When was my T made

[TrashMan]

I’m trying to figure out when and where my 1925 Tudor sedan was made. Serial number is 12172526. What month and what plant location was it made?

[Humblej]

According to Bruce's book, July 20,1925 at Highland Park, yours would be one the last of the '25 model year. Highland Park shut down on July 28th and the new improved 1926 model year production started on 3 August 1925.

CORRECTION: I may have misread the manufacturing plant column in Bruce's book. Your engine may actually have been built at the new River Rouge plant with no indication as to what assembly plant it went to be put into a car. According to the notes, in Jan 1925 the Rouge plant was the major engine assembly facility with some engine s/n's built in the Highland Park engine assembly facility. If I am reading this correctly, there were no engines made at Highland Park in July 1925.

[TrashMan]

Thanks for the info! That’s awesome that the records still exist.

[flatbroke3]

so, which book by Bruce are you referring too. I would like to look up my car. it's serial number is 13261513 and is been in Seattle most of it's life, and I know we had a plant here. was hoping it was built here.
Harold III

[Humblej]

Harold, book is "Model T Ford The Car That Changed The World" copyright 1994.
As I am understanding it, your engine was made in the River Rouge plant, Feb 24, 1926. Where that engine went for integration into a car is not indicated.

[Norman Kling]

Presuming the engine number is the original one stamped into the block, and the block has not been swapped over the last 95 years, the block was made in July 1925. However, in many cases engines have been swapped or numbers changed, so that might or might not be the date the actual car was assembled. In fact many of the T's we see around today, are like Johnny Cash's car. They are an assembly of parts picked up here and there and put together to become a car, usually of a particular year model, but not always parts from the same year.
So unless you know the history of your car, you can only guess whether that was the date the car was made.
Norm

[flatbroke3]

well the serial number on the block and stamped in the frame are the same. this car completely original down to the top and upholstery. I am the third owner. i have know the car since 1952 when it was last licensed in Washington state. it was used in during the war as a bus driver shuttle to and from the depot to the bus barn. thanks once again for the info.
Harold III

[flatbroke3]

well after rereading all of the posts, was it Feb. 1926 or July 1925 both are reply's I do not have the book yet, but will soon enough.
Harold III

[infotfordnl]

Good day all,
Regarding this issue, when was the serial number stamped, when the engine was build or when the engine and the body comes together?
Bert from Holland
I have engine number 14177960

[kmatt2]

Bert, The engine number was stamped at the end of final engine assembly. In December 1925 Ford ,
( 1926 car ), started stamping the engine number on the frame at final car assembly. The dates listed for assembly by Ford are final engine assembly. It could have been a few days to a few months when that engine went into the new car depemdimg where the car was assembled.

[TonyB]

According to the build sheet for my 1909, the number was the second engine stamped on 4 October 1909 and it was shipped to a customer later that day !
By the way an abridged version of the engine dating is available on this web site under Encyclopedia.

[Steve Jelf]

"Model T Ford The Car That Changed The World" copyright 1994

I have that book, also known as the Model T Encyclopedia, and it is excellent. But I also have the disk version, and it is even better because of all the extra material it contains: 1908-1927 catalogues and brochures; The First Six Years (Models A, B, C, etc.); Ford Methods & the Ford shops; owners' manuals, 1907-1927; the Comprehensive Model T Parts Catalogue. I call it the best fifty bucks you can spend on your Model T.

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html