How Many Model T's are still Around

[Model T Ron]

So out of 15 Million how many do you think are still around and out of that how many are drivable? One percent would be 150,000.

[TXGOAT2]

That's a difficult question to answer. Estimates vary, but one often seen suggests that about 100,000 Model Ts in roadable condition remain. No accurate census is possible. The total number of mostly-complete, but inoperable, cars is substantial. The supply of Ford-made parts is steadily declining, but enough loose parts remain to re-assemble a good number of cars. Attrition of cars and parts due to natural disasters, war, accidents, weathering, abuse, junk scavengers, chopheads, etc, continues.

[Steve Jelf]

Here in Cowley County, population about 30,000, I think there are about a dozen running or near-runnng Model T's. If you extend that ratio to the US population as a whole you get 132,000. Apply it to the number of counties and you get about 37,000. I suspect it's less than 132,000 but considerably higher than 37,000. But neither includes the T's in other countries.

[Been Here Before]

Geez! From 2017...

HOW MANY Ts STILL EXIST? STLL ON THE ROAD?

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1512690810

And even this...

U.S. Census Bureau History: Ford Model T

https://www.census.gov/history/www/home ... _2018.html

[Oldav8tor]

If someone really put the effort in, it might be possible to determine the number of registered Model T's in the USA. It would depend upon the willingness of each state's DMV to provide the information. I suspect with everything being computerized, a few keystrokes would provide the number...if you can jump thru the hoops to get the state to look. Of course, there are many Model T's languishing in whole or in part that are not on any registry. I know that here in Michigan Titles are deleted after 15 years if the car's registration is not maintained.

[Been Here Before]

"" I suspect with everything being computerized, a few keystrokes would provide the number...if you can jump thru the hoops to get the state to look.""

This depends on the data being entered into a data base. It depended if the early records are still available, it depends if the records were not tossed because they are older than the office staff.

Naw, if such a register is created it has to be generated by the owners such as those with the snob cars... the Bentley, Bugatti, etc...

http://www.bugattiregister.com/wiki/ind ... =Main_Page
https://www.bdcl.org/

PS At one point I tried to enlist owners of 1922 Coupes to provide production number and body number....only 6 responses... The number of T's running will be a topic every few years.

[ModelT46]

I bought my 1910 in 1946. It5 was being sold as an antique and as a parade vehicle. The pure oil company bought it as a parade vehicle in 1931 in Chicago . Early Model T fords were being saved in the 1930s. AACA dates from the mid 1930s. So some were being saved at that time.. During WWII a 1910 Model T was donated to the scrap drive in Stillwater, MN. Some one "stole" it from the scrap drive and donated it to the local Ford dealer. That T was then put up for sale in about 1958. So some were saved early on as a collector item. Many others were tucked away in barns and garages. I found several that way by following up leads. I know they were still scaping them inn the 1950s. I remember seeing a great clean 1925 touring on the top of a scrap pile in Minneapolis in 1955.

[Luke]

I did a quasi-scientific analysis some time ago and came up with a number of ~70,000 Model T's remaining worldwide.

This was based on real-world statistics for my own country, and an extrapolation of that (with some thoughtful weighing up of probable survival factors in different countries).

The figure is necessarily imprecise, however it's the only number I know of that's applied any hard data to the resultant guess. If you want to see more here's where I discussed some of it: https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10198

Luke.

[Model T Ron]

Thank you and that is very interesting. They say about 100,000 Model A's are still around so it seems they survived at a higher rate than the Model T. 15 million Model T's and 70k are around........5 million Model A's and 100k are around. I have both and the the A wins when in modern traffic however I have much more fun and enjoyment driving my 1915 Touring. The attention the my Model T gets is also more than my Model A's

[TXGOAT2]

The Model A is a T upgraded to handle urban traffic and 40-50 mph open road speed limits. I believe most As sold were closed cars. A T late roadster weighed about 1650lbs, with 20 HP. An A roadster weighed about 2300 lbs with 40 HP, 4 wheel brakes, etc. Axle ratios were nearly the same.

[Model T Ron]

The Model A is a T upgraded to handle urban traffic and 40-50 mph open road speed limits. I believe most As sold were closed cars. A T late roadster weighed about 1650lbs, with 20 HP. An A roadster weighed about 2300 lbs with 40 HP, 4 wheel brakes, etc. Axle ratios were nearly the same.

Just saying the Model A's seemed to have a higher survivor rate than the T. I am very familiar with both cars but driving the T is much more fun in my opinion.

[browning]

One must take into consideration the rate at which Model T’s breed. I started with one about thirty years ago and now count six. Not rabbit breeding efficiency but respectable none the less!

[TXGOAT2]

Ford continued to build versions of the Model T basic layout through 1948. As the years passed, the cars became more and more elaborate and the occupants, including the driver, became more and more isolated from the vehicle's operating environment and from its mechanical systems and underpinnings. Today, some people eagerly look forward to "self-driving" cars. To me, that's sounds about as appealing as being stuck in a elevator or sitting in a waiting room. (And I do not care how big the damned screen is. Being strapped into an automated car with a TV screen instead of a windshield has no appeal whatever to me)

[su8pack1]

One story I've heard is that most model T's being older than the A went to the metal scrap drives for WWII. The A and others of those years were kept running during the war years until afterward when new cars finally became available, and they just went to the scrap yard without being immediately crushed.

[OilyBill]

I think the numbers are WAY higher than that. I am in the Tucson Touring T's and I would estimate that at least HALF of the members, who have 1-3 running Model T's ALSO have AT LEAST 3-4 cars in the form of parts, that could be reassembled if they cared to make the effort.

In thinking about this, I have ONE model T, a 1914 Runabout, that is nearly complete and fully restored. But after considering things, and a quick walk through my back yard, I have 3 more complete frames (2 mid twenties, and one 1926-27). at LEAST FOUR engines and transmissions, several front axles, 4 complete rear axles, at least 5 steering columns, and a pile of misc parts. It would really not take much to reassemble these chassis into complete units that could be sold or traded. I know some club members may have up to 10 sets of Model T Parts that could potentially be reassembled into complete chassis if they wanted to. As old as everyone is, guys are STILL going to swap-meets and buying parts "they might need" even though they already have a bunch.

I think Model T's are like bunnies. If you just look around your property, there are probably a couple shy ones just hiding in the grass, or snuggled away inside of a shed. When you try and get rid of them, more will keep popping up.

[Luke]

Bill,

With regard to the number I calculated you will be correct that there are more potential vehicles that could be made out of parts and which might lift the overall tally. I was just considering those that could be considered complete and usable, and in that I utilised data from our equivalent of your DMV.

No doubt some of the vehicles on that database will be there in name only, however I suspect there'd also be a similar number not in the database, but entirely driveable all the same (although they should not be driven on the roads here if they're not recorded). In my figuring I've taken the view that these will cancel out, or the complete machines are possibly a little higher but it's really just a marginally educated guess.

Luke.

[Tim Rogers]

"So out of 15 Million how many do you think are still around and out of that how many are drivable?"

No one will ever know...

[sweet23]

I have 3, This leaves a little over 15,000,000. unaccounted for.

[Been Here Before]

"So out of 15 Million how many do you think are still around and out of that how many are drivable?"

Although there were 15 million bean counter Model T Fords produced, A chart showing all the VIN/Motor numbers verifying the total production world wide, I am of the opinion with the hot-rods, custom cars, and speedsters showing up, there are well over 15 million. As for those listed as survivors, how many actually retain a large percentage of the original car. Those that are listed as a Model T as a survivor, may not even be a Model T.

Of course the surviving numbers only matter to those who are a purist or an investor.

[TXGOAT2]

A fiberglass "T Bucket" car, with no Ford content, is a hot rod, in my opinion. Speedsters are Model Ts, as are cars that have a lot of reproduction content. Very few strictly "correct" Model Ts exist. That's been true for the last 90 years or so.

[Been Here Before]

True: ""A fiberglass "T Bucket" car, with no Ford content, is a hot rod, in my opinion. Speedsters are Model Ts, as are cars that have a lot of reproduction content. Very few strictly "correct" Model Ts exist. That's been true for the last 90 years or so."

I found this from the French Model T Group. Once posted on the MTFCA.

https://ford-t.jimdofree.com/histoire-d ... C3%A8le-t/

Recensement de Ford modèle T / Census Model T Ford.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/109aFdk ... wanalytics

The list indicates 50% restored and 14 % original.

Too I question where the response states original Ford coach work, when even on this forum, there is the statement that the coachwork originated from out side the FMCO plants.

[John Codman]

One story I've heard is that most model T's being older than the A went to the metal scrap drives for WWII. The A and others of those years were kept running during the war years until afterward when new cars finally became available, and they just went to the scrap yard without being immediately crushed.

I don't doubt for a minute that some Model Ts were scrapped during WW2, but once the order was given to stop civilian auto production for the duration, people were very hesitant to scrap a running or near-running car. In the early '50s in my neighborhood there were many pre-WW2 cars under tarps and up on blocks in backyards (Eastern Massachusetts).

[TXGOAT2]

The WWII restrictions probably saved more Ts than they caused to be destroyed.

T parts were everywhere, and Ts were cheap to run. Ts were easy on gas, and would run on kerosene blends, and people would salvage junk tires in various ingenious ways to keep a car on the road. Tire casings were patched together, and some were stuffed with rags. Some people "ran on the rim". Others wrapped rope around rims or fastened wood blocks or old leather to them when they couldn't get tires.

A farmer could run a T on kerosene, and keep going even if he was out of a battery or tires. Newer model cars were generally less adaptable to improvisation and "poor boy" repairs than were the Ts.

[farmboy]

My Dad sold a 24 touring for 5 bucks He said it was a pretty good car Buyer drove it off He took the 5 bucks and bought a pair of bolt cutters that had 30 inch handles He said he needed them worse than the T Anyway would that count??? I still have the bolt cutters

[Rich Eagle]

I'll guess 253,726. That's how many beans were in the jar.
For every one that is still running there are two that ran 10 years ago and will get going next spring.

[bdtutton]

Has anyone thought about asking Hagerty Insurance or one of the other insurance companies that insure old cars? Their business model depends on them knowing how many old cars are actually on the road....and possibly how many could be.

[MichaelPawelek]

No matter the number I would surmise that the Internet has caused many more to be rebuilt in the last 20 years than in the previous 4 decades. I rebuilt my 1931 Model A before the Internet with one book from the library and one parts catalog and no mentors.

Once the Internet happened the wealth of information and available parts was overwhelming!

[Wayne Mims]

Hi, my name is Wayne Mims I belong to the model T for club of America For 40years been mostly a daily driver of one of my model tees. Just about every time I go out I get stopped by somebody that has one there neighbor has one buried in the garage or they're all over that's the reason I got seven. It wouldn't surprise me if there were 1 million of them left