MTFCA Forum

Howdy Forum Friends,
I’ve recently been helping a neighbor by providing parts for his restoration of a ‘26 Enclosed Cab TT. At our last meeting I casually asked if the engine serial number matched the frame number. When he went home and checked; sure enough, they matched. Now I’m familiar with TV gearheads like Wayne Carini and the ‘Whats my Car Worth’ boys making a big to-do on matching numbers on 50 year old muscle cars and rare sports cars. But to what extent will it positively affect the value of our T s?

Not really. Only in 26-27 was a number usually stamped on the frame. Am sure others will disagree, but in 30 years and owning a few 26-27 Ts the subject only came up once. I went looking on my pickup - nothing stamped.

I don't think much value is added.
Most T guys are not that concerned with matching numbers...

If I wanted a "correct" vehicle, I would want either matching numbers if available that year, or an engine whose serial number was correct for when the car was manufactured.

If a vehicle is just a fun driver, I don't care about numbers.

Man that really doesn't seem to matter a bit does it? As stated the only ones to match anything on are the stamped frame years. Out of 3 I only had 1 that was "not quite right". A '23 Touring with a '27 engine in it. Not only didn't care I was glad of it !

I owned a 27 Tudor with matching engine and frame numbers and presently own a 27 PU and 26 Runabout with engine and frame numbers that do not match. For me the matching numbers on the Tudor provided an enjoyment of having a car that was historically correct and for the most part original. When I sold the Tudor recently the buyer was also pleased with the same number feature but it did not provide any big increase in value. To me each Model T is individually special for various reasons and I get just as much enjoyment from the cars I own w/o the matching numbers.

The early cars the engine and dash plate match until the production numbers took of and then there is separation.

It's become sort of a joke in the Corvette, Mustang, muscle car circles for a while now...nearly every car you see is a "numbers matching", rare, SS, etc, ad nauseum.

Thankfully, most Model T's have no way of matching engine numbers to frames and bodies. Otherwise, we'd probably be dealing with the same sort of people...people who aren't pleasant to be around.

Thanks for the chuckle Bob.

Today is a typically stressful day at the office....your sarcasm made me smile.

Yeah Bob, maybe you and the wife can get matching tattoos of the 15's number !!

Thanks everyone. That’s the consensus of opinion I was expecting. Just didn’t want to ‘color’ responses with my matching opinion knowing how little regard ya’ll have for my experiences and attempts at originality Especially you ! Bob Coiro ! I’d suggest you consider becoming a writer but already appreciate your descriptive and comedic writing style...

Because our registration department needs a number to put in the box on the paperwork, we need to stamp the frame with a number. Consequently, I have a number of matching number cars. One matches my landline phone number, another my Army service number, another my birthdate and finally, Henrietta has a 5 digit engine number on the last registration certificate, so I made a plate with that number to sandwich between the block and the water outlet. All this is quite legitimate, and avoids the need for an 18 character vin number to be assigned, at a fee of course!

Allan from down under.

Hahaha! You started this George and you KNOW how these fellas are!
I'll add my 2 little penny's. Perhaps about a hundred bucks.
Unless it's an early?

Since Ford offered un-numbered blocks for engine replacement even a matching numbered motor may not be the original motor.

In some ways the term matching numbers is sort of like using NOS parts. But that’s debatable for some folks.
In the world of Model T’s the only time everything that “matched” or was “NOS” was when they came off the assembly line. That’s hard for a purist to swallow but it’s about 95% true. Or maybe more than that.
As far as value goes it’s who wants it the most whether it’s “matched” or not.

I'm just happy to have 4 matching tires now

The important thing is that there is a number that matches the paperwork! Over the years I have ended up with three cars that, due to engine changes at some point, had a number on the paperwork that did not match any number on the car. Only the license plate matched. One 25 coupe is shown as a 23 on the paperwork, and the VIN on the paperwork is nowhere near any number that was ever used on a Model T Ford. If the car were to be stolen, damaged, wrecked, or whatever, and someone was looking for a number on the car, it might never be found or I could not claim ownership.

Now, all of my cars have a number on the frame that matches the number on the paperwork.

The numbers on the motor of my 19 match the original registration for the car.
In fact they match all the registrations I have from 1919 to today.
The only thing that is different is the owner's name, air in the tires, gas in the tank, and oil in the motor.
I think I can find the original oil if I go to Cape Cod and look hard enough but the air and gas are long lost.

Hi George, I can't believe that few believe it matters. So lets think about this in a different perspective, On lets say a 65 mustang, in the research I have done lately, they don't appear to have serial numbers unless it something special like an HO , K code engine and they say that they stamped the ss# on the side in the sand casted block. So what is a numbers matching car if it is not an HO K code or Boss or like. They look for correct casting numbers. Example C5AE-6015-E ,means 1965 full size engine series 6015 third engineering generation. This means that it is supposed to be in a 65 mustang. Ok now lets talk model T's If you you install the wrong engine year in a model T you are judged by many. Same with rear-ends, oil pans, hoggs heads, windshields, radiators, tops, wheels, tires and etc, you know numbers matching!!