MTFCA Forum

I purchased Model T serial number 22 from Aardeen Vaughn this week and just got the car home today. Many years after use the body was taken off and a child’s herse body was put on the car. I have a 1911 project so I also bought the herse body and will put that body on. The wood carving on the herse is a work of art. Mr. Vaughn put a new body on the #22 because of its historic value as such an early model T.

I am so happy to have this car in my collection and grateful that the bidders at the Dallas Mecum auction were more interested in 1960’s cars.

Congratulations, a man leaving the dream. Very nice T and with an interesting history. Looks wonderful. Enjoy.

Fantastic! Congratulations!!

So, the hearse body shown in the old photo still exists?

Yes the hearse body looks exactly like it did in the picture. I will put it on a later brass car. I know some don’t like a children’s hearse but it is part of our history too.

I am very happy to have them.

Can you show us the picture of the hearse?

We need to remember how many children died in the days of no antibiotics or vaccines. My grandmother lost 3.

I will depend on Jerry to post the hearse picture. Or you can look below on page two for the post on “two lever model t on auction”

DHort wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:36 pm

Can you show us the picture of the hearse?

We need to remember how many children died in the days of no antibiotics or vaccines. My grandmother lost 3.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=50263

This should take you to the link with the hearse picture

Nice!
I don't consider myself an expert on the really early model Ts, but I have read and heard the tales of this car for years. As the first thousand model Ts go, in spite of it's alterations and a few minor flaws, I think it is considered to be one of the really good ones.
Congratulations!

I am pleased to see that the child's hearse may soon be resurrected on an appropriate early (however less historically significant) chassis as I always believed it needs to be preserved, restored back to its former glory to be seen and share its own significance with the world and historians. That the replacement chassis won't be an actual 1908 build won't significantly harm the hearse's historic significance. I don't know if the hearse's original chassis was this 1908 build chassis or not? For all I know, it may have had a chassis change one or more times before?
Regardless, I have seen several era photos of children's hearses, and few of them are around to be seen in good condition today. I hope to someday see good photos of this one being restored. Or, better yet, nicely finished.

The childs hearse looks in the photo to have a 3 pedal trans. It must have been converted at some point.

Gleaner wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:48 pm

I will depend on Jerry to post the hearse picture. Or you can look below on page two for the post on “two lever model t on auction”

As requested...

Such a beautiful car! Congratulations

Just a guess without foundation - I’d be willing to bet the first iteration of the hearse was horse-drawn.

That may well be the case. I'd bet that the hearse body was an expensive item. Old graveyards have many infant and toddler graves.

Ed I’m excited about your acquisition as the new caretaker of “22”. I started with black era T’s but soon realized that the earliest T’s was where my heart was as far as automotive passions go. You are living the dream & I’m so happy for you. I had an opportunity to visit with Mr. Vaughn, I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of his early T’s, one of which was #22 in process of restoration. I agree the child’s hearse body is detailed master craftsman quality & a significant part of early automotive history. The subject of which there are few examples. The hearse body is documentation of how quickly the transition from horse draw travel to automotive utilization was being integrated into every type of business. I think you placing that body on your 11 project is a homage to that history & the massive change that was becoming a reality into every part of our lives.
I hope without too much pushback we might all agree that the burial of a loved one was & is a way of honoring the deceased. In my mind I can understand the service provided to that end was a business that also was innovating & modernizing. Part of which plays on the emotion we have to provide the best for the deceased and the early automobile was part of the draw to meet that desire.

Like those Atwood Castle lamps. Who is the generator mfr?
SR

I am so happy for you. Those early ones are so special and it seems to have gone to the right guy.
Keep up posted with pictures of the hearse as you go, thats also a very special vehicle. Is the first one I've seen.

I remember seeing engine #22 and transmission sitting on the floor of Don Hess' workshop back in the 1980's while purchasing an NRS rubber floormat.

Rich C.

That thang just needs a starter, generator, water pump and distributor !!………….

…Just funnin, of course. That’s the most beautiful T I’ve ever seen and could stand and look at it for hours. Thanks for sharing.

… and an outside oil line ! ;o)

I am glad you kept the hearst also they are apart of history that everyone wants to forget, Thanks!

George House wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 4:00 pm

That thang just needs a starter, generator, water pump and distributor !!………….

…Just funnin, of course. That’s the most beautiful T I’ve ever seen and could stand and look at it for hours. Thanks for sharing.

… and an outside oil line ! ;o)

Combine them. LOL