I just found this picture at the library. The first model year for T's was 1909, but some were made it 1908. Possibly this is one of the first sold at the end of 1908 (or, the date may be in error).
Its a later 1909.
Running boards are steel, and if early 1908, that hand crank would be up-standing as it would be a water pump car. Also, very early '08 would be 2 lever.
An awesome picture. Hopefully someone
more knowledgeable will chime in.
Sorry Dan.No offense intended. Couldn't spell knowledgeable :-)
Dan,
The hand crank can stay down like that on the early cars.
I agree the car in the picture is a later 1909 or perhaps even a 1910.
OK, figured easy way to tell early Ford,
Zoomed in and the radiator is sq lower corners, without support plate across as in later 10's would have. The running boards seem to have interrupted ridges, which would make it a '10.
A later 1909 or 1910 agreed.
Notice the tire valve stem covers. Fronts look shorter then the rears.
Thank you for posting the photo.
Note also that the front body mount is still the two bolt style. I hope we can eventually figure out about what time frame the different body makers began using the three bolt body mount up front on the touring. Also when they switched to the three bolt body mount bracket on the runabout (and later tourabout).
Below is a photo of a two-lever two-pedal Landaulet showing that even at the Dec 31 1908 Grand Central Palace auto show -- sometimes the water pump engine car is shown with the crank in the down position. So seeing the car with the crank handle up -- can be a good clue, but if the crank handle is down -- it can still be a clue -- but not necessarily proof that it is not an early water pump engine car. Photo below is from a previous forum posting on the show.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Thanks to all for your comments and the information.
I always enjoy seeing pictures of early cars. We all eyeball into details to determine year, late, early, etc. One particular item we zero-in on is the front body mount to see if it is a three bolt, or two bolt design.
I was wondering if the two bolt -vs- three bolt was maybe a characteristic of different body manufacturers.
Is there any documentation about a change from two bolts to three bolts?
Did Ford put on the body mounting brackets, or where they on bodies when Ford got them?
Just got to wondering...
: ^ )
Keith
The two bolt mount shows up on 27904, a very original 1910 touring:
This is 25199, another 1910 with a known history and its original body. Notice there are three bolts on the body bracket, both cars having been built within a few weeks of each other.
Royce,
25967 had three bolts and was a wide track Tourabout that went to Atlanta. I found it a few weeks ago in a shed and may end up with a 10 to go with my 09.
I have a touring 25629 and it has the two bolt body mount.