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Runabout id?

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:33 am
by mywheels
I recently acquired this Model T Runabout and am trying to identify the year it was built. Let me start by saying that I know next to nothing about Model Ts. This car came to me with the Model TT I posted about earlier, and a pile of parts and frames. I will be selling everything I don't need.

- Did Ts of this year have serial numbers stamped on the frame?
- Is this a Model T Runabout?
- What year do you think this car was built?

Thank you for your time.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:42 am
by mywheels
I'm sorry that my pictures show up sideways. They are right side up before I post them. Weird. More pictures.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 4:52 am
by Wayne Sheldon
Looks like a '23. Low firewall, low cowl, low radiator, low hood (I don't see all of those there, but they all go together). It appears to have the slanted windshield ('23 was the first year for that on USA built Ts).
One thing about model Ts. Except for some of the really early stuff, almost any part you need is generally available without too much trouble. So what you have could very well be restored!
And, No, the '23 did not come with a serial number on the frame. The only official serial number on any T from very early until December '25 ('26 model year), is the number above the water inlet on the left side of the block. SOMETIMES, in Some states, serial numbers were added to model T frames for various reasons. Califunny started encouraging model T owners to change the serial number to the frame in the early '20s.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 5:11 am
by David Mazza
I have been searching for a runabout body. If you’d carefully take apart and put it on a pallet I’d love to buy it. It doesn’t appear to bad.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:18 am
by DanTreace
Agree with Wayne

All the pieces of a ‘23. Low cowl, slant stanchion divider window, one man top.

Put the date to after April 7, 1923 (start of metal firewall) and approx late May - early June 1923, as the dash is missing the steering column brace with was added at or just before the 1924 model year T’s, in Aug 1923.

Note prior owner added a ‘wood piece’ under the dash to keep the shake of the column in bay :shock:

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 12:52 pm
by mywheels
Thank you all for your responses. David, I probably will sell this one. PM me and we can discuss this further.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 2:50 pm
by CudaMan
When did the metal floor board risers go into production? I thought it was later than 1923, but I could be wrong. :)

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:06 pm
by David Mazza
Pm sent

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:58 pm
by Scott_Conger
David

I bought a great little car which only needed new wood. After taking the ancient paint, bondo and fiberglass off, I had quite a project. At least with this one, you see what you're getting into...
From the one side view of the body in the post above, I believe that this is what that body's going to take to go back together; somthing along this line:

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:08 pm
by mywheels
Scott that's quite a project! Do you have a build thread? I would love to follow along.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:27 pm
by Scott_Conger
Rachael

this was done a number of years ago. The pictures are too big to post here without reducing them and reducing them takes a good deal of time. I'm happy to share what I have via email off of this forum as it will be much easier. My car is your exact car. It is not yet complete.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:36 pm
by Scott_Conger
found a few more small pix...that panel nearly finished:

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:44 pm
by Scott_Conger
had more than I thought that would post

the driver's side was just as rotted and metal finished just fine...no bondo, just lots of hammer/dolly work and less hearing than I started with...

If you blow up the driver's side picture all the way, you can just barely make out the welds along the bottom 2-3 inches...

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:04 pm
by mywheels
Wow! You are building your T from the ground up. Thank you for the pictures. I use my phone to take pictures and then transfer them to my computer. So far, I can post them directly here without having to downsize.

If it wouldn't be too much trouble, would you please email me pictures of the inside of the car? I have a pile of parts and want to make sure all associated hardware and brackets that belong to the runabout, go with it. I'll PM you my email.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:00 am
by David Mazza
Thanks Scott! Those pics will go a long way in helping me when I find a body. Unfortunately this one is just to far away to pickup myself.

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:33 pm
by Wayne Sheldon
Wowzers Scott C! You did a fantastic job with that one! My '15 wasn't nearly so bad, but I still had to make a few somewhat smaller patch panels myself. I brazed mine in place because I don't have a wire-feed welder, and brazing distorts the surrounding sheet metal less than oxy/acetylene welding. I didn't have the time to finish as nicely as I would have wanted to. So a very small amount of Bondo was used. Less than a cupful on the whole body. I am quite happy with the results. Now if I can just find the time and dollars to get the thing onto the road!

Re: Runabout id?

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 10:39 pm
by mywheels
Anyone want to take a road trip from WA to MA? You could take the runabout body to David and see the sights along the way! :) I wish I could, but college starts again for me next week. I have a lot to do between now and then. This is my second time thru. I seem to have more projects now than the first time!