Got My First Model T

[sublake]

Hello,
I actually got it last summer and joined the club, but I never got around to posting on here. I'm under 30 so just a we youngin' round these parts.

Its a 1924 Touring I bought off of a family friend who didn't think they were going to get around to fixing it. Before they had bought it the shed it was under had collapsed during a heavy snowfall, so it was/is a little rough around the edges.

The engine is from '25/26, with the '24 carb and pedals. It has some sort of repair job on the block, maybe water jacket. Runs fine, starts on mag, still 6v. Last summer I replaced the tires, put in new glass and did a bunch of mechanical stuff. I sort of straightened out the top irons and windshield frame but they are pretty bad. The top goes up and down, but its noticeably tweaked and the top half of the windshield can't tilt open like it should.

I don't plan on really restoring it or anything, just keeping it going and driving it. My wife and I did a couple hundred miles last year with no issues other than running out of gas once.

Happy Motoring,
-Matt

[Tim Rogers]

Welcome and enjoy!

[Tadpole]

I'm probably in a similar boat you are, being in my 20's and new to T's.
Hope you're enjoying yours as much as I do mine! Good to see people our age preserving these machines.

[John kuehn]

Sounds like you have learned along the way about your Model T. That’s great.
Glad your keeping as a real T and not a rat rod or whatever! You may have already gotten yourself the Ford service manual and the other T manuals from the MTFCA but if you haven’t it’s good to have them for reference on repairing a T.
Also the parts catalogs from the vendors such as Snyder’s, Lang’s and others help in learning what parts fit where and identifying the differences in T parts for the different years.
Good luck!

[TWrenn]

I'm probably in a similar boat you are, being in my 20's and new to T's.
Hope you're enjoying yours as much as I do mine! Good to see people our age preserving these machines.

Good for US ol' geezers to see YOU young-uns get into the hobby, er, affliction! Keep it going and growing!!

[tmodeldriver]

Congratulations and welcome to the affliction. You've got the best kind of T Model to have. Not one of the early ones that's too precious to drive. Not an over restored trailer queen that's too pretty to drive. When you're out and about folks will flock to it and you can let 'em sit in it for pictures, let kids play in it a little bit and just have a good time. If it gets a little scratch it's just not much to worry about. Best kind to have. Bob

[Scott_Conger]

fine looking buggy

welcome

[MichaelPawelek]

You’re a young one for sure. My ‘19 Touring has oil in the engine older than you. Think it might be time to change it out!

[TWrenn]

Congratulations and welcome to the affliction. You've got the best kind of T Model to have. Not one of the early ones that's too precious to drive. Not an over restored trailer queen that's too pretty to drive. When you're out and about folks will flock to it and you can let 'em sit in it for pictures, let kids play in it a little bit and just have a good time. If it gets a little scratch it's just not much to worry about. Best kind to have. Bob

I appreciate and respect your though re an "early one too precious to drive", but my '13 is pretty much the "queen of the fleet", not over restored, but very well restored, very correct, got a gold award back in '16 at the Intl. judging during their annual tour, I drive her 2,000-3,000 miles a YEAR and I keep her just as pristine. Just because they look good and are authentic doesn't mean they have to "just sit" in the garage! I let people sit in em for pics and also take em for demonstration drives, even strangers from the gas station. Lotta fun! And oh, they're also chick magnets!

[TWrenn]

Shoulda mentioned my other 2 cars in "the fleet" are also well restored, the 25 Fordor has even better paint than the '13, and the Torpedo a close second and not afraid to drive the crap out of them as well as let people ride and just sit in them. Just want to dispel the notion that nice isn't enjoyed!

[Oldav8tor]

It is nice to see that the attraction of owning an maintaining an antique vehicle extends to some of the younger generation. May you take as much pleasure from the hobby as many of our other members have over the years.

[Norman Kling]

I don't remember when the Model T's were being built, but I can remember seeing several go down my street every day and often some were parked in the downtown area of our town. There was a 4 way stop about 2 blocks from where I lived and in the summer when I had to go to bed upstairs, the windows were open and I could tell what kind of car went by because of the sound they made starting out from that stop sign. A man who lived about one mile from my home has a few Model T's and I met him. His name was Walt Rosenthal, the first president of our club!
My dad and uncles described how to drive a T with the pedals and the hand levers, so when I finally got my first one at the age of 53, I had never driven one, but got right in and drove it home.
Anyway, congratulations. Learn as much about these cars as you can, because future generations will need you as an, "Old Timer" who can teach them about these cars and keep them going.
Norm

[Rich Eagle]

Thanks for posting your good fortune. Younger folks with model Ts sure gives me confidence in the hobby's future. Having old cars in such a great experience. I hope more and more can discover it.
Pass on the fun to others.
Rich

[Art M]

Don't hesitate to ask questions on this forum. The readers are very willing to give advice. I have owned my 23 touring for 45 years and am still learning.
Art Mirtes

[John Codman]

Welcome aboard! It looks like a really nice driver. I would make one suggestion however, Unless the camera has distorted something, I would recommend re-aiming the left headlight before you drive that T at night.

[Steve Jelf]

Your T gave you the same lesson mine gave me.
Running board cans: Never leave home without them.

[rickd]

Nice 24 Touring Matthew! Welcome to the club. Attached is a picture of my 25 Touring. Getting close to finishing up the restoration. If I can help you with anything about your car email through the club site. I'm no expert but have spent a few years getting to know every inch of my 25 during the restoration.

[sublake]

Thanks for the replies. I am fortunate that my family is no stranger to old cars, in fact all of my manuals and Model T tools are my wife's grandpa's from back when he had a 1917. My car isn't even the oldest in the family, her dad has two non Fords that are older.

I have gotten a surprising amount of interest from people my age and even teenagers. Everyone loves the car, but the young people I know or have met that would might like to own a Model T (or any old car for that matter) face some hurdles that make impossible, or at least seem that way to them.

1) They all wildly over estimate how much my Model T was. One told me that the thought my car must have been $30k, I offered to sell it to him for only $25k but he declined... I think the big name auction results skew peoples idea of prices.

2) Most of the people I went to college with can't even check their own tire pressure...

3) And probably most importantly housing, or more specifically having a garage to put it in. Of the people I went to college with I think maybe 5 of us has bought a house, not all with garages and its been >5 years since we graduated. I don't think you will see many younger people in the hobby until they payoff those student loans and buy a house. Though they probably wont be quite so young by then.

@Steve Jeff: "Running board cans" But the stroller is already attached there.
@John Codman: Yes, its very bent. A victim of the collapsed shed.
@TWrenn: That is a very nice car, but I got a black era car so I didnt have any brass or chrome to polish kidding
@John Kuehn: No, I'd never cut up a decent complete car. I am adding accessory brakes but that is as far as i'll go, its reversible anyway.

[TWrenn]

No problem Matt! I'm just glad you got a T, and have the enthusiasm to stick with it, promote it, and yes maybe someday you'll get one with even a little brass. A '15 is great for that. I did have a '15 with yet another gorgeous paint job and it was so good looking with the brass radiator and light rims polished up! Next to my '13 it was the quietest running T I ever saw, or "heard"! Glad to hear you've got peers interested in this hobby too. We need you!

[Angmar]

Welcome and thanks for sharing your story. Glad to see that you are doing your best to influence your peers.