MTFCA Forum

An accqantance has a 26 T touring with black radiator shell, cowl lamps, wood wheels, no bumbers etc. I’ve heard of these as having been purchased by religious people who had problems with modern conveniences and showy chrome. Does anyone know more about the history of these cars? How many were made? How do I tell if this is an original car or one that was put together from parts? Any info would be helpful. Thanks. Rayboy

It is my understanding that the standard model was black with wood wheels. The deluxe model had the nickel plated radiator and came in several colors. Bumpers and wire wheels were also extras offered that year.
Norm

Nickel shell, colored paint and wire wheels available on closed cars first in 26. Base open T was still available with no electric start/lighting, kerosene sidelites and non demountable wheels until mid-26. I believe black rad shell and black paint available on open Ts most of 26 model year.

Has nothing to do with religion.

Rayboy wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 26, 2024 8:18 pm

An accqantance has a 26 T touring with black radiator shell, cowl lamps, wood wheels, no bumbers etc. I’ve heard of these as having been purchased by religious people who had problems with modern conveniences and showy chrome. Does anyone know more about the history of these cars? How many were made? How do I tell if this is an original car or one that was put together from parts? Any info would be helpful. Thanks. Rayboy

Determining if an original T or one from parts can be done with keen, knowledable inspection of body parts, assembly, engine number matching frame number (if made before late Dec. 1925), wear of chassis parts, and condition.

Early 1926 touring could be bought without electric so they came with kerosene cowl lamps, and non-demountable 30x 3 1/2" clincher tire wheels. These were the plain jane version, low price entry. As for cultural affinity, the plain Ford, in black was perhaps preferred, low price vehicle.

As for rarity, in 1925, 10% of tourings cars were sold as plain jane versions. So, likely same in 1926, 10% would be about 36,000 Model Ts, similar to this runabout below, plain non-demountable wheels, no rear spare rim or tire, black, and note the kerosene tail lamp, indicating without that new fangled electric starter and electric light equipment.

In the Model T era just as today price was a deciding factor in what you wanted on your car.
Ford offered cars from basic needs up to the best that was offered with all the options of the day.
Nothing hasn’t really changed but the price.

My '27 is the same as the OP except that it has no cowl lamps and the body color is green.

As for the religious aspect, there was a story in one of the magazines years ago about a 1912 torpedo roadster. It was supposedly called a black bumper car if I remember it right. It had been modified by its owner to reduce the flashiness. I think the brass was painted black. Perhaps this is where the original poster heard this story or where it came from.

Herb

Herb

The painting black over the brass of early brass Ts was usually done to 'update' the Ford. After the newer models that were all black and lacked brass trimmings

The plain '26 cars were considered "loss leaders" in that they sold for less than their cost, but allowed Ford to advertise an extremely low price, getting customers in the door. With ninety percent of customers upgrading to electric starting/lighting, etc., Ford came out well on top in average profit per car.

A plain 1926 car is very rare, and you have something worth preserving and appreciating. Not only was the car among the very few built like that that year, but it also survived later generations of enthusiasts who might have upgraded it for convenience. Enjoy it as it is, because it's basically the merging of two eras of automobile design and conception in one car.

Earlier brass cars sometimes had the brass painted over once brass trim fall out of style around 1912-13. It wasn't anything to do with higher powers, just fashion and trends in automobile design. By 1915 nearly all cars apart from Ford had painted radiators and nickel trim. Ford was way behind here, so the introduction of the all black and nickel cars in August 1916 was not only necessary, but also a big sensation, basically the "new Ford."

The photo isn't a "plain Ford" loss leader because they were rare and thus rarely photographed. Neat photo anyway.

It was my understanding that non electric T's, as discussed had kerosene side lamps as standard equipment. I have seen them on such an original "economy" roadster.
The period roadster photo doesn't have the sidelights I would expect. Could the owner have removed them for a more modern look? Everything else fits. Even no top saddles. Holes plugged.

John, maybe they removed the cowl lights to mount the wind wings?

My father bought a new 1925 Ford touring, a plain on withput starter and used it until he bought a Wippit in 1928.
In 1955 I bought a may 1927 standard roadster with black shell and wood wheels. I restored it with NOS nickel shell, bumbers and nice wire wheels.

Shannon_in_Texas wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 27, 2024 2:46 pm

John, maybe they removed the cowl lights to mount the wind wings?

The T in the garage is not a non electric? This T has demountables.
The first picture of the non electric T was what I was referring to missing cowl lights.

ModelT46 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:01 pm

My father bought a new 1925 Ford touring, a plain on withput starter and used it until he bought a Wippit in 1928.
In 1955 I bought a may 1927 standard roadster with black shell and wood wheels. I restored it with NOS nickel shell, bumbers and nice wire wheels.

It should have came with cowl lights. Did it?

Jay Leno referred to them as Mennonite Ts as some Mennonites could own cars as long as they were “plain Jane” as they weren’t allowed to have anything “flashy” or that would draw attention to themselves