From the very first one built on August 12, 1908, until the 15 millionth unit rolled out the door on May 26, 1927, the Model T grew to become known as the car that put America on wheels. While the title for the first mass-produced automobile technically goes to the 1901 Curved Dash Oldsmobile, Henry Ford refined the concept and created an efficient assembly line process. His goal was to create low-priced basic transportation for the middle class, that was easy to drive and utilized interchangeable parts to keep repairs simple. Prices for a 1926 Model T started at just $360 for a Runabout model, while Tudors such as our feature vehicle had an original MSRP of $580. Located near Boise, Idaho, and listed at a reasonable $8650 here on craigslist, the car appears to be in solid condition and is described as running and fully operational. After nearly a century, surprisingly little has been changed on the car over the years, aside from an older respray from the original green hue to black.

Powering the Model T was a 117ci inline four-cylinder engine, utilizing both a cast-iron block and cylinder head. With 20 hp on tap, the vehicle was able to achieve a top speed of 42 mph while maintaining around 13-21 mpg. The powerplant of our feature vehicle appears to be well-maintained and is currently in running condition. The ad states that the original 6-volt starter is on the floor and the crank handle is present at the front of the engine, as is the nickel-plated radiator. Also included in the sale is the vintage Boyce Motometer Ford brass and glass radiator cap.

While the ad does not include many detailed pictures of the interior, it does state that the car retains its original upholstery in light grey, with a green pinstripe to match the original paint color peeking out from under the black repaint. Some hard-to-find parts are still present, including the original silk rear window shade, door chime alarm, and a working horn. The dash retains its original 6-volt dome light, as well as a speedometer that was listed as optional equipment at the time. The rest of the dash and the other gauges appear to be in good condition if a little dirty.

While 15 million Model Ts were made over a nearly 20-year production run, it is estimated that only 60,000 still exist today. Of that number, only 50,000 are still on the road and countless numbers have been turned into hot rods, customs, or racecars over the years. This vehicle would be a good base for an original restoration or it could be simply maintained and driven as-is, with its bumps and bruises telling the story of a lifetime. With good, original vehicles getting harder to find, what direction would you take with this classic piece of Americana?