Page 1 of 1
Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:34 pm
by FieldMarshalRed
Hello again. I'm quite curious about the first Ford Model T that was ever made. I believe it was made in 1908. What I'd like to know is that who bought the very first Model T? Also, does anybody know what happened to that first T? Is it still around to this day or was it scrapped sometime before? Thank you for your time.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:11 pm
by pete eastwood
Trent Boggess has done a very extensive study on the birth of the Model T .
He has info & stories on what he notes as Model T # 0 and Model T # 1 .
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:13 pm
by Steve Jelf
Trent Boggess did a lot of research on this. The bottom line is that what became of those first cars made in September and October of 1908 is unknown. The full article is in the Encyclopedia and was published in the VF.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 3:56 pm
by norrie_model_t
- Number 2 is living in Scotland.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 4:40 pm
by ModelT46
There are some serious questions about number 2. Donald B Hess "restored" the car. He was well known as a collector of early Fords. I sold me some NRS parts. He advertised several times selling very early Model T parts, so it is assumed he had extra very early 1909 parts. The Model T in question has at least one engine feature that would indicate that it is not number 2. It is a nice example of what a two lever Model T Ford should look and operate as if all original. I have always said, that one can call or name an object as if it is what it is called, but the object speaks for its self. Ford Records indicate number 2 was shipped to New York and then may have been shipped to Europe. Hess stated he found this Model T in Michigan. We should appreciate what Don Hess created. It would have been nice if it had remained in the US.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 4:44 pm
by ModelT46
I beleive that it was probably an early chassis from a two lever T. With out an engine. Hess then built up "Number 2".
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 4:47 pm
by ModelT46
The build sheet for number 1 indicates that the engine was replaced. It is possible then "number 1" became a later T, perhaps number 15 or 20.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 4:51 pm
by ModelT46
The Ford Museum built up a fake number one out of a late 1909 or early 1910. The engine came out ot the museum display. I remember seeing it on display in 1955 inside the former entrance to the Ford Museum.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 5:07 pm
by norrie_model_t
I sold me some NRS parts.?????
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 5:08 pm
by norrie_model_t
ModelT46 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 21, 2020 4:40 pm
There are some serious questions about number 2. Donald B Hess "restored" the car. He was well known as a collector of early Fords. I sold me some NRS parts. He advertised several times selling very early Model T parts, so it is assumed he had extra very early 1909 parts. The Model T in question has at least one engine feature that would indicate that it is not number 2. It is a nice example of what a two lever Model T Ford should look and operate as if all original. I have always said, that one can call or name an object as if it is what it is called, but the object speaks for its self. Ford Records indicate number 2 was shipped to New York and then may have been shipped to Europe. Hess stated he found this Model T in Michigan. We should appreciate what Don Hess created. It would have been nice if it had remained in the US.
The Model T in question has at least one engine feature that would indicate that it is not number 2............??????
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 5:33 pm
by John kuehn
After 100 years plus we’ll never know for sure any complete information about the very 1st Model T. I would imagine there were prototypes that had parts changed and refit. The T that came off as No.1 would had some improvements made to it over time. But what actually happened to the 1st Model T is just a guess and that’s about it.
Maybe the question should be what is the oldest T that still exists that’s still intact. Kind of like what is the Real Holy Grail. . Always close but not quite.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 6:08 pm
by Drkbp
I believe this is from #1 and seems to say that
the motor was changed as discussed above.
Maybe someone has a better copy.
E&J lamps and a Prest-O-Lite tank.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 6:10 pm
by Sarikatime
I know I may be silly, but, the hoodformer on #1 in the picture above, seems like it may have been unpainted brass, or is it just the lighting. The brass radiator in front and the brass hoodformer in behind the hood would look beautiful.
Re: Any info on the very first Model T?
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:09 am
by DanTreace
This post from 2014 has terrific info of real data researched on the first Model T's. Very good reading.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1415601362
As for the first T's, only about 12 had the unique front crossmember bracket that is straight down as opposed to the later "L" curved bracket. A real one would have this special bracket only used very short time on the first dozen Model T's 
Photo isn't real clear but note the straight corner brace bracket.
All Model T's that followed the first dozen have the typical angled bracket below:
Thanks to Prof. Trent's research, we know how today to tell a real #1 to #12!