Lot details

Year: 1917
Make: Ford
Model: Model T
Registration: SV 4234
Chassis No: 2129887
Odometer: tba

• Coming from a long-term ownership
• Electric starter motor

With the introduction of a moving assembly line in 1913, Henry Ford famously turned his Model T into the world's first mass-made car. Just a year later, Model Ts represented 56% of all automobile manufacture in the USA, with a remarkable 308,162 units. However, it was not just the sheer volume of Model Ts rolling off the production line that motorised America, it was the inherent quality of the design. Launched in 1908, the T's chassis and mechanical components were made from exceptionally durable, high-grade vanadium steel. The Ford also featured a compact 2890cc, side valve, four-cylinder engine that pioneered the use of a detachable cylinder head. Developing 23hp at a leisurely 1,600rpm and 80lbft of torque, it was mounted in unit with the clutch and two-speed epicyclic gearbox assembly. Top speed was limited to around 45mph, depending upon bodywork, while brakes operated on both the transmission and the rear wheels. With a 100" wheelbase, 10" ground clearance and transverse leaf-sprung suspension, the T was perfectly adapted to unmade roads.

First imported to the UK in 1993, this example was purchased by the vendor ten years later in August of 2003. Cherished by the vendor over the past 23 years, the car has been a central part of his family; it's been maintained throughout, repainted recently, and now fitted with an electric starter motor for ease of use. Reported by the vendor to run and drive well, the car attracts lots of attention wherever it goes. It had its fuel tank shotblasted and resoldered in 2022 and the wheel inner tubes replaced, roof folding arm, gearbox adjusted and generally serviced as well as having some upholstering work carried out in 2024. This Model T is supplied with a Ford manual, Ford service book, and maintenance record going back to 2004. Today, the Model T is celebrated as a milestone in automotive history, and remains an enduring symbol of innovation, progress, and the transformative power of industrialisation. Consigned by Will Penrose