MTFCA Forum

Yesterday I picked up a 1916 Coupelet. I have owned Model T cars off and on since 1962 and a coupelet has always been an elusive dream. Yesterday I brought one home. It was restored from an original body found in the eastern Washington woods. The sheet metal was excellent but all the wood was in bad shape. What was found was the body, turtledeck, cowl, and the landau irons, with no running gear. The man restored the car over the next 20 years. Last week his son contacted me and asked if I was interested in buying it. The rest is history. It is now safely in my garage, nose to nose with my 1991 supercharged Corvette.
Russ Furstnow was very helpful in giving me a lot of information about coupelets. Thank you, Russ.

The latest Model T Times has an in-depth article on Russ' recent 1916 Couplet restoration.

That's a beautiful car. Great that another one could be saved.
Norm

The blue body looks fantastic on the coupelet. That, and the brass trim and white tires bring so much life to the car.

Rare and beautiful... congratulations!

They delivered that T to the wrong garage. I am in Minnesota.

That is certainly a stunning car. The blue suites it well.

Paul

One sweet car!

A dream car indeed and who wouldn't love to own one, but just a curiosity thing, they are not the rarest 1916 T. The Sedan was build in just about 1/2 the number of Couplets, even less than Town cars for 1916. Do or have the Sedans brought a high price as the Couplete or Town car?

Just curious, where in the eastern Washington woods was it found ?
I remember fondly, finding stuff like that just "out in the woods".
Great pic ! Thanks for sharing.

Very nice, and rare. Congratulations

just like you, I share the dream of one day owning a Coupelet. Good to see that dreams can come true and they are still out there. I hope you enjoy plenty of touring in it.

To answer a couple of questions. The coupelet body was found in eastern Washington, probably around Spokane, as that is where the people who found it lived. I bought it from the son of the man who found it and restored it. In the as found picture the son is the young boy sitting in the body. It had been in the family since 1974.
As I am 78 years old I will probably sell the car in a few years as I become too old and feeble to crank start it and drive it. Until then I plan on making it a little better in appearance and driving it and enjoying it.
When I get it out of my garage next week and clean it up I will take better pictures of the car and tell the tale of how I was lucky enough to acquire a coupelet. It was a most unexpected opportunity.