MTFCA Forum

Looking for an estimated value of my 14 Runabout. Car was restored in the 60's. Starts and runs on mag. Paint is old and has imperfections but no rust. Looks better in picture than in person. Thanks in advance for your input.

It looks great to me. What about mechanical condition?

Good shape mechanically with no major issues. Starts, runs, drives, and stops good. Does get warm in hot weather on long runs

Does it have any modifications?

No, it is pretty stock. Does have a Prestolite tank on the ds running board in place of the carbide generator. Engine number 590057 matches title.

I'll take a stab FWIW and say around $18K, however I would check compression, if much under 45lbs it's headed for rebuilding sometime in the near future possibly. Now you're talking maybe $15K tops.

Transmission, rear axle, radiator, tires are all major expenses, if significant repair or replacement is needed. Crankshaft problems can be expensive to remedy. Paint is very expensive, but optional. Upholstery, likewise. Other potential spoilers include a cracked front crossmember, loose frame rivits, bent axles, wooden wheel/rim issues, etc. Location is another issue for many buyers, since transportation is not cheap. Some states punish car buyers with stiff taxes on purchases.

Thanks for all the valuable input! I will keep this in mind when I list it for sale locally.

Value in my opinion 12500

I would not quarrel with Steve's post as of 2003, but it is now significantly out of date.

I have a ‘14 runabout that looks just like that
(casting 02 19 14 ) except it has a U&J and I wouldn’t accept less than $20 K for it. Oh yeah, I also had a SCAT crank installed before the original broke. If anyone has a’14 runabout comparable to the picture for $12,500, contact me and I’ll be right over (lower 48) with cash and a trailer.

Can we share what your estimates are based on? 12,500. Seems low.


Andy

catfishunter99 wrote: ↑

Mon May 30, 2022 8:34 pm

Looking for an estimated value of my 14 Runabout. Car was restored in the 60's. Starts and runs on mag. Paint is old and has imperfections but no rust. Looks better in picture than in person. Thanks in advance for your input.

I realize I am coming in to give my opinion a little late, so please forgive me for that. I think you will find your vehicle is more valuable than what some might think. To begin with, Ford produced more than 5 Tourings for every 1 Runabout sold that year. If someone wants to find a Runabout, they are not easily located. Therefore I think available supply & demand definitely applies to value.

A FWIW, I recently purchased an amateur frame-off restoration on a '14 Runabout that had been sitting in a museum for over 15 years. It did not run, had a 1916 (albeit rebuilt) engine in it with correct head, pan, and carburetor, correct front & rear axle, JC Whitney-quality top & interior, incorrect lamps and windshield, new radiator, sound wood wheels but old tires/tubes, etc. Overall, it appeared to be restored in the '70s from a fairly unmolested car. It was advertised at $15k, and there was not much room for price negotiation as there were at least 3 others that were behind me ready to purchase it if I declined.

I have since purchased a correct '14 engine, rebuilt with SCAT and high compression low alum. head. I also installed a Ruckstell, Rockies, and rewooded wheels, installed correct windshield and lamps, and will sew a new interior & top in the near future. (I added a couple of 'before' pix of it on the trailer when purchased, and a couple after some items were corrected so you can visually compare to yours.) My point is I now have a little over $20k in mine, and feel it would be very difficult to find an equal car for less than the money I have invested. Again, the value for your car really is in the rarity of it being a Runabout. If someone has their heart set on owning a Runabout instead of a Touring, they will soon realize the availability of candidates to purchase is pretty scarce.

Rare is a word rarely used for model Ts , especially 1914 Ts. That’s like calling a center door rare. JMHO

I don't see many T's around here.

Tim, ‘rare’ is a subjective word. I know of over 200 Model T s in Texas but only three 1914 and one 1913 runabout. We’ve already been apprised of the production ratio of touring to runabouts in 1914 and, given that some turtledecks have been removed for wood pickup beds over the years, that makes a runabout even rarer. There are no other Model T s in my county so most folks consider mine rare. If someone lived in a town with a dozen brass Town Cars they might not consider them rare. I only know of one and its owned by my friend Dave Tagert in Walton beach so I consider it ‘rare’.

The original poster wondered aprox value on an auto that was restored almost 60 years ago, and admittedly better in pictures than in person.
They didn’t make as many runabouts as tourings, originally. Still, with production in the millions, hardly rare. Very little Model T is rare , at least in my book. Sorry to ruffle feathers, but texas, I heard , is a big state. 200 Ts? There are more than that in just a couple of counties here in Ohio. ( and we have 88 counties)

Rarity does not necessarily equate with high value. Desirability is a much better indicator than rarity and a '14 runabout is a desirable brass T in my opinion. My '14 runabout is an old restoration with a reasonably new interior and top. It is bone stock except for AC brakes and the paint is presentable. I wouldn't take a dime less than 18K for it if it was for sale and I am sure someone would be willing to pay that much for it if they really wanted one.

I have a 1914 Touring car that is titled as a 1913 because it was built in October of 13 and sold in 1913 and the state of Michigan titled by year first sold. I had it insured by Hagerty for $24,000 and they sent a note stating that I should increase my insurance on this car because the prices of Model Ts have gone up.

Dropacent wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:39 am

Rare is a word rarely used for model Ts , especially 1914 Ts. That’s like calling a center door rare. JMHO

Hmmmm Tim, you are definitely entitled to your opinion, ...and maybe you are correct in that word does get over-used at times however since we are discussing 1914 models, ...and you seemingly imply that a Center Door Sedan isn't rare, would you care to share with me how many 1914 Center Door Sedans you know of? Therefore this is one example where I would classify a 1914 Center Door Sedan as VERY rare!! Wouldn't you agree??


As for the definition of "Rare", -from my perspective it seems the general consensus from published authorities on word definitions has their definition of 'rare' as (of a thing) not found in large numbers and consequently of interest or value.. So out of 15± million Model-Ts manufactured, about 35,000+ units of the '14 Runabout were manufactured which accounts for about a ¼ percent of total production. So, from my vantage point, the definition of 'rare' posted above definitely seems to apply when the numbers between the two are compared, ...and it does seem the Runabout bodystyle does consequently have interest amongst collectors, and they do seem to have value. So what am I missing??

Yes, a 1914 center door sedan is EXTREMELY RARE, since none were made. So, you got me there. I give up, OK , they are all rare. I even have people pass me driving my common stuff, telling me with their middle finger how rare it is.
Again, sorry to ruffle feathers.

No need to apologize, Tim. Depending on the emotional appeal, ALL posts ruffle feathers to some extent - it's part of the fun of this forum. No matter what is posted, factual or uninformed, someone will always post a reply one hundred eighty degrees (or so) opposed.

I disagree

Interesting discussion gentlemen. I spent about a half hour on the phone with the owner of this14 Runabout and he emailed me many pictures of his car. Great conversation and he is a knowledgeable car owner. Its a nice 14 Runabout and it would be a good car for for anyone looking for a brass runabout. I would recommend you email the owner if you are interested in this car.

Scott, that’s funny ! …..The definition of a rare disease is one that afflicts less than 200,000 people, so I’ll bet we all have a rare disease after all. A rare car is another matter ( at least in my opinion)

If the owner is willing to give factual information and a history of what he knows about the car I would want to give a good offer. Knowing the time and cost to restore a T in this era would be something to think about. It’s not cheap. Roadsters and Tourings in the brass era will always be desirable. If it’s drives good and wouldn’t have to have lots of work to be a good driver no more than $15.000 would be a reasonable price and a $1000 less if it still has the original radiator. If your looking for a trailer queen that’s pristine go look elsewhere and have a pocket full of money.