A friend told me someone/group had a tour of the new museum today.
He wants to stop on his way home from the big Portland, IN, swapmeet.......amd he'll have this '24 Coop on his trailer.......
What's up with the trunk on that coupe? Looks like a roadster turtle deck spliced on???
Dave S.
Darned if I know.....he JUST bought it.......
I am curious also. It sure doesn't look like the trunk on my '24 coupe. Kinda neat, though. Like an after-market body.
I think we're drifting.
THE MUSEUM IS NEARING OPENING!
Wish I was closer.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I didn't want to say anything at first, but what Dave S. said was just what I was thinking. That trunk is very different than the one on my '25 coupe, witch is pretty much the same as a '24 from what I have have gathered. Dave
My friend and a buddy of his stopped at the museum......they opened both buildings for them to check it out!.......
The rear panel is not as built by Ford, I have never seen any Coupe with a split in the rear panel. They were all a single pressing from the door to back panel. I agree that it is a roadster turtle deck on the rear of a coupe.
The mystery lies within the trunk. Depending on how the trunk was attached makes all the difference. It may not have a seam, which means the whole body is aftermarket. If it has a weld seam, is it a quality weld? If it is, that means the car was modified by an era coachbuilder. If its a mess under there, who knows.
So nobody cares about the MUSEUM???????
The Model T Museum has 8 cars housed in the new space so far, including a Model N, 1909 2-lever, 2-pedal #337 Model T and other great Ts.
The gift shop is not moved in yet, the library is not set up, but anyone can stop by. Most all of the time, someone is there. Our volunteers are working every evening and weekend to get everything in place. While we are not "officially" open, we are open for visitors.
It might be a good idea to phone before you arrive, Museum 765-488-0026; MTFCA Business Office 765-855-5248. Lots of detail work is being completed. I expect within 2 weeks everything will be in place.
I think the museum is looking awesome and hope our members do, as well. The city of Richmond has the parking lot adjacent to the Museum ready for parking. The city has been great to the Museum, as have all the businesses and people in the Depot District. The Model T Museum has found a great home!
We think our members will be very pleased!
Craig,
Yes, we care about the museum a lot. But many of us are visual people. So with the visual photo of the Coupe that just might be "the missing link" in coupe evolution, but more likely has been modified sometime in its past -- many of us can get side tracked. That is also why "billboards" use more than just words. You could actually put a lot of text on a billboard but one we drive by quickly and two -- the photo or art work is what often times catches our eye and then our interest first.
Note different body makers sometimes produced prototypes for Ford's review and consideration. In the 1928-1931 Model As, there are at least two different known prototypes that still exist. One is a 1930 or 31ish coupe that even has one side with one style body molding and the other side a different style of body molding and the other is a fourdoor sedan produced by Budd as an "all steel" alternative to Ford's wood framed Fordors. See: http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2010/09/01/hmn_feature3.html . And somewhere on our MTFCA website is a discussion of I believe Budd [or perhaps a different body maker?] blue prints for all steel Model T Bodies that Ford elected not to purchase/contract to purchase. There is a good chance at least one prototype of those was produced in an effort to obtain a contract with a really larger company – Ford.
Thread drift – yes, it happens– and we are looking forward to the museum opening to the public. Not only do I think current Model T owners will enjoy stopping by, but I think it can be a great way to interest others in our hobby. Thanks to everyone helping to move the museum forward!
Respectfully thread drifting,
Hap l9l5 cut off
I'm glad Barbara chimed in.......
ANYWAY.....ABOUT his car.......it seems someone might have grafted an early trunk to the body......nice job too.
This supposed 1916 runabout is on ebay now and it looks pretty close.
Craig,
Sorry about the thread drift. Yes - I do care about the museum and I'm glad Barbara provided the update. Some photos of the museum with the cars inside would be nice to see.
The reason I mentioned the Coupe is that I have been researching these bodies. That is most likely a 25 Coupe - not a 24. At the end of 1924 the documentation shows that the wood in the trunk area was obsoleted and the sheet metal all changed to a "B" version. There is no documentation to this "B" version sheet metal. My thoughts are that they were moving towards an all-steel body at that time. It doesn't appear that they ever built any of these as so far all of the 25 Coupes I have seen still have the wood and the earlier "A" version sheet metal. When I see a Coupe body with a different trunk section I immediately wonder if this is the "missing link" so to speak. To me it looks like a roadster turtle deck that has been grafted on and the truck lid does not look like something that would have come from the factory. However, that is not an easy modification as the quarter panels have some compound curves in that area which makes the sheet metal work much more complicated. So while I think it is just a home made modification I don't want to just write it off only to find out that it actually was done at the factory.
Dave S.
Thanks David.
My friend has been watching this thread.
If he isn't too dismayed I'll ask him if he'll let me post some more detailed pics of how the trunk was done.
He is tickled to death with this car and was out and about with it today.....zoom zoom zoom.......
I should start a different thread but since his coupe is in this one it can stay in this one.
Here are photos of the trunk.
Two more.......
Yeah, it was modified and spliced on at some point, looks like it was an old modification. That is not to say its not a neat and unique idea. Many T's were modified in the rear, either made into trucks or the trunks elongated to suit the owner as a utility vehicle. The is nothing for your friend to be dismayed about-its a Model T, and it looks like a fun one.
Thanks Ed.....he's having a blast with it!
He got it running well today and zoom zoom zoomed all over the place.......
Thank you for the additional photos. Definitely a model T to enjoy. Of course, most model Ts are model Ts to be enjoyed. I would love to follow that coupe on a tour for hundred miles or so.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2