lt would appear that the average age for a model T restorer, has dropped significantly in the past few years.
l wonder what the average is now , even suppliers are commenting on the lowering of age group.
Early thirties to mid forties are as it would seem quite common now.
How would you start a poll of guaging the new average ?

I'm 35 and I am restoring my first Model T, a '26 Roadster. My dad has been into Model T's as long as I can remember and I guess I caught the bug from him. There were some interesting threads a while back with some input from some people alot younger than I am (some in their teens) who have an interest in the hobby. I think this is a good sign for all of us young and old alike that the Model T hobby will carry on. Maybe club members could provide their age when they renew each year. This should make it possible for the club to determine the average age of it's members.

David, I believe that the Internet has been a great boon to the old car restoration hobby and that more folks have become interested in Model T's because of the ease of obtaining information. I rebuilt my first older auto, a 1931 Model A Sedan, back in 1988 with only one book and no contact with anyone else in the hobby. It took me 5 years in my spare time and there were a lot of areas I rebuilt not knowing the specifics or exact tolerances. On the other hand I did a total rebuild of a 1924 Model T Coupe in two years and a total mechanical rebuild of my 1919 Model T Touring in less than 6 months with all of the hundreds of questions I had answered on the Model T forums. Having dozens and dozens of experts here on the forums makes the job a lot easier and safer.
...Michael P. (Currently 52)

PS-From my post above....I was 34 when I started my first rebuild....Michael P.

I was 33 when I got my first T...and learned everything about it from a retiree who handed down his knowledge to me..

Here's me and the wife in "Clarice" the first time out after a 3 1/2 year rebuild. Ed, the guy who taught me everything, is behind us with his wife in his Brass Touring.

Next UP: I want a Model A closed car.

I bought my first T when I was 21, and still have it plus a few more. Our club, the Dairyland Tin Lizzies in Southeast Wisconsin, has about 40 members and about 1/3 of them are 40 or younger. The youngest is 16 and she has her own T. She took her drivers license road test in it last summer - see the article in the last issue of The Vintage Ford.

I definately agree that there are lots of younger members entering the hobby and that this site and the internet has really helped.

Fordially, Keith Gubminger

I am 36 and have been into the T's for 3 years now. I think it is getting a younger following although around here most of the guys that own T's are in their 70's or better. But the ones that do restorations or engine building are a lot younger.

My son who is 14 has gotten interested in the hobby and is currently building a speedster. He wants to be the only one at school driving a T.

John

I hate to throw off the average age, but I'm 68. That said, I've owned my Model T since I was in my early 20s.
Rog

My unscientific observation is that the average age of T owners in Michigan is considerably lower than Model A owners, at least for those who belong to clubs and participate in tours. They younger T owners seem to fall into two groups, those who grew up in a Model T family and those who think T's are neat because they are so simple and different than anything more modern.

For reference our 1916 T was 38 years old and our 1929 A was 25 years old when I was born.

I am over 63 and one of my grandchildren has said that I am not grown up yet. Best regards, Sven

Bought my T when I was 30. I'm 31 now.

I'd call that a "newbie".



-Jasper

I'm 61 But, I wanted a "T" for 40 years before i started collecting them. Does that count ?

I've wanted one since I was 9, bought an instruction book when I was 14 & learned to drive it in my head, almost talked my father into buying a '27 pickup (His first job was driving a Model T truck for a grocer at 11) when I was 17, My Wife tried to find one, she could afford, as a Wedding Present when I was 24.

Last July finally got one at 57, a year & a half after my wife passed away. After the transport dropped it off in a local market parking lot & AAA flatbedded it home (no way was that transport was getting it into my neighborhood) I charged the battery, checked out everything, oil level, radiator, etc. Five hours later I was driving around the block, the instruction book I bought at 14 worked great & the next day drove to the DMV to register it & get inspected.

The Ford has been great therapy, keeping me busy (why are there so many cotter pins} & the enjoyment of driving her.

"You're only young once, but Immaturity can last indefinetly" Ogden Nash

Alex

I'm in there with Jasper. I was 44 when I got my first T and I still am. I am a newbie too. But I noticed in this hobby we learn so quick. Trial by fire sort of.

I am a newbie, i am 66 and got my T when i retired at 62 for something to do,i was actually looking for a late teens early twenties Chevrolet as i inherited my grandfathers chevy tools, he was a Chevy mechanic and dealer during the twenties, but i couldn't find one.
Rick

43

vince

I'm 55 and got my first T last summer.I fell in love with T's in 1960 when I was 10 years old.There was the back lot of a pontiac dealership across the street from our house and there was a model T coupe setting there.The first time I went over to check it out,I got in and discovered a wasp nest,complete with very mad wasps with the top of my head..OUCH!! 45 years later I finally got one.(no wasp nest)

I am 44. I drug my 1919 basketcase home with me at age 15 back in 1976. This coming November it will be 30 years for me in the Model T hobby. When I joined the model T clubs, I was "the young kid" for about the first twenty years. I'm really glad to see people younger than me in the hobby!
-Keith

Model T Owners never grow up, destined forever to play with the best toys ever built. Got my first "T" when I was twenty. A lifetime spent on the best learning curve ever devised by man. I am a lucky man, blessed with a wife that understands and enjoys my habit. I'll be 73 in March and in my next life I want to do it all over again. Happiness truly is a Model T Ford.

I wanted my first car, a touring I fell in love with, when I was 20. Problem was, I fell in love with a nice young lady, and married her instead of buying the car. So, 33 years later I got my 1914 touring. I've had that car 4 years, and the girl 37 years. Wouldn't trade either. Life is good! In fact, I have two t's, and a 1927 American LaFrance Fire Truck. Its fun being 57... lolol

I'm 30 and have owned my car for 1 year, a 13 touring. I wanted something different, but easy to get parts for. The forum and club sold me that I would have an technical resource. I also like that the older more experienced guys are so willing to help someone who is trying to learn. Books can only go so far. It's also cool to see people my age walk right past rows of mustangs and hotrods at a show to look at my car. I always suggest a T to anyone looking to get into the hobby who has a young family and is on a budget. Leave the muscle cars for the old guys trying to relive their youth.

When my brother was playing with hot rod match box cars, I was playing with brass era cars at age seven. I'm 47 now and bought my first T when I paid off my student loan at age 33.

AMT used to sell model kits "3 in 1" build it stock, rod or dragster, they cost $1.49. For some reason I always made them them stock. My favorite was the '25 Ford Roadster' I went as far as running thread from the firewall to the plugs & putting a wire from the dash to the carb.

We Model T people have to be very careful because the "Government" might start considering Model T's as a "controlled substance" because they're so addictive.

Alex

WOW when l posed this question, l had no idea what kind of response l'd get, if any !, but l'm absolutely knocked over, there's got to be a book in there somewhere for someone to write, about the experiences of the "average man" , to take a line from Henry himself.
And there are probably 15million other stories and then another 15million on top of this ,for like you, l've only just started and agree the learnig curve is steep, very steep , but enjoyable, and true it does take your mind off the every day things.
There's got to be more stories in this.

Well, I bought my first antique car when I was 30. It was a project Crosley Hotshot. A year later, the project was still sitting in the garage when I bought a 1940 Crosley convert. That car got restored and won AACA 1st Hershey. After that, I owned a variety of cars, including a 1919 Briscoe, 1963 Ford Falcon 2dr post, 1964 Ford Galaxy Hardtop Sedan, (2) 1936 Plymouth 2drs, a 1948 Morris Minor Lowlights, 1936 Chrysler C10 Imperial Airflow Sedan, and others I can't think of right now -- and a 1911 Ford Torpedo. I sold the Torpedo when I experienced a storage problem. I regret selling the car. I still have the Airflow (anyone interested?), but now am looking for another T project. The Torpedo was a put-together car, which is ok in my books, if it is done right. While I was scared to death trying to stop at city intersections (just glided through a busy red light once owing to weak brakes) in the Torpedo, I think that, with decent brakes a T can be a blast. What attracts me to the T is availability of parts, the cost of a car and a restoration is still reasonable, and even if you have limited experience with old cars (I owned several, but farmed most of the work out as I had no real "shop resources" of my own) you can do a car yourself, mostly.

So, 1st antique car at 30, 1st T at 40, and next T soon, I hope.

Brass cars are great, and T's are really the only brass cars within reasonable financial reach of hobbyists who are lucky enough to have deep pockets.

Hi all,

I was busy helping Dad scrape the paint off old wooden spokes for the wheels of his 1919 restoration when I was about 6 years old, and probably trying to crank over his 1937 Fordson N when I was 7. That old Ford blood runs thick !

Bede (building up a 1924), currently 28.

I hope T people are getting younger. Where I live we are all getting old, and I don't see too many young ones. I started at 17, and am turning 63 today. I still think I'm 17 though.

I'm 45 now and started my first T when I was 12; my dad had been working on them before I was born and I can't remember not polishing brass and getting on a creeper to clean underneath, and spending my allowance at swap meets. I know we moved accross town when I was almost 6 and I can remember being under the car before then. When I was 12 a friend told me of a dentist that had some old car parts behind his office; I went to look and there was a frame, front end and rear end. I asked him if I could buy them and offered $50, paid as my allowance came in... he gave them to me. It was a 26 frame, front end, bumpers and ruckstell; he couldn't use them because he was into A's. My friend and I loaded this ont a red wagon and dragged it up the street to get it home.... by the time we made it the axle of the wagon was bent and dragging the ground, and it was too wide for the sidewalk so we pushed and pulled it up the main street in Albany, California (near Berkeley; not a town, a main city street!) I traded the ruckstell to get my dad's engine overhauled and my frame and front end dropped to build a speedster (Thank you to Jess Blaker in Turlock for that help!) I started on my own speedster, then got side tracked for 11 years when I went into the service. When I got out of the Air Force I needed a touring car to carry the family and traded the frame and dropped axle to Larry Blair for the sheetmetal to restore a '15 touring (this was before he had the Tin Shed). It took 4 years of free time to fit the woodkit etc and I had never painted a car before so it was a real learning experience. The frame and axle are under Larry's red speedster, the body I built when I was 12 is now on Dave Francis' speedster and I've got a '15 touring that will go anywhere..... on coils, no starter, etc. I inherited a '15 Roadster from my dad which I hated to sell, but when I did I was able to buy an unrestored '11 touring from Bill Bohlen. That undercarriage is now complete and the body is almost ready to paint (again mostly stock, but I'l use a Ruckstell and put the 6 rivet rear in the atic where it won't get hurt and I've got a Giant Power head I'll try). And now my 8 year old daughter likes to help clean our T's... hopefully she'll keep the bug in her.

Ok, I've got to chime in here! Started tinkering with my uncle's 1914 touring when I was 17 that he had bought in '46 for transportation to Harvard Med. He kept the buggy and it ended up underneath his barn. None of his 4 kids were interested in it and it sat and sat and sat.... Similarly to Gary's story, I went in to the service (submarines) and couldn't do anything with the T, BUT I never forgot about it as we had fond memories as little kids when Uncle Ed would fire it up (or try to) at Halloween parties and putt around the property in it. Fast forward 25 or so years, Uncle Ed retired and talked about trying to restore the car himself. I sent him an email saying that if he ever contemplated selling, please keep me in mind - I'd be willing to pay a fair price and it would be nice to keep the ole girl in the family. A month later I get this email from him - the car is mine for $50, no more, no less as that's what he paid for it in '46! Thrilled, I got a nice enclosed trailer, drove up the East coast and picked it up with much fanfare. That was 4 years ago. Now started the real work because it needed a top to bottom overhaul. When cleaning the car of the accummulated barn dirt and dead mice, I discovered 4 registration tags tacked under the front seat deck (1915-1918). Out of curiousity, I searched the Internet for the name on the tags and found a geneology site of the same name. Contacted the webmistress of the site with the story asking if by any chance her family was related to the name on the tags. Next morning I get an email back WITH a photo of the car in 1916 with the original owner and buddies in the car! Ah, the wonder of the internet!!

I've LOVED EVERY MINUTE of this task and, at 45 y/o, can't wait to finish her (ask me in another 2 years!). AND, thanks to all on this website and the existence of Ebay, it's made this job possible. What a great hobby - preserving history AND having fun while at it!
Cheers! Ted M.

Happy Belly Button Day, Larry!

...Will be 46 in 2 days... I started in 1973, at 13, when my great grandmother gave me the parts of their dismantled '23 Touring car for my birthday to give me something to tinker with as I was already by then heavily addicted to all things mechanical. As I worked on it, I found that there were parts to 3 different cars in the garage so the parts were a hodge-podge. (Read Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a Time...") After Grammy died in 1978 and I didn't have her garage to work in any more, the components I had restored went into storage, and then life happened, with kids and all, and G'ma & G'pa's car got put on the back burner as I either had the money to work on it, or the time, or the place; but never all 3 at the same time. Now the kids are grown, and I'm moving my little machine shop into a large building, so I will have a place to FINALLY assemble the restored components into a complete chassis and find a body for it (They sold the body around 1929. )... Hopefully before the Model T centennial celebrations in 2008/9. Well; my 2 cents worth: Happy motoring!

I'm older than some but younger than others! I wanted one when I was 16, but got my first one when I was about 53. I will be 70 next week. The T is ageless and is a classic if ever there was one. Some people think Chevy is better. Well they sold more some years than Ford. Where are they now? About 1 Chev for 30 or 40 Model T's
I have 3 T's now and like to drive them.
Norm

My dad's first car was a black touring car. He worked & saved for it & was the only kid in his group with a car (14 years old at the time). When his brother came home from WWII, grandpa made dad loan the brother his car to run around with his buddies. Dad knew that would be a mistake. Sure enough, the buddies took the car to a skating party at a lake & thought it would be fun to slide the car around on the ice with the other skaters....until it broke thru the ice. Dad never had another T.

I always thought it would be fun to have a car like dad had. When his health started to slide a couple years ago, I figured I'd better get off my butt & get one, a 26 touring. He's enjoyed the rides when I take it over on visits. I'm 50 now.

My other cars are Studebakers & Kaisers.
Mike Sa

I'm almost 37 and have been collecting antique tractors and gas engines for more than 25 years. I've had several Fordsons over the years and always wanted a T. I finally got a '26 TT last September. Now I wish I'd gotten into the T's years ago! I've met a lot of nice people and made some real good friends since I got the TT.

Mike

I drove my first 2 cars on the same day. The first was a 71' mach1 that went like h*ll. the next one was a early 23 Touring. I killed it about 30 times ( so I remember The Model T). The looks I recieved in the T were something else! I was hooked ( I was about 12). I recieved my T in a pile after I just was done with my Marine Corps time. My wife thought I was nuts and my Great-Grandma Didn't know what it was. She recieved a 1918 touring New from her dad for her wedding present. I Didn't show her the parts I had for 2 years becouse I wanted the wood kit done and the frame on wheels. I showed her the "model T bible" by MR McNalley. and she was full of storys of the family cars. I showed her a photo of my restoration in progress. and she had no idea it was a T. She incisted that all were scraped in WW2 and the barn rats were taken in the 50's as well as lots of rare cars that were hid during the first war. However during korea they actually looked in the barns for cars and iron. I lost her before I could take her in the T.When I showed her the pile of parts in the back of the car she thought the country was back into a deep war like WW2 or Korea, (it was right after 9-11)she thought I was gathering scrap to stock up for the hard times and rations coming up. I was 25 when I started my T and I'm 29 Now. I now have a 15 month Girl and I will Put a Baby seat in the back of My T and Bring my little one to Church this summer, and will drive it to work and all Kid Functions that I can do. I'm proud of working and meeting those that know all sorts of stuff about T's. With me it don't take much to out smart me, but when I need help It's there. I'm still striving to help children Like my Great-Grandma did and how she loved us all. I'm proud to still serve in the Military, and Give smiles rides to the all who wore the uniform before I have. I (my generation) will not let you down. I'm just as proud to have joined the Shriner's and Now I will have kids in My T whenever I can and I will do as long as I live as well as giving a Vet a Smile and as always I will be in uniform. One photo I hope to get this summer being in the Military is Having my T driving out of one of the Larger cargo Planes that this Great Nation of ours has. I want to do it becouse in my mind It is amazing how far we have came in just 100 Years. I'm working on a few Load Masters who Fly in here once and a While. It would be no problem However I've never gotten My T to not leak something or seen one T that didn't. I'll have to work on that! here's to another 100 Years To Fords! I'd like to thank all who have helped all the Young Guys in the hobby with me,and as well as those that help us With Knowledge and expertise. We as younger men and Women don't have alot of money and the ones that are out there I truely Thank you (I won't mention any names) You are the ones that Really keep this alive! THANK YOU!!

Got my T this past summer and I'm 43

A lot of cars went to the War effort, I've saw a photo of Duesenberg Town car (with the tires off) on the scales & film clips of T's going into the furnace (although I don't know what all the wood ash would do to the steel). Had a friend who told that fed's showed up one day & took two extra tires, her father had for his '25 Cadillac. Another friend who has an 1820's row house in London told me they're just now starting to put back the wrought iron railings on the front steps that were cut off for scrap.

I Built my first T when I was 17. It was a 1914 Roadster. I sold the 1914 Roadster and then I Built a 1924 Roadster when I was 20. I am now 21 going to be 22 the 5th.

I guess you might say that we are an eclectic bunch.
Rog

I fell in love with T's when I learned about them in school and thought it would be cool to own one. When I saw my first T I didn't know they were still around. At age 16 I found my old 25 Indiana in a barn and started colleting T parts to use on it but nothing fit. Now I have 3 T's and all the parts I have picked up in the last 25+ years. I have yet to find the time to get one running but it will happen soon. I did just get the 25 Indiana going last week after 25 years of looking for an engine and parts for it. I found that in order to finish a project it is best to not start another one till the first one is done. I have a lot of projects that were started but picked the one I wanted to finish first and am sticking to it now. Started this at 16, am 42 now.

We just bought our T a few months ago. Im 32 and i am having fun with it. I sold a dragcar i had to get out of that money pit and am now enjoing life in the slow lane with my wife and the T. We have yet to really drive it as it needs some attention, but it was definatly fun the first couple times around the block. The people in the local club are great as well as on this site. I am directing alot of time towards my job now to advance as much as i can for future movement out of state so right now the T wont get a whole lot of use at least for this year. I glad i dont have to sink thousands in a car just to get it running and then hope it doesnt break like the race car. I thourghly enjoy going slow in a T as it is much more relaxing and you get way more looks than from a noisy/loud/shiney race car. I think myself and the Mrs are going to enjoy this alot in the future. you guys have been a great inspiration here.

--chad

Before the internet, I thought that most of the people with interest in Model Ts had died off. I have had a T for years, and at one time thought about selling it, and I couldn't find anyone that showed any real interest in it, so I assumed that it was too old for anyone to relate to. After finding the Clubs on the internet, I found that the interest still lives! I have lost my desire to sell the T now! I am social security age, by the way.
Bob

I was 51 when I bought my T. That was 2 years ago. I had very much wanted a T for many years but little details kept getting in the way like the mortgage, college tuition for the kids etc. I have absolutely enjoyed my T from day one. It is like a time machine. Another big benefit has been the fine people that I have come to know in the hobby.

I'm 71 and on the 5th T of my own now. Done one for another guy. Will quit when I die.

72 this past August. Drove & worked on my first @ 17. Bought a 23 Hack 20+ years ago. Now Have the 23 and a 16 Touring. A 23 Chevrolet roadster that Mom & Dad courted in. The Chevy is under rustoration.

One thing I really enjoy is helping other locals get their cars running dependably, with stock ignitions and fuel systems; I've been doing this since I was in my early teens. (I learned to drive on a T when I was 12). Anyone can buy all of the modern conversions but you've got to learn about the old ways and repairs to keep them running the way they were built and to actually restore them. I've tried distributors and non-Ford carbs and removed them; my cars run very well on coils with Holly Gs and NH carbs and I couldn't see much positive difference; my cars are dependable, climb hills very well, start easy and other then splitting a pinion gear one time I've never not been able to finish a tour. I've helped people in their 20's and others in their 70's (and in between) and it's very satisfying. I'm not an expert and I never get paid for any of this, just a decent shade-tree mechanic with the bug to keep them running the way they were made. I mean, if you've got a T with a modern alternator, a VW distributor and oil pump, an electric fuel pump, new water pump, electronic ignition and an electric over drive what are you really driving? How much of the real T experience is left? If that's what someone wants then more power to them and I still support their efforts; I'd rather see those cars on the road then not, and there is talent required to modify a T so it runs well and is dependable, but for me it isn't really a true T experience, it's more of a Disneyland ride. I'm not trying to steer the topic in another direction, just adding a bit to my previous post. I hope there are many young T restorers and drivers willing to put up with the frequent (but not difficult) maintenance required for an old original T so that true T's are not lost. And I hope the many young people continue to seek out the old timers experience so they really understand what a T is.

Had my first T since i was 27. had a tough choice just before i got married, keep the T or lose the Dog privalege. Gave the dog away, good thing too, it died 2 weeks later.The T has died a few times since, but always starts again another day. I am 34 now, and my wife and I do the shopping in the T, Cant tie the dog to the shops...

Fell in love with a T - age 7, but I couln't read. Given my first repair manual - age 8; seemed that I could read fine. First T given to me by my Uncle at age 10. Currently - had some more, sold some, still have the first one and three others. Helping my son (age 12) build his first I still use the manual given to me at age 8. I'm driving the age up while my son is pushing the age down.

i'm 54, had a 1950 ford tudor for 10 years, sold it and bought the '26 Touring this past summer and have already had much more fun with the T than i did all those years with the '50, of course i DID spend a little more money on the T!!!!!!LOL
den

I believe you are a bit low in age estimates. At many tours and the recent annual meeting, we are one of the youngest couples there and just entered the 50's. The majority I have found are in their 60-70's.
These are the folks that remember the T's being actually used for daily transportation. At the fringes of daily use but the childhood memories are still retained.
They are also the retired ones that have time to restore cars and not raise families and make the mad dash about in life. They know what is important. Unfortunately, these folks are getting fewer. The younger generation cares more about going fast and the amenities. There are exceptions, of course, but my son (20) has visions of Mustangs, new chargers, chrome, and horsepower. He has a T but still prefers fast.
Education will bring the new generation into line. You may see a rebirth with the 100th year of the Model T approaching. Who knows.

I was always crazy about antique cars since I was little and my parents would take me to antique car museums. My favorites were open cars from the late teens and early 20s because of the style. Fueling my interest were T and A owners who drove their cars during the summer around the small north Missouri town where I grew up. My father's first car was a worn out early 20s T he bought for $5 in the late 30s. My grandparents first car was a T touring like the one I have now. After I graduated from high school in 1970 I wanted an antique and bought a 1938 Chevrolet. In 1976 I bought a 1941 Hudson. Both were good cars but not at all the style I wanted so I sold them both and vowed that if I ever got another antique it would be a Ford because of availability of parts. It wasn't until 2002 that I finally got my 1923 T touring and I love it! It is a good driver. I don't like participating in car shows but love touring with it. I hope to retire in about 2 years and hope to be able to tour even more then. I will turn 54 this year. Mike in Alabama

I suspect the average of week long tour participants is significantly higher than of T owners in general. If you're retired a Monday through Friday tour is a great idea. For most folks who work getting time off isn't that easy. And if you have kids a week long tour during the school year isn't going to happen. Likewise for travel to the annual meeting.

Younger folks are more likely to have a Model T in the garage that they are slowly restoring as time and money becomes available. Or they have a car that goes out for a spin on a weekend and possibly the occasional club tour.

Started when I was 15 restoring a 25 pick-up with my dad. I will be 24 on Friday and have my second car done and about to start on my third. I plan to drive a car to the Mass tour in June and I also drove to the tour in Estes Park, CO last August. I'm in college now so I figure that I better drive it now while I can before I start work in the real world. Luke

My son and I actually started last year on our first T. I'm 62, and he's 26; I guess that averages to 44? However, his age of 26 is going to lower the overall average a bit!

Luke we are very Proud of you, I first met you in Chickasha, saw you in South Dakota Tour and see you in Chickasha every year we will be their this yr, my wife is coming with me John Danuser T and TT Ford Parts Fulton Mo