Well, the last Model T of my more than 30 year hobby has left with a shipper to its new home. What started out as the first car I bought actually turned out to be the last one I fully restored. It was a 26/27 roadster Frankencar found in Idaho and I drove from Texas to pick it up with a flatbed trailer in February, needless to say NOT the time to drive to Idaho. We made it thru a pretty good blizzard on Hwy 6 in Utah while going through the “shortcut” pass from Green River to Provo, got to Melba ID, picked up the “project” and made it back to Johnson City TX. Didn’t take long to figure out the project was not going to have us touring any time soon with working a full time job and living in state parks in provided housing with usually no garage or shop to work on it. So a running 26 Coupe was found in Seminole TX and our touring days started. More than few local tours with the Centex Tin Lizzies (one we planned and hosted!), a couple Talimena Drive Tours and a few T Parties followed as the coupe went with us from park to park when IT was sold when we ended up at Enchanted Rock. I found a gorgeous 1918 model with an aftermarket Ames built Cloverleaf body. That wonderful car took us to more T Parties, a speedster tour in Lincoln, a few national tours including the Centennial in 2008 and a Canyonlands tour in AZ. While enjoying the Ames, we finally retired and started/finished up the first T that started as a roadster and ended up a roadster pickup. I was the 5th owner of the Ames Cloverleaf and a few years ago it returned to almost its birthplace in MO!
So I write this now for a well deserved thank you to as many folks as I can think of who have contributed to my enjoyment and helped with information/advice for the hobby thru the years. These would include Charles/Joyce Shierlow (bought more than a few parts from them), George Brunner, JC Taylor, Sonny/Stephanie House of the Centex Lizzies. Fred Houston, Mike Bender, and Larry Young of Tulsa. Al Montgomery (engine builder) and Bill Stipe (the visit to his cam shop in Wisconsin was a blast!). And to the many folks on this excellent forum where I’ve browsed for answers, outright asked questions and found sources. Members like Dan Treace, Scott Conger, Mark Strange and John Kuehn come to mind as freely giving information and holding back on an opinion of the question
! Ran into several great vendors and more great folks at pre war Chickasha over the years as well.
The newest project is a 49 Olds 88, I guess I’m moving on from seeing the countryside at leisurely pace to a little more comfy cruising at the speed limit. But my T roots run deep and I wouldn’t trade a minute of the fantastic hobby and the wonderful folks in it! And who knows, I may have withdrawal pains and end up with another one of these days!!
! Ran into several great vendors and more great folks at pre war Chickasha over the years as well.
