Heres a question for my esteemed collegues out there..Let's say one of the ford owned T100 cars got "loose" and was to be sold..what do you think would happen as far as price and desireability would be in both the T and non-T collectors worlds??.
It is a possibility as I once owned one of the 10[ish] Miller-Fords that Henry himself didn't ever want to see in public hands..it increased in value quite well over the years...but I digress...so here it is- What would you pay for a gen-u-ine brand new T model ford?? [with pedigree]
I seem to recall they cost about $100,000 each to build.
Personally, I see them no differently to any other T built out of new repro parts as this is essentially what they are. I understand they're not entirely authentic either...starter motors are one thing that comes to mind. A bit like the replica ships that were built "exactly like the pioneers sailed in 17xx"...except for the satellite navigation, diesel engine, halogen lighting, etc.
The real value of the T100's would be because of their fame and being made as a part of a limited set.
However, I seem to recall the engine blocks were actually cast for the project. Getting one registered for road use could be interesting therefore (because of the engine numbers...does anyone know what they are BTW?), but it wouldn't be hard to convince the motor registry that it was just another 1914 model pulled out of a barn and restored.
John,
I was also wondering about engine numbers, The starters were added after they went into service at Greenfield Village. It would be interesting if you went to the DMV & tried registering as a 2003, which they are, I would think they'd make you bring it up to code, which would be impossible.
Alex
See: www.mtfca.com/encyclo/T-100.pdf
Jim Patrick
That could be a good first case for Soto-Mayor to resolve
I've crossed paths with the Greenfield Village T-100's several times. Before we thought about buying a T we took a Model T driving lesson at Greenfield Village (no longer offered) and it was in a T-100. Then we took several Model T mechanics classes at Greenfield Village (now offered at Piquette). A feature of the first class is troubleshooting. Usually the instructors would "fix" several T's so they had assorted problems which the students then needed to find and rectify. For one class one of the vehicles used was a recently received T-100, which they didn't do anything to since it came with a number of problems. When Jack Putnam rebuilt the engine in our T he was finishing up "refreshing" the Greenfield Village T-100 engines after a season or two use giving rides. The bores had interesting wear patterns which may have been due to the metallurgy of the blocks.
The T-100's followed the 1914 T design very closely. The engines in the ones used in Greenfield Village later had changes made to make them more suitable for ride duty. These changes included adding starters and replacing the leaky repro oil pans with good, original wide nose pans. They still have carbide head lights.
The engines and rear axles for the Greenfield Village T's after being pulled for major maintenance are put in the next vehicle needing an engine or axle. So if you go for ride in a "T-100" there it may have an engine with a 1924 block and and 1920 rear axle.
For me the T-100's are an interesting curiosity. As a T they don't have any more value than a well restored and rebuilt 1914 T.