Mark Smith auction in Virginia

Post by **KimDobbins** » Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:27 am

Mark Smith auction starts today. I was interested in a 1915 T center door sedan in original condition that Mark owned, but it's not in the auction. Does anyone know if cars were pre sold or some held back?

Wayne Sheldon · Post by **Wayne Sheldon** » Wed Oct 19, 2022 5:46 pm

His passing and disposition of estate has been discussed on the AACA for some time now. Not a lot of information, but some.

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/370530-an ... ark-smith/

As I recall reading, a number of cars were directed to people chosen for them. And rumor has it (I do not know myself!) that some cars may have been held back for a future auction.

Post by **pete eastwood** » Wed Oct 19, 2022 6:25 pm

Kim, Mark left some of his cars to a few of his friends.
I understand his model T " collection" has been sold to one person.
Did you see the all original '32 phaeton ?

Post by **Dan Hatch** » Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:25 pm

There is a 15 Center Door on day2. But it looks restored not original.

KMcoldcars · Post by **KMcoldcars** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 12:47 pm

I just looked at the photos of the centerdoor in the auction. It does not have the one piece rear section of the 1915 centerdoor but the 3 piece rear section typical of the 1916 and later centerdoors. It also does not have the 3 piece windshield of the 1915, and it does not appear, to me, to have the body that extends lower and wider on the chassis, that the 1915 centerdoor does. It could be a 1916, which would still be a rare and desirable centerdoor. The site says it sold for $7250, which would be a good buy.
https://www.proxibid.com/4790-1915-FORD ... n/71500482

Post by **FreighTer Jim** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 1:02 pm

You have too many cars already KD ….

FJ

Post by **Will_Vanderburg** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 3:27 pm

KMcoldcars wrote: ↑
Thu Oct 20, 2022 12:47 pm
I just looked at the photos of the centerdoor in the auction. It does not have the one piece rear section of the 1915 centerdoor but the 3 piece rear section typical of the 1916 and later centerdoors. It also does not have the 3 piece windshield of the 1915, and it does not appear, to me, to have the body that extends lower and wider on the chassis, that the 1915 centerdoor does. It could be a 1916, which would still be a rare and desirable centerdoor. The site says it sold for $7250, which would be a good buy.
https://www.proxibid.com/4790-1915-FORD ... n/71500482

It’s also got later windows on it too, as you can see a handle for closing the passenger door and the drivers door has the window channel with the notched raising and lowering mechanism for the windows which came out in 1922.

Post by **KimDobbins** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 8:36 pm

I owned a nice original real 1915 center door sedan. I sold it to the late Fred Lau of Portland. Mark Smith bought it a few years ago. It's a great car and I was hoping to see what it went for and who bought it. I guess it was sold prior to the auction. The gas tank was located under the rear seat, the intake manifold and carb air intake were about 2 inches lower the normal to aid in gas flow. It didn't seem to work very well. If that car even got a good look at a hill, it would starve for gas.

Post by **sweet23** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 8:45 pm

Picked up some fenders for my '14 today. Auction people were all great to deal with. Three day auction still has another day to go.

Post by **sweet23** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 8:48 pm

For anyone that had ever been to Marks Main street building, The lower floor is still full of Model TS & Model As. I did not get word as to what was going to be done with these cars, if anything.

Wayne Sheldon · Post by **Wayne Sheldon** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:57 pm

Thirty years ago, I had a 1916 center-door sedan. "Supposedly" (maybe?) it was a real 1916, however, it had suffered from a bad 1950s restoration. So it was not a really good car as a reference point to what was or wasn't correct. I did the re-restoration, and tried to make it as correct for 1916 as I could. (Unfortunately, two subsequent owners messed it up in my opinion.)

I seriously doubt this car ever was a real 1916. There are too many important parts that are clearly wrong. As Will Vanderberg mentioned, the door/window mechanisms are the 1922/'23 type. Not a good sign. The car also has a starter era dash panel (with some funky looking thing I don't know what it is on it?). To muddy the waters a bit more, it has a 1918/'19 non-starter car combination horn/light switch on the steering column. The one engine picture doesn't tell many tales, but it could maybe be early? (Based on the shape and little shown of the serial number embossment and the round casting mark on the water jacket?)

Other details tell me that someone did make some effort to give the car a number of proper detail pieces. Much of the chassis is likely pre 1920, with a likely post 1920 body.

I see a car like this, and wish I could have my old one back, just as it was when I sold it.

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