Ran When Parked: 1927 Ford Model T Pickup
The Ford Model T was one of the first and most successful production vehicles. Launched in 1909, nearly 15 million copies were built before it was retired in 1927. Their affordability was key to the Model T’s success, and at one point you could buy a new one for under $300. The cars were nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie,” and the pickup version the seller has from the T’s last year was included. It’s been in storage for some time and has several layers of dust on it to prove it.
Henry Ford was no doubt a genius and realized that to sell a lot of cars at a low price meant figuring out how to mass produce them. Which he did. All Model Ts had a 177 cubic inch inline-4 that produced a whopping 20 hp, paired with a 2-speed transmission with planetary gears. 14.7 million Model Ts were built in total with 1.6 million being little trucks like this one. In 1927, production wound down to just 400,000 units of which 74,000 were trucks.
We’re told this Ford ran when it was parked years ago and sits on jacks now. You could restore it or “drive it as is”, but I doubt the latter is possible at the moment. A lot of coaxing will be needed to bring this old girl back to life. It’s said to be 100% complete and is available in Austin, Colorado, and here on craigslist where $7,500 is the magic number. But how cool is this truck and it’s not that far off from celebrating being a century old. Our thanks to Gunter Kramer for this cool tip!
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Comments
If you ever wondered what most of the California T Bucket hot rods were made out of here is one good example. Don’t remember the last time I saw one of these. This is something you’d clean up, get running, and have some fun with. Like the ’60s country comedian said “can’t hardly get them no more”.
Most of the California “T-buckets” were made from 1919-1923 Ford Model T bodies.
A real newbie here. Newbie with a huge interest in this unit but …. does anybody out there know what those funky springs are all about?
I would love to have this, and just working on it would be Great
Isn’t this one called a roadster pickup? That alone would make it really scarce, as there was one in Tom Cotter’s book if I recall.
The 3 words my wife fears most when I’m looking on line “ran when parked”
Thankfully it’s too far for me to drag home
“Ran when parked” In the Eisenhower administration.
Watch videos on You Tube of people getting these started after 50 years. Cleaning out the fuel tank, supply line an carbuerator (NO Model T had a fuel pump), soaking the cylinders in kerosene or similar and being patient (don’t force anything) and of course replacing the oil and it should run.
While I downplay the interest in these types of projects, I hope there is still enough yet to save these. Far as I can tell, these types of projects have one more fling, after that, I don’t see much interest. Shame, we just have to accept that. What are those in front, some kind of aftermarket springs? And hope it has an electric start. Really in the dark when these sellers know nothing about the vehicle. Model T was gargantuan, bigger than the Bug, and the last year here should be saved, if anyone cares in the future. These trucks built America, if only it could talk, the stories it could tell.
Howard,
Take a look at the front photo. Look directly below the radiator. See that “L” shaped bar, handle, protruding forward? That is your electric starter.
I used to start my dads mechanics truck identical to this one when I was in Jr. High school.
What a beautiful feeling that was.
The only way that crank is an electric starter is if you put a 9 volt battery up your ass while cranking it.
Sorry, fellers and fellettes, I tried.
I told the wife this is on my radar, and I’d be willing to use my upcoming time off to fly out to Colorado and take a serious look at it. Her response was that she doesn’t want our driveway looking like a used car lot. I told her it would look more like a salvage yard since my other project would have to be moved outside from the garage, onto jack stands in the driveway, to accommodate the new rig. In hindsight, honesty was not the best option.
To Howard A’s point, I would agree these types of projects might be on their last legs. Most project-seekers, particularly first-timers in my experience, are hunting for horsepower, sportiness, a vehicle that could be flipped for profit, or at the least a comfortable driving experience — none of which this offers. I have gone through a few projects already at 44, and I feel like this would be great for what it is — a puzzle/piece of history to be carefully restored and preserved (to mechanical safety and full structural integrity, if not concourse presentation); a reason to join a dwindling but passionate collector community; and an opportunity to tinker with a century-old a mechanical marvel. GLWTS!
Eddie,
This “type” of vehicle has its place…like a 4th of July parade…Veteran’s day parade…Memorial day parade…
Heck, old car day parade!
Or, pick a day. Like taking yur grand daughter for a Kool ride day.
Love this one.
Billy
I too , want to know about the aftermarket front suspension . ..
Looks like somebody collided with a set of box springs before he parked it.
The coil springs are Hassler ‘shock absorbers’, an aftermarket product. They were available as a single spring (per side) or a double spring (per side), this vehicle has the double setup, if you enlarge the last photo you can see both springs on the driver’s side. As far as current interest in vehicles of this vintage, there is no doubt interest is waning but my 51 year old son who is an aircraft mechanic by trade, last weekend had the opportunity to work on a Model T doctors coupe, belonging to the father of his friend, and couldn’t quit gushing over how cool it was and how excited he was to be able to help his buddy get it running.
Make sure you tuck your thumb when cranking her over! Something my grandfather taught me years ago.
This is an exciting project: last year of the T, a roadster pickup, complete, together, nearby, fairly priced, easy to restore. Have driven through Austin dozens of times. This fruit-growing area has more than its share of old vehicles. The flag must be from a July4th parade in nearby Hotchkiss. It’s dry country, so rust is unlikely to be a serious problem. The glory days for these Ts will come back…and parades are always fun!
When are you going to get this right. Over 15,003,077 Ts were made in Detroit. Another 1,000,000 in Canada Assembled in England, Australia, New Zealand .Africa and other parts of the world And Henry kept making spares parts for Ts after 1927.
And a slew of aftermarket parts out there, both period correct and more modern. Also, there is a lot of repro stuff out there.
Cool…….
Could we get a count of how many stars on the flag…would give a good clue as to the year it “ran when parked.”
This barn find is very close to me, I have known of this local T for twenty years. the current owner has had it for sale a few times before with no takers. I’m sure with the right offer It will find a new home. I would be interested but project overload is my plite at the moment. And I do have a 27 T roadster pickup in close to this one’s condition. Ugg ! can’t have them all.
It could have an electriic starter unless they weren’t offered on trucks. My ’24 sedan had a factory electric start
An employee of my dad owned a 23 T runabout purchased new by his dad. He still owned it when he passed around 2010. He always maintained it, kept it in a garage, and drove it when possible. I loved that car and marveled at all the machinations needed just to start it and it had an electric starter. It’s a bucket list item to attempt to drive one at least once.
Question: I thought the T switched to wire wheels around 26-27. Did the truck version continue to use the wood spoke wheels for sturdiness? BTW there’s a YouTube video of an old Ford film showing the production of the wooden wheels. Quite the process.
The wire spoke wheels were an option in 1926 and 1927.
Perhaps, but i believe the wheels on it are not wire, but wood, and should receive a close inspection