1915 Cut-down Touring Pick-up Body completed

[Retro54]

Whelp... 2020 may have been a year of setbacks, but also of triumphs! With time on his hands and having as much or more excitement about this project as I have, Dad plowed forward and completed the bed for the T. I've posted here a few times as we made leaps forward in progress, but after just under a year the truck is about done. And really, I would NEVER have gotten this done without Dad's picking away at it. I did spend time in the shop working with him, but between my visits he kept picking away at it and really got it to this point. He was happy to do it, and I'm excited to have a real family TREASURE!

Here are some previous posts:

- Photo Request for 1915 cut-off touring: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2771&p=21774#p21774
- Getting Ready for the road viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14722&p=111533#p111533
- Seeking Wood Bed Plans: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15140&p=120580#p120580
- Project Update: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16371&p=124072#p124072

Both Dad and I are both just tickled with the results! This is the kind of car we seek out at shows and we hope it will be a conversation piece at shows I get a chance to get it to. Not bad for progress from April 2019 through today ehh? I'm proud of our progress!

The building of this body, for us, was an exercise in discipline. We really really wanted it to look like a body that COULD have been built by a farmer in the 1920's once the family was done using the touring car body. To that end, all of the hand-forged hardware is from an old Indiana farm wagon, and the pieces we needed to 'make' we tried hard to make match the look of the other old hardware. Lots of neat, little details pull this all together and make it what it is. The dimensions are just slightly taller and slightly longer than the 'slip-on; kits you can purchase or that were produced in the old days from vendors. We just used our eye and determined what worked best for this truck. It's certainly unique, but so is the rest of the car. As you can see, just adding a few period accessories really makes the look! This is going to be fun to use and show. And next year, after a few mechanical items, this fun car will be hitting the road! Next up is a re-build of the rear axle and checking the bearings, then it just needs lights and I'll be on the road.

[Retro54]

Some more shots... I got lots!

[Retro54]

More photos of the overall car.. then some detail shots.

The 100 years or so between the gray ford truck and this one is certainly not lost on me!

[Retro54]

Some details...

The Harrisburg, PA brass tag on the bed rail is a Copper Phone Cable tag.. pretty cool little thing.

[Retro54]

More shots of the bed... hope these detail shots help someone out someday!

The bed latches are the ones sold by Langs. I think that most people mount them with the handle pointing out from the rear of the bed, but that seemed like a hip-sticker to us! Mounted this way, they are flush with the body and shouldn't stick anyone.

[Retro54]

Some more detail shots... These last ones are of the fender mounts, we figured it out ourselves, and while not exactly how other body's may mount their fenders.. it works well for this roadster pickup. You don't have to make it complicated!

[Retro54]

Last photo dump. The post for the fender bracket mount is a new metal rod.., the bracket is a touring bracket if I recall correctly. The rod threads into the bracket on the bed side and is long enough to go through the entire fender mount bracket underneath the fender. The extra brace rod at the read of the fender really stiffens the whole deal and make the fender pretty solid.

The metal plate is tacked into place and should provide reinforcement for the support bracket. Plus, it looks the part too!

[dmdeaton]

Nice
I am starting on mine now

[perry kete]

Very nice Andrew, Something to be proud of.

[TBones12]

Andrew, I love your passion and enthusiasm for your Model T! You did a great job! It looks great!

[Retro54]

Very nice Andrew, Something to be proud of.

Thank you, we are!

[Retro54]

Andrew, I love your passion and enthusiasm for your Model T! You did a great job! It looks great!

Thank you much! Cannot wait to get it rolling down the road!

[Henry K. Lee]

LOOKING GOOD!!!!!

[Rich Eagle]

What a delightful rig. I could see it in a movie with some curmudgeon driving it. The mute brass, body color and aged wood all go together nicely. The seat looks extra comfy.
Pretty as a picture.
Rich

[Retro54]

What a delightful rig. I could see it in a movie with some curmudgeon driving it. The mute brass, body color and aged wood all go together nicely. The seat looks extra comfy.
Pretty as a picture.
Rich

Thank you Rich, your appreciation means a lot! Agreed, from the first day I saw this car, the unpolished brass had me. A lot of guys like polished brass, but not I, I prefer brass patina, I just think it's the tops.

[Retro54]

Nice
I am starting on mine now
D1F78355-B80A-43D0-AB7C-2B9D9B579D1E.jpeg088B0CFB-EEA5-4A5C-95B3-669AB20C2DB3.jpeg

Danny Deaton, you got it. Just a little each day then she'll be done!

[dmdeaton]

Andrew,
Where did you get the tailgate hinges?

[Dallas Landers]

What a wonderful job you and your dad have done! The detail is great. The metal on the top of the sideboards is period for sure. The fact you used as much of an old wagon bed to build it would have been period correct also. It will be a great conversation starter anywhere you drive it. I really like the look. Cant wait to see more when you start driving it. Make sure you have pleanty of time when you stop for gas. You will need it for photos, questions and stories. You will have a great adventure every time you take it out.
Well done IMHO.

[Retro54]

Andrew,
Where did you get the tailgate hinges?

They are new.. ha! 10 inch strap hinges on strait pintles.. bolted thru the rear wood cross member. 8 inch hinges were too short.

Andy

[Aussie16]

A beautiful job Andrew. Your attention to detail using period correct hardware and retaining the the original patina is great. I have just finished my brand new pickup based loosely on the look of the Franklin Mint Models.

[John Warren]

Andrew, I absolutely love the truck! Your Dad and you did a wonderful job, love all the attention to details. The hardware is great and goes well with the rough saw wood! Nicely done. I have a 14 roadster that I want to put a bed just like yours on it. Thanks for sharing and have fun with the truck. jw

[Mark Osterman]

Andrew, you did a great job on all of it. Really appreciate the attention to the aesthetics of what would have been used back in the model T era. Much more like an original than the new boxes that are made like a piece of fine cabinet making with quarter sawn oak or walnut. Back in the day they would have probably left the wood as is or given it a couple of coats of boiled linseed oil mixed with lampblack. Here is my 23 runabout with an original box.

[Retro54]

What a wonderful job you and your dad have done! The detail is great. The metal on the top of the sideboards is period for sure. The fact you used as much of an old wagon bed to build it would have been period correct also. It will be a great conversation starter anywhere you drive it. I really like the look. Cant wait to see more when you start driving it. Make sure you have pleanty of time when you stop for gas. You will need it for photos, questions and stories. You will have a great adventure every time you take it out.
Well done IMHO.

Thank you Dallas! I really appreciate your compliments. Shame I'm not closer to you, I'd enjoy seeing your truck in person, one of our inspirations!

Andy

[Retro54]

A beautiful job Andrew. Your attention to detail using period correct hardware and retaining the the original patina is great. I have just finished my brand new pickup based loosely on the look of the Franklin Mint Models.

Very nice on yours, and thank you for your compliments. Can't wait to get it on the road!

Andy

[Retro54]

Andrew, you did a great job on all of it. Really appreciate the attention to the aesthetics of what would have been used back in the model T era. Much more like an original than the new boxes that are made like a piece of fine cabinet making with quarter sawn oak or walnut. Back in the day they would have probably left the wood as is or given it a couple of coats of boiled linseed oil mixed with lampblack. Here is my 23 runabout with an original box.

Mark, thank you very much. I was hoping you would see this. Your truck and body are one of my primary inspirations for this truck. The age yours shows is wonderful as well! Agreed with the finish lumber, although after all the work that went into this one, I can understand why someone with wood working skills would want their bed to look completely finished like that. This one just ended up really being an exercise in restraint, it's still solid as a rock and will get used around the house... but has the finish that matches the age of the vehicle.

I hope you see yours in person some day. It's a great truck!

[dmdeaton]

Andrew,
Where did you get the tailgate hinges?

They are new.. ha! 10 inch strap hinges on strait pintles.. bolted thru the rear wood cross member. 8 inch hinges were too short.

Andy

Tractor supply or rural king? I will go tonight and snag a set!

I love these trucks, you guys are doing a great job!

[Retro54]

Andrew,
Where did you get the tailgate hinges?

They are new.. ha! 10 inch strap hinges on strait pintles.. bolted thru the rear wood cross member. 8 inch hinges were too short.

Andy

Tractor supply or rural king? I will go tonight and snag a set!

I love these trucks, you guys are doing a great job!

Thanks! Pretty sure dad got them at Tractor Supply. I think the key for them to looks old is to pay up for square nuts. He also placed them in some sort of vinegar bath to remove the zinc coating. Necessary for letting them natural or before painting.

[DanTreace]

Andrew

Likewise! Your early T cut off is just plain nifty!

Love the manner you created the bed for work, and for good looks too.

Always favor cut off touring cars repurposed

Here’s Nellie. My ‘23 cut off.

[BobP]

Hi, I have worked with old wood for many years, the old wood that has not been exposed to get age or new cut wood you can mix black dirt with water and have it thick, then stain the wood with it and it will match amazingly well. I hope that helps, Bob.

[L.I. Tom]

Andrew
Great job on the bed and the car as a whole. It looks like it's done a 100 years of work and is ready to go for more. Glad to see those gate strap hinges worked out well for you. Keep up the good work you'll have a lot of fun with that car.

[RustyFords]

It looks super Andrew....congrats on a really nice job.

This is my favorite look for a Model T....as John Mays says, "it has its work clothes on".

Here's my 24 Touring dressed in that same kind of attire.
.

[Retro54]

Andrew

Likewise! Your early T cut off is just plain nifty!

Love the manner you created the bed for work, and for good looks too.

Always favor cut off touring cars repurposed

Here’s Nellie. My ‘23 cut off.


54AF5407-915D-429A-81CE-B9F731B79BE4.jpeg

Dan, right back at you. your car is great as well. I like the side-mount tool box and of course, the spare tire carrier. I'll get there too.

[Retro54]

Hi, I have worked with old wood for many years, the old wood that has not been exposed to get age or new cut wood you can mix black dirt with water and have it thick, then stain the wood with it and it will match amazingly well. I hope that helps, Bob.

Bob P. Thank you. Great method for the wood. I'm going to hold off to see how the raw sides age and then go from there.

Andy

[Hap_Tucker]

Andy,

Congratulations! It looks fantastic! You and your Dad did a great job. And I'm sure you will have lots of fun with it. It will give you a chance to make many more great memories with it.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off