the Locomotive....
I like early locomotives too, but Model Ts are easier to park parallel downtown.
The trim on the building in the background looks like RR station roof trim, is it an old station?
Sorry, really off topic here!
T'
David D.
PS how about some pics of the locomotive & the Mack?
It looks like ex- D&H equipment to me. Especially the wood car.
That truck is supposed to have doors, but it looks kinda neat without 'em.
And I might add; those doors are quite hard to come by.
New door skins and other sheet metal parts for the C-cabs are reproduced by Howell's: http://www.fordor.com/category.cfm?cat=1924-26%20Model%20T%20C-Cab%20Parts&dept= 0927modelt
The doors could be made by hammer forming the periphery around a hardwood frame. The wood frame could be sawn strips laminated and dowelled together. Might not be too difficult and would be fun to do.
Unfortunately I can't take any more photos right now: I'm back at college now until June 1st (which means i'll actually get back in time to make my first capitol district mtfca meeting and join up! ). I plan on going back soon after that to get the owner's contact information so I can ask if it's for sale. Parts usually aren't a problem for me, unless it's the little things. My Grandfather has enough parts to build three more T's in his garage; usually I can find the correct year part in there (granted CONDITION of these parts is whole different story, you should see the passenger side body i've got and how rough it is). You know, I quite like the looks of the truck without doors. I've been having problems finding just one door for my 25' so (if I get it) I may just leave them off. I could do most or all of the wood work myself, and the fact that the engine still cranks and you can hear the parts rotate suggests that I could probably do the engine myself. I'm really excited to see if I can get this truck (I may just do this truck and make my 25 a speedster instead of a roadster pickup then).
model T Haven has one door great shape except for a c shaped torch line on the inner panel
Matthew,
Stick with the roadster pickup! Then start a speedster from scratch (or family supply). Speedsters are easy to gather up and put together. Usually, when I start toying with the idea of another, enough remains of an original turn up and I am on my way. That is why I have three projects in process now.
As to doors for that truck. You would be amazed by what can be made with very limited resources if you use a little creativity. I once made a sheet steel panel with several serious curves by making a form out of a (now about $4) sack of cement. I then hammered the sheet steel around it. Didn't turn out too bad. I did allow the cement to harden for a couple weeks, and it broke before I was done anyway. So I probably couldn't have made another from it, but it made the one piece I needed.
Good luck with your studies!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
If you want doors they only need to have a very tiny curve in one direction. Where they meet the cowl can be flat and where they meet the seat has a slight curve to it. If it has no other curves nobody will notice on a standard bodied T.
That one could be a money pit! No bed, no driveshaft, one windshield post, no w/s frame, no runningboards, rust at the bottom of every panel, etc. This thing will cost you a fortune a dollar at a time! I'd have to really want a C-cab badly to go over $1000. Good luck. Choose wisely.
Hey guys
I'm not sure if i'll make the 25 a speedster or not: it's a T being built from nothing but parts anyway; I wouldn;t dream of ruining an original vehicle. I think the truck looks good without doors, so I think i'd leave them off.
Wayne: That's a great idea! I've been thinking of how I was going to get a speedster body if I went that route: I could do the curve by maybe doing that with some sheet metal i'd buy (low cost speedster body).
Mike: Yeah, I know what you mean. Fortunately for me my grandfather has many T parts, most of the ones you pointed out included (he said we would drop a large drum rear end in he has that's in better shape and has brake shoes on). I have two sets of running boards at my house alone. Luckily the rust here is superficial at best. I looked it over and what looks like rust on some parts of the body is actually a very old primer, and surface rust. I'm used to dealing with rough parts. My radiator shell was roached when I got it but looks great now. I spent three days sanding it I believe my grandfather said he may have some T windshield glass around too. Still, I have to think about it.
That penultimate sentence raised a red flag for me. Safety glass only! You know why.
Matthew,
I love it. Here is a TT I got for $500. It took another $4000 to get it up and running. You have a lot more to work with than I did. If you get it you and your grandpa will have a good time putting it together. That is priceless.
Gary G,
If that is the same truck, I would say you did great!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Gary,
I'm curious as to why your TT was shortened in the manner shown. Was it set up to run with the rear axle moved forward like that? If so, what was it used for?
Don't forget the Ruckstell, giving you the choice of slow, or slower. Looks like a good project if you are ready to work.
Shortened for a tractor.
Somebody stole the drive shaft.
Gary, I'll bet you're glad those guys didn't have a cutting torch or a package of hacksaw blades to trim off the excess.
Gary,that is a good truck!
Is that a band mill in the back ground?
Yes, they are the same vehicle. Barn find. I just wanted the engine and part out the rest. Started to realize that the frame was not cut and with some rear springs, torque tube and drive shaft, I could have a TT! Some one shortened it to make a depression era tractor. And that is a band saw in the background. That is where I got the wood for the cab. Now that it is warming up in PA, I need to get this vehicle running.
Very nice truck Gary, well done.