1919 T roadster

[Trimacar]

The Ferrari dealership in the Chicago area is run by the son of one of my best friends. He took in trade a 1919 Model T roadster in nice condition, and is trying to determine a selling price. I've given him my thoughts on T values, which by today's old car standards are very reasonable. Any advice is welcome, if you email me I can send you pictures and his contact information. I have no personal interest in the car, just trying to help a friend. david.coco@comcast.net

[John kuehn]

Don’t know if you have had any responses. A pic or two of the car might get you some ideas of the value.

[Steve Jelf]

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG99.html

[John kuehn]

The info page that Steve posted is about as accurate as you can get about the 17-27 T’s and trying to determine their value.
Most everything is covered and surprising that the estimates on pricing hasn’t changed all that much since it was written.

[Trimacar]

Thanks for replies. I've been told from pictures it might be a '23. I've also been told by someone who contacted them that they're asking 16K, which is unrealistic. Oh well, tried to help them but they won't listen to reality. Thanks to all. David Coco Winchester Va.

[Wayne Sheldon]

For those not familiar, David Coco (aka trimacar) is a highly regarded regular on the Antique Automobile Club of America forum. He recently retired from his second career as an antique automobile upholsterer and trimmer (hence, trimacar), who was in high demand for his quality and authentic work. His knowledge of classic era automobiles, and the best way to repair many things, is impressive. But he is not a model T expert. So, he is trying to help a friend, and came here for the best information available about a model T.

[Steve Stephens]

Yes, 1923 is the correct year and the cowl does look to be the one from 1923 and not 1924-25. A good looking car, I am surprised it does not have demountable rims but they were extra and usually requested with the car when new.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Being one of the crazy people that spends hours and hours looking at era photographs, I can tell you that the combination of non-demountable wheels with a starter (electric) package was very common. My guess is that a lot of people were more concerned with the daily starting of the car numerous times than they were with the eventual and occasional flat tire. I have seen DOZENS of Ts this way in era pictures. I really like to see a black era T restored with this combination!

[Trimacar]

Wayne, thank you for the kind words. I'm somewhat of a lurker here, watch but don't post nor comment much, so you words do help let people know I'm not a total flake in the world of old cars.

I've owned over 200 antique cars, most pre-war, yet never owned a Model T. I bought a collection of car out of north Louisiana back in the 1970's, there was a T chassis in the weeds I passed on. I let a friend know about it, when he say the pictures (sent by snail mail of course back then), he called me and was saying "uh, there's no cover missing on the, uh, valves, and their, uh, exposed". I knew nothing about T's. It was a very early chassis, he was picking it up when the owner said "oh, by the way, do you want the body for it? It was loose on the chassis when we got it here so it's I that shed over there". Later, I realized what I'd passed up. The purchase price in 1976 was $1000.

I've tried to tell this young man that the car is an 8K car at most, but dollar signs float in the heads of those not educated in the world of Model T, so here we are.

Thanks to all who responded. David Coco Winchester Va. (a habit, I'm on a brass Buick forum that states you must include full name and town as a signature).

[Scott_Conger]

You know, I don't normally do this, but will this time. Black T's just haven't moved in price in years, and given the slow decline in the dollar, may actually be a bit cheaper than years ago. That said, I don't even see a scuff on the pedals, and I do see an excellent paint job, interior and top. The wheels look to be in very good shape. If the car starts quickly and runs well, I would say with a dealer, this is a $12-14K car. If it was a private sale, which it is not, I'd say $10k - $12K would not necessarily be unreasonable IF the rest of the car showed as well and was equally attended to during the restoration.

You cannot replicate it for this money, and I'll bet there is a non-afficianado that is taken with the car, doesn't care about slightly "over paying" and forks over somewhere near what I am suggesting. If you're average well off, are recently retired and just HAVE to have a T, you'd spring for this as it shows very well.