One Family Owned: 1924 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup
While the age of the Model T Ford is far in our rearview mirror, the impact of this amazing vehicle still lives with us today. The incredible sales of the Model T were partially responsible for our current automotive infrastructure, such as roads, highways, gas stations, etc. Over fifteen million were sold through constantly lowering prices and the company’s determination to build a Model T for every purpose. This 1924 Ford Model T roadster pick up for sale on Craigslist in Kennebunkport, Maine is a marvelously original example of Ford’s interpretation of a pickup truck in that year. With a convertible top and a few desirable options, is this jaunty Model T worth the $12,250 asking price? Thanks to Mitchell G. for the Model T tip!
How popular was the Model T Ford? Perhaps some simple numbers would be in order. In 1924 alone, Ford sold 1,993,419 vehicles. All of which were Model Ts of either the car or truck variety. In 2023, Ford sold a total of 493,183 cars and trucks of every type. Now, take into account that there was an estimated population of 114.11 million people in the United States in 1924. In 2023, that number was 334,914,895. Granted that there is a lot more competition for Ford today. Yet when you compare Ford’s almost two million vehicles sold in 1924 to total automobile sales in the United States in 2023 of 3,793,781, the impact and reach of the Model T is clear. It was the vehicle that put America on the road, and we have never looked back since.
This 1924 Ford Model T roadster pickup is one of the many vehicles Ford punched out that year. It is advertised to be an original, unmolested vehicle. The seller tells us that it was heavily optioned. However, the only options listed in the ad are a built-in toolbox and an electric starter. In that year, an electric starter was standard on closed cars. For open vehicles, it was a $65 option. While the options list was never very long for Model T Fords, there may be more on the vehicle that are not mentioned. Hopefully, one of our resident Model T experts will chime in and identify a few.
By the time 1924 rolled around, Ford had made many changes to the small parts of the Model T, but it still was very close to its original form. Changes in parts were usually made when a cheaper or faster way of producing the part was discovered. For example, steering wheels in 1924 were made of a synthetic material called Fordite, and the seats were covered with synthetic leather. These vehicles also were only offered in black for the whole calendar year. The ever-increasing sales of competitors, namely Chevrolet, would force Ford to offer a limited palette of finishes in the Model T’s waning years.
While it is not explicitly stated in the ad, the seller’s advice to learn how to drive a Model T by going online hints that this vehicle is in running and driving condition. The seller tells us that it is a “one-owner family truck.” Given the age of the truck, having a single owner for 100 years would be quite a feat. The seller surely means that the truck has been in the ownership of one family over those many years. Regardless, the truck appears to have been well cared for and ready for a new adventure. Hopefully, it will find a good home soon with someone who will appreciate its historical significance.
Have you ever owned a Model T Ford? Would you like to? Please share your thoughts and memories in the comments.
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Comments
My daughter married into the descendants of Duncan.
Duncan and Fraser assembled model T’s in South Australia, way way before Ford Australia was even though of.
http://duncanandfraser.com/ford%20australia%20first.htm
Worth the read. Her FIL tracked down one of the original T’s, complete with the Duncan and Fraser ” brass plate. He loves driving it.
Better information on Duncan and Fraser.
http://duncanandfraser.com/
Your numbers for Ford’s 2023 U.S. sales are wildly inaccurate. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/04/ford-reports-7point1percent-increase-in-us-vehicle-sales.html
Excellent write up. Always amazed by the simplicity of the T.
Drove a couple and it is an awesome experience. Today’s drivers are clueless as to what driving is. Yes I would like to own one just now for the novelty as age is not just a number and the condition is how it is cared for unfortunately, I would have no one that cares to pass it on to. I sure hope it finds a caring new home.
Fly back and drive it the couple thousand miles home staying off the interstate highways should make for a fun summer road trip
The Kia thieves would have an aneurysm, trying to figure this car out. I’d use it for a commuter.
The Brake handle looks like an addition for easy application and release. You don’t need to squeeze the the handle just push it down and pull it back to apply or push it ahead to release.
Ford didn’t produce a Pick-Up until 1925. This is a Runabout with a homemade wood box. Ford used steel for the box.
Jeff, I’m not sure where you got your data for 2023. Ford sold about three-quarters of a million of just F-Series trucks. Total US Ford sales were about two million vehicles.
I agree, in hindsight, the huge production numbers for the Model T are amazing.
I own a 27 roadster pickup. 1925 was the first year Ford offered a pickup bed so this one is a conversion. Not a bad thing as it was done all the time before Ford made the decision to offer a pickup, and this one looks to be very well integrated. But it rolled off the line as a roadster and the rear portion of the body (sometimes referred to as the “turtle”) was removed and replaced by the bed you see in the pics.
As for options, the only option I am aware of was the electric starter, anything else you see here was an accessory installed by the owner or the dealer. And, though aftermarket accessories for the model T were extensive, Ford only ever approved the Ruckstell 2 speed rear axle for sale by Ford dealers.
And last, the driving. Model T’s are only hard to drive because you have to unlearn how to drive a conventional vehicle. If you first learned to drive a T it would be no more difficult than learning to drive a manual transmission car of today. In the mid 1920’s according to auto historians fully HALF of all cars in the world were model T’s, so more people knew how to drive a T than anything else.
I bought a pile of Model T trucks and coupes a couple years ago and I mean PILE. There was one box in there turned out to be a 1925, one year only box, brought good money. There was a model T truck with what appeared to be a stainless cab corner, ( can’t remember the name of the metal, but wasn’t stainless) as best we can figure out it was a leftover part from some custom paintless, stainless looking trucks Ford did as a promotional stunt. A friend says he saw the trucks parked next to an airplane once but we could not find the picture on the internet.
I would be interested at 6500 I think that would be a fair price.i was looking at how one wheel on front sets opposit directions. Maybe tie rod or king pin bushings. Overall it a nea near little pick up.
Accidently bought a running model T at an auction once( was just trying to speed things along by running it up). Never again for me, not much fun to drive, but my 14 year old learned to drive it better than I did. Sold it quick before I had to work on it more.
During WW two, pickups were considered commercial as opposed to cars, Therefore, the owners qualified for more gasoline stamps. Many cars were converted to pickups.
Love driving a T!
I’d like to have one to make a C cab hotrod. Thus one is too complete to do that too.
Pretty cool though.
Owned three during high school. Would drive one – obtained at a junk yard for $20 -until bands needed tightening which I didn’t know how to do at the time.
Would sell at the same yard and pick up another running one for same price. Rods went out on that one. The third, and last, I drove for a couple of years and sold upon graduation. Bought a ’32 sedan which was the basis for the sports car I built with plans from the 1952 Mechanix Illustrated. Great memories all the way around. BTW, takes less coordination to drive a T than an 3 speed manual once you know the drill. IMHO.
Love drivin T’s!