Study before you sell.

[Steve Jelf]

Looking at online ads tells me that it's pretty common for people to not understand what they're trying to sell. Just saw a 1924 with 26-27 pedals and no look under the hood. The price was $14,000. Even at a reasonable price, I wouldn't buy a T without at least seeing it. Considering what site this is, I expect I'm preaching to the choir.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Steve, you are correct but do understand that it is an entirely new day with regard to Hobbyists and what they are looking for in a collector car. They no longer want to know the theory on how something works or what something does on their car. They just want to know that it functions like they want it to. I see this over & over with my customers.

[TXGOAT2]

Study before you BUY, too, or have someone knowledgeable do so for you. If you want an original car, or close to it, and have the price of one in hand, be sure you know what an original car consists of. That's especially important with the earlier cars. Original, or near original Model Ts are rare. The later cars' value is tied more closely to condition than strict originality, and a late car with mods or substitutions is much more easily made original or near original than an early car, should the new owner choose to do so. There are probably a good number of original Model Ts on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean due to action in WWI, but they are scarce everywhere else.

[Steve Jelf]

Study before you BUY, too, or have someone knowledgeable do so for you.

Yes, in the FB Model T groups especially, you will see posts by people who just bought a T, and all they know about it is that it's a Model T.

[Norman Kling]

Most people who see a Model T don't even know what they are looking at. And there are several kinds of people who drive them. Some want "show cars" These cars are sometimes more polished than original. I have seen cars with the sand pits ground off and polished from the engine and head. Other people want speed equipment. This can either be part of a speedster or on a stock body. Others want "unresotred" This car can have rust and patina all over the body. Many replace some of the parts which are unique to the T. such things as using a distributor instead of the magneto with coils. adapting to a Model A manifold and carburetor etc. Some are very particular to have the original engine number etc. It is very common and always has been to use later parts on earlier cars but to put earlier parts on later cars This has been done by people who used to go to wrecking yards and get parts which would fit. These cars are our property, and we can do what we wish to them.
Norm

[Monty 98]

Yes, reason for buying may differ, but they are keeping them in circulation. And hopefully not turning them into hotrods

[TXGOAT2]

If I set out to build a T-bucket type car with several hundred horsepower, I'd use all repro parts. That would be the best way to do a chopped Model A or 32-34 car, or else use old parts that were already modified, chopped, channeled, Pinto front end, 9" rear end, etc.

[Sarikatime]

Steve, I fully agree with you. When I replied to your Facebook post regarding older model T values and who is buying what years, everyone jumped in as appearantly I was wrong. What I noticed that 26 and 27 models along with TT trucks are the new selling items today. Some are also buying barn find as they put it but actually buying junk that someone bought and attempted to put back together from odds and ends parts, they get tired of it in a year or so and then badmouth the hobby for no reason except for thinking they bought a goldmine and really bought a coal mine.
Just my .02 cents.

[Charlie B in N.J.]

I was asked years back by a person who lived locally to look at a T he purchased. Contacted me thru the Forum and I agreed to look. He had already purchased the car and it was at his house. Apparently an impulse buy. The car did not run. The pedals were on the floor and a few other red flags were visible. I asked if he could get his money back. I probably should have not said no in front of his wife when he asked if I would have bought the car. I often wonder what happened as he never contacted me again.

[Mark Gregush]

Sometimes even if you know about Ts or look at one for someone, things can get missed. For example, nice looking 12 (fake) mother-in-law runabout bought by someone I know (he didn't ask me for look over); I would never have seen the magnet hold down plate just giving it a look over till I pulled the inspection door later after he bought it to add oil over the bands, just sitting there on top of the bands. Rebuilt engine and new wheels (another story) later, he should have a nice car to drive to shows.

[John Codman]

Yes, reason for buying may differ, but they are keeping them in circulation. And hopefully not turning them into hotrods

Today nobody wants a T for a hot rod. They want a tube frame and fiberglass body and a title to a T. Perhaps a steering wheel.

[Mark Gregush]

Yes, reason for buying may differ, but they are keeping them in circulation. And hopefully not turning them into hotrods

Today nobody wants a T for a hot rod. They want a tube frame and fiberglass body and a title to a T. Perhaps a steering wheel.

Don't know, maybe a V8 60 under the hood of an otherwise stock looking car might be fun! LOL

[TXGOAT2]

I think a V8 60 would be great in a T. It would have the power and speed to take the T chassis to the limit, and the low torque would be kind to a stock rear axle and the flexible frame. It might be possible to set the V8 into a T oil pan and adapt it to drive the T flywheel and transmission. I suspect that a flat tube T radiator could take care of the V8 60. The V8 is much lower displacement, being 137 CID, and it probably has less combustion chamber surface exposed to the fire than the T, which would offset the higher specific output. A steel girdle bolted to the T pan would restore the strength needed to locate the radius rod ball and support the engine and locate the T transmission and rear axle, or a custom engine cradle and transmission pan could be made up, or the V8 transmission used, maybe with disc brakes on the rear axle?

[John_Aldrich]

Yes, reason for buying may differ, but they are keeping them in circulation. And hopefully not turning them into hotrods

Hot rodding them is a pet peeve of mine and yes, I know it's their car and they can do what they want but still....