1923 Ford Model T Touring on 2040-cars

1923 Model T Ford Touring Car for Sale- this car is listed for sale locally and nationally and is subject to prior sale. It is currently being offered at a “Buy it Now” price of  $11,400.00. You could buy someone’s project- or problem child for $7,500- but by the time you get it in the condition this car is in you will have spent $25,000. (And Brother, I know all about it. An engine/transmission rebuild of this caliber alone runs at least $6500.)

I have been restoring and driving Model T’s for about ten years, and I have had this particular car since the Fall of 2009. It has been in the New Orleans area since the 1960’s from what I can tell. It survived Hurricane Katrina by being garaged in Jefferson Parish.

I have put this car through a fairly comprehensive mechanical restoration over the last three years: the original 1923 engine/transmission was rebuilt by Ross Lilleker of Lilleker Auto Restorations in College Station Texas in 2011. Ross specializes in Model T Ford engines, and this is a fine example of his work. I took advantage of a number of available upgrades in the rebuild process, including a stronger, heavier Model ‘A’ Crankshaft, a heavy duty copper pipe external oiler (provides constant direct lubrication to Front  Bearing), and an aluminum high-compression head. The heavier crankshaft and head are routine rebuild upgrades designed to provide extra strength, extra power, and longer life. These upgrades deliver an extra two horsepower, and the car is very peppy by Model T standards. Top speed is somewhere in the 40’s. If you need to go faster than that you don’t want a 90 year old Model T Ford. The engine runs strong and true, and pulls just fine right up the Huey P. Long Bridge. This car has never failed to bring me home again (an important consideration). The engine is kept cool by a recently rebuilt radiator with a modern core- a far more efficient and better way to protect the engine from overheating than the original, or primitive modern reproduction radiators. The radiator system is filled with half and half Prestone and 3 oz of Baby Oil as a rust preventative. 

The transmission bands have the top quality everlasting kevlar bands that seem never to wear out. A transmission filter has been installed. The pedals all function correctly and the car shifts easily. Braking is achieved mainly through the transmission engine brake- one of the Kevlar bands. The brake shoes in the wheel hubs were all replaced with newly re-lined shoes a couple of years ago, and all of the wheel bearings have been replaced (and recently greased). The spokes are wooden, and painted black as they originally would have been (varnished wooden spokes never made sense to me, I like things original- mostly).

The car runs well on both Magneto and Battery, and is equipped with both the crank and an electric starter on the floor. The electrical system is original 6 Volt, and power is supplied by a Gel Battery that is about two years old. The generator was rebuilt (purchased through Langs Old Car Parts) along with the starter and carbeurator in 2010. The car has been re-wired from stem to stern in 2010. New wires, wire harness, commutator, gas tank (I installed a cutoff switch in the gas line ahead of the carbeurator for safety),  new copper gas line, muffler, ammeter, ignition switch etc etc. The coils were all replaced and tested and they work fine. The Coilbox itself was rebuilt in 2012. 

The five tires (one spare) were purchased new in 2010, show minimal wear and no cracking. The lights and horn work, and there is an additional parade siren. Accessories include the Fat Man Wooden steering wheel, and a really neat set of zinc door tops that give the car a more finished look. These were probably purchased at Western Auto in the 1920’s.

The body is in very good shape- I can find no bondo. There is a small dent to the hood, and a chip or two to the paint. I did not paint the car; the paint is probably a couple of decades old, but it has been garage kept throughout. I did replace the top one year ago. There is also a new boot cover which covers the folded-up top when it is down. It looks fine.

I have driven this car in parades in the New Orleans area and made one trip to Slidell across Highway 90 and over the Rigolets Bridge- but that’s as far as I’ve taken her. I have confidently driven this car over the river and through the streets of New Orleans numerous times- and it has never failed to bring me home again.

In short, this is a great running 90 year old car without any real problems that is looking for a home where it will be maintained and appreciated for the treasure that it is.