MTFCA Forum

Well, sorta kinda.
It's not the worst thing I've seen done to a T. Other than more H.P., though, it won't off-road any better than a stocker!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOxeYTHc3j4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqzKI4SK9Ys

I bet that exhaust does not do any favors to the fender or the running board.

And the shiny brass acorn nut atop the steering column is incorrect for a ‘black’ T…….

Nice car.... and it's not a 350!!! If I was rich..... I'd buy it.

If I was rich I would crush it.

Fer shame !!!!

The rear axle is a circa-1948 Ford 3/4 ton or 1 ton axle. I can't tell what the front axle is. I'd have to change out those wheels and tires for a set of '28 Ford AA wire wheels with some period style tires.

Front axle may be '48 Ford F2 or F3 truck. The frame may be, too. I like it, outside of the absurd wheels and tires. Engine is a '49' / 53 Ford V8 with very nice mods. I doubt if a nice T was sacrificed to build this , but you never know. I drove a 1950 Ford F-3 for several years. Loved it. It rolled on 17" split rim wheels with 33" OD 7.50 X 17 mud grips on the rear.

The T was from a 1 owner family.
Wonder what they think.
I think the builder should be neutered with a rusty beer can opener.

I watched this one go across the block last night. Went for something around $47K as I recall. A sad sight. I think the owner has at least double that into the build. Also watched a few 30s and 40s hot rods sell for much less than the cost of their builds as well.

With all the rusty or dented sheet metal out there, plus fair to good loose sheet metal parts, plus excellent repro parts, there's no excuse to mod out a solid original T. (But fools abound)

I'd like to put a Ford 60 HP V8 in a late T: V8 engine, custom radiator, everything else stock. Brakes? Not so much. The VBC would have to use discretion.

Pat,
Such a T exists in Southern California. It's a coupe and it's owned by a member of the Long Beach Model T Club. Very well done and was built in the 50s. It's been owned by Long Beach owners for many years.
It runs on late 30s Ford "Wide Five" wheels. Good looking car. As far as the auction vehicle that's the basis of this thread, I'm going with what Mr. Conger posted in his thread above. I'm still chuckling from that one.

Modeltspaz.

I'd do away with the hood scoop and the goofy wheels.

I think there are many owners of early brass Model T's that would love to get 47K for their cars!!! How many black Model T's have gone for that price?? I saw the car at B-J and it had a perfect paint job and laser straight sheet metal, but the upholstery was a bit tired. Also, once the title changes hands, the new owner can do with it as he wants. Just saying! Russ Furstnow

Who doesn't love a flathead V8 hotrod...
But why oh WHY do so to a perfectly decent condition one owner car???? Some things I don't get, this one being sacrilegious IMHO.

The folks who built this T Touring actual had more money in the parts, exhaust system, engine and the rest of the drive train than what this poor original T Touring was worth in its original as found condition. If you’ve got the money anything goes. I guess??
It’s just danged ugly.

Sad sad story. But the owner has the final say. In the 1960’s we shipped a lot of very nice 26/27 items to California because the hot rod boys would pay more.
I personally could never hot rod anything because I have too much respect for history. I won’t pay any attention to a hot rod at a car show.
But as I said before if you own it you can do whatever you want to.

I don't build "rods", but I might buy one I liked. Living miles down a bad dirt road rules out show cars.

All that effort, all those mods, and they still kept every one of those darn pocket snatching, butt cheek dimpling, latrine polio causing buttons in the upholstery

I think with enough time & money we can restore it.
Craig.

Craig Leach wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:20 am

I think with enough time & money we can restore it.
Craig.

My Dad & Uncle were two of the original 40's/50's Southern Calif Hot Rodders, chopping & channeling mostly '32 to '34 Ford Coupes and racing on the salt flats. My Dad's pride & joy was his '36 Ford Cabriolet he had into the early 60's, with a '51 Lincoln V8, where he could recite with pride every option and speed equipment on that car. (Sad story on its demise)
There have always been those to modify new cars to go faster/better. But both my Dad & Uncle, as has always been true for the generic hobby of heavy modified Hotrodding, used the old, worn, junkyard, beater cars of the day simply because they were cheap to obtain. But it goes well beyond that.
Yes it's always the right of the owner to do what they wish.
But having been raised living within that environment, I still say this example goes against the very basis of the HR culture, which is fabricating something from nothing. This was creating something thru destruction. Different mindset I believe, and why I believe it was simply a case of more money than either sense or respect. I stand on sacrilegious.

I like that it has a Ford engine and not a gm product.

Probably a Mercury....

Just wait. One of these days some guy will find a decent 09-11 T and decide to build a Hot Rod out of it and put in a 57 392 Chrysler Hemi in just for kicks. The add will say it was a barn find T! But the info will say he beefed up the frame for better handling! At the last Barrett auction there was a chopped and channeled 64 Corvette Stingray and that wasn’t an antique car! But why do it at all. Say it ain’t so but folks with deep pockets do it just because they can.

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 23, 2026 10:36 am

If I was rich I would crush it.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE SCOTT!!

Do you really think two wrongs make a right?

Seeing grown men bash the Sh!t out of another’s creation is really beyond me. It is theirs to do as they seem fitting for their enjoyment. Some here are saying, crush it, burn it, etc. amazing the attitude of some. You must be very holy and live in an HOA and rat out your neighbors. I think some of you are jealous at the price he got vs a stock T. To each their own but to say such negative things about a unique build and then make a full flow valve that is not to original specs but act as nothing is wrong is a person living in a glass house. Showing respect and not saying anything negative keeps a hobby alive, the old guard has their opinions for sure.

Are these same people living in an old house with modern upgrades? To some that is not right. Since I have been negatively attacked in the past..,(do not care, not thinned skinned or long toed) stating facts.

End of a foolish rant!

Got me one of them flush toilets....

Hank!

I'm disappointed that you're allowed to actually burn vintage items that don't sell quickly but I am not allowed to simply fantasize about crushing an ugly car that I don't even own!

Now, in fairness to the builders, by their own admission, they only had 2 months to do what they did and I think if they had a few more days, perhaps it would have turned out stunning.

To be honest, spending excessive time on illicit fantasies like this is the only thing keeping me from devoting more time to reporting my neighbor's too-light beige house color to authorities! And in all honesty, that house is at least two shades too light, so it's not like I'm exaggerating or anything.

Please tell me this is a bad AI joke.

They probably gutted a nice circa 1950 Ford pickup, too.

Some people just have too much excess time and money.