Could this be the same Model K?

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Rob
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Models B, F, K, N, Ford racer and 3 Model T
Location: Eastern Nebraska

Could this be the same Model K?

Post by Rob » Mon Apr 19, 2021 5:15 pm

For anyone who has stopped at Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska, you may have seen this custom bodied Model K:

55C9FC62-6C3A-4D17-8654-150A4F10EEAE.jpeg
91CD3606-2183-474D-846D-75F974DAB899.jpeg

This Model K has a "history" back to the 1950's. It was owned by Nelson Hollywood, a well known collector at the time:

F2B8B6B6-E2C1-42DB-8A82-2BF85416B383.jpeg

This car began life as an early 1906 Model K touring car (roadster's weren't produced until 1907). As the late Don Mates documented, it was at one time owned by the late Larry Porter (Porter collection, now at Piquette).

E16C462D-0FB8-45C5-B5DE-4A123471BD37.jpeg

This photo of the K leading the 1959 re-enactment of the Ocean to Ocean race (a Ford K roadster originally began the New York to Seattle race, acting as pilot car from New York to St. Louis):

7C83D1EA-2D9B-4F1E-99B2-27857EE3B121.jpeg

Besides the shorter wheelbase (extended from 114 in in 1906 to 120 in for 1907-08), early Model K had several changes made for the 1907 sales season. I've looked at this speedster, and it is a well done custom make car, and appeared to have been converted to a speester "in the day.'


My question is, could this be the same car? The pic below (I have to start another post to get a 6th photo in) sounds similar ("cylinder gas tank and box in the back"). The major difference being that the headlamps have been electrified on the Model K in the 1911 advertisement:

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Topic author
Rob
Posts: 1431
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Rob
Last Name: Heyen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Models B, F, K, N, Ford racer and 3 Model T
Location: Eastern Nebraska

Re: Could this be the same Model K?

Post by Rob » Mon Apr 19, 2021 5:19 pm

50C67186-9FE9-4E5E-B330-95D6C1EEA4E8.jpeg


pete eastwood
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Re: Could this be the same Model K?

Post by pete eastwood » Mon Apr 19, 2021 5:41 pm

Lindly Bothwell had a Model K .
He had a fire at his ranch in the early1950's and several of his cars burned , including his model K .
I wonder if Nelson Holmwood may have rebuilt it into this roadster .


W Austen
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Re: Could this be the same Model K?

Post by W Austen » Mon Apr 19, 2021 6:41 pm

Pete: I don't think it could be the one from the Bothwell collection, Ben Sharpsteen told me that the fire was so hot it melted the aluminum of the model K.

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Topic author
Rob
Posts: 1431
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Rob
Last Name: Heyen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Models B, F, K, N, Ford racer and 3 Model T
Location: Eastern Nebraska

Re: Could this be the same Model K?

Post by Rob » Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:35 pm

Pete,
I’ve seen this roadster up close. It looks like very well done, period work. I’ve encountered other Model K were converted to speedsters in the early years after production. I’ve long suspected this car was changed to a roadster years ago.

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