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The following was an article from the South Carolina Model T Club Newsletter written by Hap Tucker. The article is reproduced here with his permission. What is a model t worth? A fellow was new to Model Ts and ran across a restored 1919 truck, maybe a one ton. It had a flat bed body and wood stake sides, wooden spoke wheels and the original 4-cylinder engine. It ran, started and drove well. The price tag was $12,500. Was it worth that amount? The following response was from Hap Tucker on the MTFCA Forum: 1. I would think $12,500 for a 1919 Model TT would be higher than most folks would value a TT. If it has some exceptional accessories, such as a period overhead valve cylinder head or Hemco accessory transmission cover, and is restored to a very high standard or is documented as some important historical truck then it might be more than $12,500. But in general – I don’t recall seeing many TT trucks advertised for $12,500 and folks saying – darn, I just missed it. 2. I generally recommend that folks purchase a Model T NOT as a financial investment but as an investment in fun and meeting folks with similar interest. While old cars in general tend to hold their value and go up -- you don't want to be disappointed if they do not. The 1970’s muscle cars were appreciating a lot more the last time I checked the old car market. The Model T’s appreciate some but I anticipate more and more of them will be coming up on the market as the "Greatest Generation" passes away. I know my Dad's cars would have been sold if I had not wanted them. I'm sort of emotionally attached to them -- most of the ones I have are NOT a great financial investment -- but they do have a lot of great memories. (For the memories story see: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/10844.html.) 3. I would recommend you not rush into purchasing a Model T or Model TT truck before you have had a chance to look at several that are for sale and had a chance to ride in and drive a few. A short ride in a few vehicles will give you a lot better feel for how they perform. The words slow (T) and slower (TT) come to mind. How you plan to use the vehicle should have a big impact on what type of vehicle you want. 3. a. Based on your future plans – if you primarily want to trailer the vehicle to parades and then drive the T or TT in the parade – the TT with the lower gearing and room to put displays, float riders, etc. on the back might be the better choice. But again… 3. b. If you want to drive a distance more than 30 miles, the T will serve you a lot better. Both are considered hard riding antiques compared to modern cars. We had a club member that loved his 1912 touring but as he grew older and his arthritis got worse, he stopped enjoying riding in his T because it physically was uncomfortable. And a TT is even a stiffer ride than a T. 3. c. If you want something to “putt” around the neighborhood either would work fine (I’m assuming a low speed traffic neighborhood and not one with lots of 45 mph drivers.) If you have a farm and want to haul stuff the TT is the better choice. 3. d. If you are single and don’t want to take other people for rides, a single seat racer body works great. If you have 4 grand kids and you want to take all of them at one time then a touring, depot hack, or sedan (they had different versions), or town car would be a better choice. You can pile them all in the back of the truck bed – but depending on the kids and how high the sides are – it is often nicer to have a seat with a door helping to keep them all in. 3. e. An enclosed car is nice if the weather is bad – but do you plan to drive your T when the weather is bad? If not – then that probably isn’t as high a priority as if you were going to drive it in the sleet and snow. 3. f. Are you a good woodworker? Then a chassis with a wooden body such as a speedster, depot hack etc. might be just the thing for you. Jay Cramer at Wagon Works sells plans for wooden depot hacks, etc including one for the TT chassis. He can be reached at Wagonwork2@aol.com. Also, the vendors have depot hack and truck type bodies for the T. 3.g. Do you want something that will keep up with modern traffic or at least get out of the way of modern traffic? If so a modified engine and better brakes with a light chassis (speedster or roadster) would be something to consider. 4. In general I would recommend joining the local T club, see what the different cars and trucks are like. Let them know what you are looking for. Don’t get in a hurry, they made 15,000,000 plus T’s and they come up for sale often compared to 1908 Model S Coupes that they made approximately 28 of. If you have the choice between a new model that drives nice and an older model that needs lots of work – I would suggest the newer one that drives nice. You can enjoy it, learn a lot from it, and if you decide you want to obtain an early car or truck you can do that and either sell the first one or, “ta-dah”, you have two Model Ts now. And in general for a first T I would recommend a T over a TT unless you have a compelling reason to choose the TT. The T, in general, is easier to park in a normal garage, takes up less room and is easier to obtain parts for (the engine and transmissions are the same in both the T &TT but body parts, frame, rear wheels, rear axle, etc. are different.) 5. Below is a posting I copied from David Grant in 2003, which gives a good summary of Model T Prices: Ignoring the impossibility of such a request, I submit my observations in the hope that they may provide some orientation to some uninitiated soul who would like some guidance without having to become an expert. Model T Values - Thumbnail sketch, in United States 48 contiguous states as of Monday, 10 March 2003: Cars and original depot hacks and pie wagons 1917-27:
Generally, cars needing total restoration are overpriced because they are a liability, not an asset, and the cost of restoring them far exceeds their finished value. This is unfair but true. Generally, cars restored with thousands of hours of expert work are under-priced, but no one will pay their true value. Again, it’s unfair but true. If you want to make money restoring cars, the best way to do it is to buy a car that is complete, original and basically sound but does not run. Spend 50 hours and $500 on it fixing only what is broken and give it a nice paint job so that when you're done it runs, everything works and it looks decent, and advertise it for twice what you paid for it. If you want to do it right (partial translation: take everything completely apart), forget about making money. Subsidize it with your regular job. Buy a good working car to enjoy until you get this one done. It will take longer than you thought. It will cost more than you thought. It is impossible to restore any part without complete dismantling. You never know what you have until you take it apart. Caution: For any car that has been "restored" request a photographic record of each stage, and information on the experience, background and motivation of the restorer. The word means ten different things to ten different people. 6. Additionally there are price guides that can give you some ideas of what cars and trucks have been selling for. Also look at the cars that have been selling on e-bay; MTFCA swap shop http://mtfca.com/showit1/index.html ; Model T Haven http://www.modelthaven.com/cars1.html ; The Horseless Carriage Club website http://www.hcca.org/sellit.html ; and Hemmings Motor News http://www.hemmings.com/ has lots of Model T’s listed for sale every month. The TT trucks are under the truck section and the Model Ts are at the beginning of the Ford section under the “F” section of cars for sale. Good luck with your search and decision. Feel free to join the next local meeting – you will see a lot of cars, and often times trucks, and be able to make a better judgment about what you like. Respectfully submitted, Hap Tucker; 1915 Model T Ford touring, cut-off and made into a pickup truck & 1907 Model S Runabout. Sumter, SC.
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