New Old Stock Radiator

[mikefr24]

This is for sale at an auction in my neighborhood. I do need a new radiator but not sure if buying a brand new old one is a good idea. I imagine the modern remakes are better functionally. I checked it out and its a tall one measuring 18.5 to 19inch or so. was hard to measure in the crate. I do believe this is a real one because the original owner was a Model T dealer back in the day. I spoke with the current owners and they have a whole shed full of T parts the will be selling sometimes next year. This had the round tubes with horizontal fins.

https://rowleyauctions.hibid.com/lot/26 ... ef=catalog

What do you guys think?

Mike

[TXGOAT2]

I wouldn't be afraid of it if it is actual NOS and it hasn't been knocked around... and the price is reasonable.

[Dan Hatch]

Even if it is nos it is still close to 100 years old. Use will hurt a radiator, but age is the real killer of a radiator.
I never buy old radiators unless they are cheap.
Best thing to buy for a T is new radiator.

[Scott_Conger]

A NOS radiator in the crate is a NOS radiator still in its crate

A NOS radiator torn out of the crate, with the wood thrown away and the radiator put on a car is a travesty.

Maybe it is NOS, maybe not...but radiators are not rare and they can be purchased new or used. New old stock radiators in their original crate are rare, are worth preserving and can seldom be found, much less purchased

Several sealed bottles of cherries were unearthed at George Washington's Mount Vernon home a few years ago. Though not for sale, the items are considered to have an estimated value in the millions of dollars. Why? Are a few old cherries worth millions of dollars or are the bottles worth millions of dollars? Does it matter where they came from? Who here would be inclined to drain and rinse out the 250 year old bottles just so they could display a couple of 250 year old bottles next to their Avon collectibles?

There are always folks who will say, "By god if I buy it, it's mine and I'll do with it whatever I want!", which is easily translated to "I don't give a damn about history, scarcity, or preserving anything for anyone coming after me. I am the sole arbiter of what shall be destroyed or what shall remain in existence for future generations."

Hopefully it will be purchased by someone who wants it for what it is and not for what it can do for their car.

[Pep C Strebeck]

I think that is a Model A radiator, not model T. Look at the mounting tabs for the radiator shroud.

[TRDxB2]

I think that is a Model A radiator, not model T. Look at the mounting tabs for the radiator shroud.

I agree with you, it is a Model A radiator. The neck, brackets & overflow tube match.

[Robert Kiefaber]

A NOS radiator in the crate is a NOS radiator still in its crate

A NOS radiator torn out of the crate, with the wood thrown away and the radiator put on a car is a travesty.

Maybe it is NOS, maybe not...but radiators are not rare and they can be purchased new or used. New old stock radiators in their original crate are rare, are worth preserving and can seldom be found, much less purchased


Several sealed bottles of cherries were unearthed at George Washington's Mount Vernon home a few years ago. Though not for sale, the items are considered to have an estimated value in the millions of dollars. Why? Are a few old cherries worth millions of dollars or are the bottles worth millions of dollars? Does it matter where they came from? Who here would be inclined to drain and rinse out the 250 year old bottles just so they could display a couple of 250 year old bottles next to their Avon collectibles?

There are always folks who will say, "By god if I buy it, it's mine and I'll do with it whatever I want!", which is easily translated to "I don't give a damn about history, scarcity, or preserving anything for anyone coming after me. I am the sole arbiter of what shall be destroyed or what shall remain in existence for future generations."

Hopefully it will be purchased by someone who wants it for what it is and not for what it can do for their car.

[mikefr24]

A NOS radiator in the crate is a NOS radiator still in its crate

A NOS radiator torn out of the crate, with the wood thrown away and the radiator put on a car is a travesty.

Maybe it is NOS, maybe not...but radiators are not rare and they can be purchased new or used. New old stock radiators in their original crate are rare, are worth preserving and can seldom be found, much less purchased

Several sealed bottles of cherries were unearthed at George Washington's Mount Vernon home a few years ago. Though not for sale, the items are considered to have an estimated value in the millions of dollars. Why? Are a few old cherries worth millions of dollars or are the bottles worth millions of dollars? Does it matter where they came from? Who here would be inclined to drain and rinse out the 250 year old bottles just so they could display a couple of 250 year old bottles next to their Avon collectibles?

There are always folks who will say, "By god if I buy it, it's mine and I'll do with it whatever I want!", which is easily translated to "I don't give a damn about history, scarcity, or preserving anything for anyone coming after me. I am the sole arbiter of what shall be destroyed or what shall remain in existence for future generations."

Hopefully it will be purchased by someone who wants it for what it is and not for what it can do for their car.

I was actually wondering about this. Original crated radiator could be collectible or rare. I hate to destroy that or if someone wanted a 100% original car with original parts would want it. My T is just a driver. I don't care about mix matched parts as long as they work. Also I see someone identified this as a Model A radiator which makes it not for me anyways. Thanks for the replies everyone!

[John kuehn]

I’m wondering how “old” the radiator actually is. The packing crate doesn’t look that old to me. Are we sure radiators were put in crates with the net wire braded on that way. The crate looks more modern than the radiator. In no way am I a forum expert as they say.
But the crate looks questionable to me. Another example of people thinking any old car part “has to be Model T” since the original owner was a Model T dealer back in the day.