Got this car in Tallahassee 7 or so years ago. It had been in a farm shed for 50 years and the city was forcing the owner to clean up the property after the shed collapsed. Claimed to be a '27 it had a '22 engine so I got a a big discount. Along with the car I got a huge pile of parts. A real heart breaker!
A couple of years later I tore her down and uncovered number 14999153 on the frame. The car had never been touched other than the motor swap. Everything was original, even the wood. After a year of distraction I was digging in the parts pile and there was the original block; totally stripped except for one bent valve. I could not believe the luck. It had a 3" crack in the water jacket on the left side, easily repaired. I commenced to restore the entire drive train and chassis front to back using as many nuts, bolts and other parts as could safely be saved. After about 100 miles of driving I would be comfortable to take off for NYC.
Have decided to leave the body as found (have done enough shiny ones over the years). People are getting a huge kick out of seeing a real tin liz as found after 86 years. The top bows are perfect and I will put a canvas top on and some kind of upholstery.
Only real oddity of the car is the front axle. It is curved dropping about 1/2 inch at the center. Have never seen another one but it was unquestionably put on the car by Henry.
Anyway, fun to put one of the last old girls back on the road with all her own parts after 8 decades.
The hood mascot is mine...it is a Florida car after all, y'all.
Gorgeous!
Great find Carl! Yes the curved front axle is correct, they came out with the '26 model year. I think it was to allow more clearance for the front spring clamp with the lower riding spring. Dave
Carl,
I love the car! I say don't paint it. Take a look at my profile. It looks like we have a lot in common.
As far as seats, I just use modern seats I got for free with an old quilt on them.
Matthew
Nice! Not enough of them kept as unrestored.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Like everyone else said, what a great find! And getting the matching block...too cool.
This is my version. It came out of a North Dakota junkyard. I bought repro springs, padded them, and them covered them with old burlap feed bags. My interior(burlap bags) don't last to long, but I find a constant supply of burlap bags at antique shops and flea markets.
On the recent Model T Speedster Reunion at Speedy Bill's Museum in Lincoln Nebraska there were a lot of nice T's and also A's. One of the Model A Touring cars had the entire car upholstered with bluejeans. Each door was covered with the rear of a pair of levies and the pockets were placed in the center of each door and were used to hold personal items. My wife Mary wanted me to buy that car because it was her favorite. It's fun to have fun.