Is this one of the early touring cars you guys speak of?
When guys speak of "early touring" I think they're referencing the brass era as being early. The '26 being black is called the "improved car", also I believe a "steel car" cause the wood was eliminated? I do know they're heavier and ride a lot nicer than the "mid-years" and earlier. My friend has one and it's quite a big difference.
Crap...I can't edit what I put. I wanted to say early 26 Tim.
I think Rex is talking about the recent Donnie Brown threads highlighting the differences between early and later editions of the "Improved Car".
and I think Tim's giving me a hard time........lol
Rex... Hope ur warmer "down south"!! Crap it's cold up here by the lake! Thought maybe you might have meant early 26, but wasn't sure!!
well it was 23 when we got home from cincy late last night picking up the "early" 26 Touring.....Told my wife I'm ready to move south....
Well, it does state "early 26" in the title so for the record Rex, I wasn't confused
Based on the headlights, it is an early 26.
Jim
That is a great example....
We would need more detail pictures from all over the car to date it better.. What's the engine number? and does it have any frame number on top of the frame in the hand brake cross shaft region?
Rex, We will need more info.
Need to know, engine number,?
Is there a number on top of the frame at the hand brake cross shaft area (it can be either side),?
Are the step plates in the door jambs steel, aluminum, or one piece forming the step plate and outer body and made of steel,?
Are the rear radius rods the one nut or two nut style at the u-joint end.?
Is the rear end drain plug a hex head or square hole for removing the plug.?
The headlights on your car are the stem type and are the early 26 style.
At the top of the front door opening at the cowl/windshield post area, is there a hump/bump in the cowl, or is it smooth.?
Are there four small rivets in the front of the firewall (they hold the gas tank webbing in place on a early car).?
Is there a "notch" in the rear side of the windshield post where it bolts to the cowl or do both sides (of the same post) look the same.?
The side curtain rod holes in the top of the doors, is there a stamped rib around the hole or is there an aluminum grommet in the hole.??
All this will let us know if it is a "very early" "early" or "late" Improved model or not. Good looking car .
Your car looks like an early 26. Note, they were black and the wire wheels and bumpers were extras. The standard model had the wood wheels without a bumper.
There are other identifying marks such as listed above by Donnie which are not visible in your picture.
Also, over the years, all the 26-27 tourings had interchangeable parts, so a lot of cars have a mixture of parts between those two years. There were also some changes made during the model years. So it would be necessary to make a complete check of everything including the engine number to be sure the entire car is "early" 26.
Anyway, it is a very nice looking car and if it runs as good as it looks, it will also be a fun car to drive. Most people who see these cars don't know whether they are Model T's or Model A's. I even had someone ask if my car was a "46!
Mine is an early 26, but is painted in a 27 color.
Norm
thanks, will get some more pics later today. Is this another early car? http://springfieldil.craigslist.org/cto/4726880251.html
Rex,
That's neither a coupe nor a 1928. It is a 26-27 Roadster. The transmission is not manual. It is pedal. Note:manual means hand operated. Unless the transmission has been replaced, it is foot operated.
Norm
Donnie, sending you a private message...very interested to know the timeline for each of those changes you listed.
Gary