1913 Ford Model T Town Car |

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1913 Ford Model T Town Car

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Sold Price

£15,900

Mileage-
TransmissionManual
Engine3.4L
LocationCanterbury

SOLD

1913 Ford Model T Town Car

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Vehicle Consigner and Photographer

Changing the automotive industry forever - this is the Model T, a car that made history like no other.

In the early part of the 20th Century when people talked about a car, they invariably meant this car. Through the Model T Henry Ford not only brought motoring within the reach of ordinary working people but his production methods set a new standard for car making the world over. In a world dominated by Horse Drawn carriages the Model T was a revolution. It was exciting and youthful, quickly winning a place in the hearts of the public and acquiring nicknames such as “Tin Lizzie" and "Flivver”.

This Model T really is something special. It’s a “Town Car”, the least familiar and rarer of the T’s and a design which was aimed at wealthier clients and those with chauffeurs. While expensive compared to the rest of the Model T range it still offered excellent value set against similar vehicles from alternative manufactures. Being produced in much smaller numbers makes "Town Cars" much sought after by collectors. This wonderful UK example is incredibly original and was owned by an old school mechanic for fifty years before being acquired by its current owner. Finished in a glorious red, it starts, drives, and stops well, and the interior is in great shape. Overall, an amazing opportunity to own and enjoy a key part of motoring history.

This listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Peter the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

A true piece of history and a privilege to own and drive – it really is a special experience.

Peter bought this Model T from his neighbour who had owned the car for over 50 years. He tells us “It’s an amazing piece of machinery and, incredibly, has only had three owners since it was new in 1913, the year before the outbreak of the Great War”. He continues “My neighbour’s father was a mechanic and looked after the car as only an old school mechanic could. He only really used it to go to occasional vintage car shows, rallies and local fetes. When the car was not being used it was always garaged which helps to explain the great condition”.

“As far as I am aware, with the exception of the colour, the car is completely original. The previous owner was a purist and maintained the car as close to original as possible over his fifty years of ownership”. In conclusion Peter says “I love the car, but it really does deserve to be in the hands of a vintage car enthusiast who will continue to share this fantastic piece of history with all of us”. If you have any questions about this lovely car, Peter will do his best to answer them in the comments section below.

Peter

Vehicle Owner

Peter saved £2,700* when they
sold their Ford with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Tall, elegant and evocative – the embodiment of early 20th century motoring.

Wheels and Tyres

The 12 spoke, cream and red painted wooden wheels, together with the body mounted spare look in good condition with no significant gaps in the joints or other damage that we could see. Ford embossed brass centre bosses and wheel nuts add to the vintage appeal on this car.

The wheels are fitted with 30 x 3 ½ pneumatic tyres which do not appear to have any significant splits or cracks and have good tread remaining.

Bodywork

The bodywork presents really well without evidence of significant damage or panel misalignment for a car originally built in 1913. This is a 110-year-old, coach-built body so naturally has the odd, age-related mark or two, but we had to look for them. Overall, the bodywork presents really well. The doors shut properly, and the hood opens and closes exactly as it should while the wooden cabin frame looks great.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The car is hand painted in red and the quality of the paint is good. The finish is even and consistent with a good shine and very few marks. The paint appears to have provided very good protection to the bodywork. “The customer can have any colour they like as long as it’s black”, a statement famously attributed to Henry Ford reflects the “black only” colour policy that became established in 1914. Prior to that, the Model T was available in red, grey, or green so this "Town Car" being originally painted red is certainly a possibility, although Peter believes it is likely to have been repainted over the years.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen, side windows and lamp screens all look good with no broken glass that we noticed. The varnished, hardwood frames also look in good order. There is the inevitable age-related wear, but we could see nothing that wouldn’t be expected on a car of this era.

The brass paraffin lamps, and the remaining brass trim has a lovely patina. There are small dents in places reflecting ~110 years of use, but the structure of all the fittings appears sound. There is a small split in the brass radiator surround which Peter is arranging to have repaired before the sale.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The beautifully finished interior represents a time beyond living memory – a privilege to experience and enjoy.

Seats and Carpets

The black vinyl covered bench seats, both front and rear, present really well as do the doors cards. The plywood floor looks great with very little sign of significant wear and there is only surface wear to the steel plate immediately in front of the front and rear seats.

The brass interior trim and fittings all look in good working condition.

Dashboard

Possessing no dials or gauges in the cabin at all, this Model T has no dashboard in the traditional sense. However, the area plywood area immediately facing the driver and front passenger is in good condition as are the red steel box supporting the Magneto on/off switch, and the plaque showing the production number and patents.

The brass mixture lever and bulb horn also look good and appear in good working order. Please take the time to look at the hi resolution images and video of the interior so that you can assess the condition for yourself.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The beautiful, four spoke, varnished wood rimmed steering wheel looks in good vintage shape as does the steel spider section, steering column and throttle and spark levers.

Gear changes are controlled by using the far-left pedal which is linked directly to the gearbox. This, together with the other pedals and the handbrake look in good condition and were demonstrated to be working.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Engine and running gear still deliver as they were designed to do ~110 years ago - truly remarkable!

Engine and Gearbox

Fitted with a straight four, 3.4L engine delivering ~20BHP through a 2-speed planetary transmission, this car is of its time. The car is crank started and once the charming, if delightfully elaborate, starting procedure is completed the engine fires up and idles steadily without complaint.

The engine bay looks clean as does the green painted block. Peter advises that in his ownership new spark plugs have been fitted. Take a look at the video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

This Model T has a solid front axle and live rear axle, leaf spring suspension, and single axle drum brakes.

Perfect for 1913 and still useable today, although, braking clearly needs a little foresight!

The Drive

Unforgettable! The drive we shared was a real step back in time and you can feel the connection with the horse drawn carriages of the day. You are seated high with great visibility and this beautiful car makes a steady and surprisingly comfortable conveyance.

It’s not quiet of course and driving takes plenty of concentration but it is a very special experience that immerses you in a bygone age. Check out the "On the Road" video to share in our experience.

Electrics and Other

Electrics on these cars are limited to the primary circuit and the car seemed to start and run well suggested that was in sound working order.

Lighting is through the use of paraffin lamps which look complete, but we understand have not been used for some time. The car appears to have been fitted with electric rear brake lights, however, we did not test these.

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History and Paperwork

Few cars have influenced the world like the model T – this is an opportunity to own a highly original and rare variant, the Town Car, in working and good order.

Accounting for only 1% of Model T production, the Town Car is one of the rarest of the specifications. It looks charming, is highly original, runs well and truly deserves a good home. It’s hard to believe this car arrived in the UK just before the outbreak of WW1. The car is believed to have been a UK import from new, and while there is no documented history the current V5 and engine/chassis number of 218898 date the manufacture as sometime around March 1913.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
30.04.2010	MOT	Unknown
28.04.2009	MOT	Unknown
19.04.2008	MOT	Unknown
28.04.2007	MOT	Unknown
22.04.2006	MOT	Unknown

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Key Details

ModelModel T Town Car
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date1913
CC3,378
Mileage-
ColourRed
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #218898
Engine #218898
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned4 Months
Key FeatureOriginality
Auction ID1484

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All Images

History and Paperwork

All Videos

Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions

Seller : PGS Sale Date 13.07.2023

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

Admin

Kulraj Salh

Auction Update – The reserve has been removed on the auction, so it is effectively on sale with “No Reserve”, and will sell to the highest bid. Good luck if you’re involved in the bidding. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

Member

POLAND

Why is the engine capacity 3378 cc given in the registration document, after all, the Ford T had a 2898 cc engine

Author

PGS

I’m afraid I don’t know
That is the engine capacity that shows on the reg. document that came with the car
The previous owner died five years ago and so I can’t check with him

Member

POLAND

Do you have original parts for this Ford, such as:
front gas lamps, rear kerosene lamps, gas generator, wooden box for coils, radiator top with thermometer, holders for fixing oil lamps, holders for folding the roof and wheel bolts.
Because in the pictures these parts are from other car brands.

Author

PGS

Hello,
I’m afraid I have only what you see on the auction website
The previous owner died five years ago and I bought the T from his heirs
The history I have on the car is that the former owner had the car for over half a century and used it for vintage car shows etc. He owned a garage in Herne Bay, Kent and maintained the car himself along with other vintage cars
Peter

Member

Tom C

Aaagghh!!! Garage clearance 2050! I’m seeking prices fir a new door that will give me sufficient! Thanks. Tom

Author

PGS

I know !
It was too tall for my garages so I have kept it in the garden with a tarpaulin over it but we have had so little rain it hasn’t really been necessary
If you buy it in the auction you can have the tarpaulin for it !
Peter

Member

Tom C

Hi
I need the height please. Also no “service” history. Do you change oils etc., plus othe normal required maintenance regularly, and keep a record? Is body and fittings original; I think lights are “odd” some uk some Canada?? Miles driven over last year?? Any problems that were not minor? I presume car in Canterbury?
Look forward to seeing hearing! Tom

Author

PGS

Hello Tom, The Model T is 2.1m in height but I would work off 2.15m for comfort sake. The car was owned by a mechanic and vintage car enthusiast who serviced the car himself in his workshop. He died five years ago and I bought the car from the family relatively recently. In my ownership the car has been driven less than one hundred miles. There have been no problems with the car that were not minor. The new spark plugs being the only significant purchase necessary. As far as I am aware the car is totally original but I’m… Read more »

Member

willand

Hi Could you tell me the length and height so please

Author

PGS

Hello there,
I will revert later today with the length and height of the Model T
Peter

Author

PGS

Hello again,
The Model T measures 3.3m long and 2.1m in height
I would add another 5cm for comfortable parking so 3.35m X 2.15m
Peter

Member

acleff

Hi Peter great video and could I come and see the car early next week please ?
I leave in Hertfordshire so not that far
Please can you tell me the Height and length for gararge purposes
Many thanks
Alan Lefford

Author

PGS

Hello Alan,
I will revert later today with the length and height of the Model T.
Meanwhile, if you would like to view the vehicle please contact Trade Classics
Best wishes,
Peter

Author

PGS

Hello Alan,
The Model T measures 3.3m in length by 2.1m in height.
I would work off 3.35 X 2.15m for comfortable parking
Peter

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Vehicle Location

Canterbury

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