MTFCA Forum

Unadvertised model t 1923 centerdoor sedan at local auction. Local junk man retiring and selling his lifetime collection of crap, mostly junk cars and junk/trash that should have been in the landfill or recycler. The car had been running and driven in parades up until about 5 years ago, but it has been sitting outside since then. It went for $2,900. Frozen engine, rotten spokes, mostly complete and intact car with 50% original upholstery. Will be a nice restoration project for the new owner who wants to restore it. The buyer was going to take it home at any cost and he had $10k in is pocket to do it.

What a deal. It will be a huge project but easier than trying to put one together a piece at a time. Hopefully low prices will bring more people to the hobby.
Rich

My take is that this could become the most expensive Centerdoor Sedan on the planet. My experience has been that the cheapest T you can find will become the most expensive, and the most expensive T you buy will ultimately be your cheapest.

It sounds like it will be restored, and starting with a car like that will prove to be mighty spendy. Spending $4000 more than that on a centerdoor would net an easy (minimum!) $6000 savings.

I'm glad someone will save it and am doubly glad it won't be me. If the buyer planned to spend up to $10K as-is, they didn't know anything about a T, and I'll bet before the engine is done, it will be sold as a "kit".

Seen this many times over. I hope I'm wrong.

Different cars, but there was an auction near Ann Arbor, MI on May 11th with 10 Model T's and some parts for sale. All cars were started and run for at least a minute using externally supplied clean fuel. Four of the cars sold for $2750 - only one (1911 Touring) went for double digits. A TT went for $3500 or so. I have no idea who bought them but for those prices some people got some good deals. If I didn't want to keep sleeping indoors I would have bid on one of them.

You are right Scott, he didnt know anything about t's. He owns a auto salvage yard and a used car lot. He came to buy the junkers and was smitten by the t. The other bidder saw a center door on one of those tv classic car auctions and was sure it was worth $140k restored. My limit was $2k. Glad it went to somebody who will join the hobby. I talked with the buyer at length and gave him a model t basics overview on what the pefals and levers do, put it into neutral so he could drag it on the trailer, and wished him luck.

Jeff

that was nice of you to do...at least he starts with a positive feeling toward the people in the hobby.