MTFCA Forum

What would be the value difference between a correct, restored 1914 T touring vs a correct, restored 1915 T touring? This is assuming both cars are on the same level of restoration.

David,

There are many methods and opinions on how to compare values between these two years for a touring car. The 14 will be worth more than the 15 and as the condition of improves from good to fine - so will the price difference increase between the two models. If you look at the Collector Car Price Guide the difference on a nicely restored model rated as 2 is about $4900. As the condition of the two models go down then the difference can be as little as $900.
While both are assembly line cars, the 14 will have more value just on the brass with the headlamps are the carbide generator. The 15 had electric headlamps. There is also a difference in the hood former and the rear fenders. It becomes a bit of a line between the real old brass cars and the brass cars that had just the radiator and brass rims on the headlamps and kerosene lamps.
It seems that the 1915 has been a very popular car to rebuild for the last 50 to 60 years, and therefore more of these exists as tribute or re-assembled cars than perhaps the originals.
So, when comparing the value of these two models, there is lots of work to compare like to like.

I hope this helps, and you should get a whole bunch of other good ideas and suggestions for others on this forum who have much more knowledge of the brass models than I do.

Stu Tomlinson

Amature restoration vs professional restoration, correct restoration vs show quality restoration, older restoration vs fresh restoration... all will make a difference, but a ball park for a really nice correct older restoration 14 vs 15, I would estimate 21K for the 14 and 15K for the 15.

Some points to remember when compering a car restored from an original 1914 T touring and a car restored from an original 1915 T touring. The 1914 style car started production in mid 1913 due to the poor service life of the 1913 style body. The new 1915 style open car bodies were late into production due to problems with making the new cowls, their for the 1914 style body continued into early spring 1915 production. To add to this, in order to cut costs during 1915 because of WW1 metal price increases Ford dropped all brass trim quickly , except for the radiator, by fall 1915, typical of the 1916 cars. The true 1915 touring was only produced for about 6 to 7 months while the true 1914 touring was produced for almost 18 months. The problem today is that so many later cars of the 1916-1918 period have been back dated to look like 1915 cars driving their prices down somewhat. With the new reproduction 1914 touring bodies being made in the early 2000’s it is also possible to find more restored 1914’s than in prior years. The bottom line is each car must be looked at as a individual and priced as a individual when making a purchase.

And yet although the 15 was produced over a shorter time, going by the stats in the encyclopedia, some 78,000 more touring's were produced in 1915 than 14.

Remember that those production numbers are for Ford fiscal year production. So the 1914 style cars produced in late 1914 and in early 1915 are counted as 1915 production, except for the late 1915 cars which count as 1916’s.

schwabd1 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:37 pm

What would be the value difference between a correct, restored 1914 T touring vs a correct, restored 1915 T touring? This is assuming both cars are on the same level of restoration.

My take from an outside looking in is, the higher value is placed upon the car that the Buyer thinks is prettier. I own both a '14 and a '15, -yet I like the 'more primitive' styling of the '14 better. Some like the closed look of the '15 cowl. Others prefer a nice looking vehicle but might not have the time for the extra bit of brass to polish. It has been my experiences that most collectors in today's market really could give a flip less about how many were produced, -nor do they care about mass production, etc. So in a nutshell, IMHO the choice is more contingent upon styling that dictates the higher value if all things are equal between both cars as far as mechanicals and aesthetics.

All else being equal, a 1914 would be about 10-15% higher value than a 1915, in my opinion.

Wow...opinion asked...

Given the same level of restoration, given the same level of wear and tear, there is not a lot to talk about on a chassis for chassis basis. Body and curb appeal? To each his own is going to be your answer. I'd personally still concur the Jelf 'scientific guidelines view to price' approach, maybe on the 1000 - 1500 buck per year difference going backwards on brass era cars after the early issues. No real reason for that, just seems to work out that way.

As someone pointed out...the 14 just looks older technology, and has those 'wow' carbide lamps that some even have the courage to fire off at events. The 15 has an electrical AC light system that was a good stab at unknown technology in 1915, but not quite realistic to continue with a DC system then taking over for 17. The 15 also has those kero side and tail lights of the E&J design, the model 8 and 9 which look more appropriate to me than the house back door light fixture. (admittedly, I just restored a full and complete set of 8/9's with all correct parts gathered up all over with help from the forum folk and was a bit proud of the results as they came out looking as new complete with the diver bell Helmet innards, proper chimney tubes, and proper chimney housings. Real 8/9's were only on the '15's - - a unique model year feature)

Back to each his own. I was one of those rarities back in the 70's...a guy willing to buy and make roadworthy a black era mid 20's car...same amount of work required to make roadworthy and keep roadworthy yet the resale on the 20's version at the time was only about 1/2 that of any brass car. (My how times change). My stable grew over the years, and then it was time to take the leap and go brass radiator car. I decided on a '15...pretty much because of Fred McMurray and Flubber movie of my youth...and Mr. Magoo, the cartoon guy of my youth...and a local guy was Grand Marshall of a July 4 parade and drove a '15 which had me nodding. I'm sure others have more rationale answers for consideration between the two years. Admittedly, I have never looked back on that decision made now 28 years ago.

Bob P has (or had) and original 1914 style touring for sale that beats any 1914 or 15 stlye touring sold or probably will be sold. Take a look if it is still available.

You mentioned the Flubber T. A friend in California provided that car for the movie and I saw it many years ago. The T was alerted to make it narrow enogh so that it could sit on top of a modern car as in the movie.