Presto Change-O! RPU to to touring car

[Lil Teezy]

Having more fun with the model T! I’ve been totally awed by the public response and group enthusiasm for this car the whole time it’s been on the road, sooooo….

Decide to sell the roadster body so I can drive a four passenger T. Actually got this touring car body many years ago and planned to use it as a V8 hot rod. Well, that didn’t happen so I figured I’d double my fun by loading more goofballs on board and take it to the streets.

I’ll still need to source correct rear fenders, radiator shell, folding top and windshield and add a wood kit and demountables but for the rest of the summer I can at least fart around the valley and keep the smiles rolling till winter. In case you’re wondering, the 26 windshield posts will fit a 27 better than 27 pieces fit on a 26 body, due to the reveal on its cowl. This is an “early” 26 touring and shows all the specific traits, so my end goal is a non electric base model. I already drive the car with no starter or genny, but will need to get the mag working and figure out the lights over the winter. Looking forward to getting all the facets correct, since this could be considered a fairly rare model, and setting it up as it would have left the factory. Hope everyone is having a great summer and I’m really excited to get the T back out there! -Chris, in Boulder.

[Rich P. Bingham]

Good for you Chris !! With a T, all things are possible ! (well, most, anyway ) looking good, and a lot of fun !

Here’s a chance for us OCD history types to learn something - I was under the impression all of the “improved” cars were fitted with electric start, and ‘25 was the last year a customer could opt for a “stem winder” ?

[Wayne Sheldon]

There is quite a bit of misinformation "out there". Some letters were sent to the dealers from the factory and sales literature published regarding "standardizing" of the cars coming up. But the simple fact is that it never happened. Open body cars continued to be offered and sold with clincher demountable wheels, and even the "loss leader" cars with non-demountable clinchers, and cars without a starter or generator up to the bitter end of production. Okay, maybe none were actually produced the last couple weeks, but dealers still had and sold them even after production ended.
Closed body cars continued to be built and sold in black instead of colors and 21 inch wooden spoke wheels instead of wire wheels also clear up to the end, in spite of letters and literature saying they would be discontinued.

A long time ago, I was privileged to see a small part of Lorin Sorensen's private collection. Included in what I got to see was an original copy of a sales receipt for a late production (based on the serial number) loss leader model T, sold late in May of 1927. At that time, there was considerable discussion in the hobby about the sales literature and factory letters versus a fair number of surviving cars that did not fit with what the era literature had said. In my mind, I had already believed that the literature may have signaled an intent to end those features, but that the reality was that those "plans" never came to fruition until the very end (meaning essentially NEVER).
Since I had already seen a few very original late production loss leader open cars and enclosed cars in black with wooden spoke wheels, I already did not believe what the era letters and literature had said. Nothing new about the marketing departments not living in the real world. For me, that sales receipt ended the debate.

[George Mills]

This comes around about once a decade or so...

There has been a bit of consensus that the 'loss leaders' were run of the mill for improved car production every day available up until sometime in February of '26 (some 6 months in to 'improved car' production which started on August 26, 1925 according to most records).

There is also provenance related information that apparently shows, if ordered by a dealer, the factory would produce and ship the so called 'loss leader' as a scheduled build.

I seem to recall that maybe a dozen years ago or so, the Stynoski winner for the other club was in fact a late improved model that still had (or had gotten) all of the original necessary pieces to make that version of car.

As with just about everything with Ford. there are and will always be imponderables...such as, why are closed cars built after April of 1925 made with a whole host of them having large drum rears? Not touring, Not Roadsters, just closed cars. Some dismiss it to a bad batch and failure within a year due to extra weight involved...others change out rears to be small drum and destroy what may have been an original car. Ford didn't write everything down...

[Dan Hatch]

I have a presto-changeover story of a car I owned a few years ago. It was a 1926 produce (aka depot hack) truck.
This body was made by a truck farmer in Baldwin co Alabama. It used the cowl and front doors of a 26 Touring car. The body was. Not all that unique, just the story that went with it.
The body was found hanging it the barn at said farm in the 1960’s.
This farmer would use the truck all week to haul his produce. Then Saturday afternoon he would move it into the barn , unbolt the hack body and lift it up on ropes . Roll the chassis forward , lower a Touring car body on to in. Take family to church on Sunday morning. Then reverse the process that afternoon so the hack would be ready for work Monday morning.
Sadly the Touring was not found only the hack body hanging where it was removed to return the car to a Touring when it was sold.
I no longer have the car, sold it at a car show many years ago. Someone wanted more that I did. Dan

[Lil Teezy]

Cool story Dan, thanks! We have definitely hung some bodies from the rafters to change them out but never to swap ‘em back and forth that often, haha! This will be the third body style I’ve had on this rolling chassis so far. Shucks, the girls can change the outfits on their dolls wish I could just swap out my car body like that, heck it’s only a few bolts right?
i guess there’s no consensus (or really any good reason to nit pick) on the exact set up of a “loss leader” car. I’ve been kinda keeping a rolling tally of specifics as I encounter them and have a list of parts I need. Been looking back through the V.F. mags a bit too ‘cause I feel like I’ve seen an article or two about these, but haven’t had a lot of time lately. As I go through it I’ll discuss those aspects here and put up classified ads for the parts I need to make it more “correct”.
Any info, opinions or leads on related parts will be greatly appreciated and thanks, again everyone! -Chris, in Boulder,

[TXGOAT2]

The basic cars probably sold best in rural parts of warm weather states. Fully equipped closed cars were probably more popular in urban areas and cold weather states.

[Norman Kling]

[Norman Kling]

All parts are under the chassis engine and transmission etc. I restored and painted everything. Still drive it today.
Norm

[micshotrodgarage]

Please excuse my lack of understanding, I am not aware of the term "lost leader" Could someone please explain; Thank you.

[TXGOAT2]

"Loss leader" is an economy or discounted version of a product designed to sell in volume.

[ewdysar]

Please excuse my lack of understanding, I am not aware of the term "lost leader" Could someone please explain; Thank you.

Hi Michael,

The term "loss leader" describes a product made to be sold at minimal profit to sell to the folks that can barely afford your product. This increases sales and brand awareness.

In the case of the later Model Ts, these would be the cars delivered with fewer "upgrades" like starters, wire wheels, and other recent improvements, reducing the price and making sales to people with smaller budgets or no need for the latest new-fangled "bells and whistles".

Keep crankin',
Eric

[micshotrodgarage]

Thank you; Pat and Eric for the "lost leader information.