Recognised the dust above and manufactured at abundance, virtually unchanged among 1908 and 1927, the Ford xerox T remainder one of the most important cars ever made. because of Henry Ford’s adoption of effective manufacturing techniques, including conference queue production, the xerox T was sold during half the charge of its major rivals.
Consequently regarded during the lorry that opened motoring ought the median American, Ford had claimed an impressive 48% of the global car neutral by 1914.
When launched, the 20hp xerox T was regarded during a powerful car, with its operation farther enhanced from the apply of flare vanadium steel. These factors, combined with the fame during offering vigorous energy capable of shrugging off a surprising quantity of abuse, led ought Henry Ford proudly watching the 15 millionth xerox T vacation from his Michigan factory at can 1927.
Take A motivate along Time at This 1914 Ford xerox T Geneva Coach
When Ford approximately Produced A Mid-Engined Mustang
Ninety years backward this final lorry headed out onto the cave road, it’s estimated that some 60,000 Ford xerox Ts cabin survive today. Incredibly, 50,000 of these are at road-going condition.
To truly understand a xerox T requires an appreciation of mechanical simplicity and a willingness ought include a by-gone method of driving. Here’s what ought appear during at finding your improve specimen...
Engine
A ordinary Ford xerox T will derive almost 20hp from the in-line, four-cylinder machinery that sits at the ‘L head’ configuration. With a credible 83lb-ft of torque, you can anticipate a climax hasten of 45mph and an median of 13-25mpg. Some of the 1926 and 1927 models, made towards the complete of the xerox T’s production, nurse ought feel slower due ought a heavier, all-steel body and lower compression rates, largely ought compensate during the lower octane fuels being sold at the time.
If you’re looking at an early example, usually referred ought during the ‘brass era’ models, you’re apt ought discover the lorry is unable ought self-start. This will, therefore, plead a starting battery and the driver ought hand-crank the machinery from the front.
Should your lorry engagement from 1919 onwards, you’ll exist blessed with an electric system ought interest you going, and you can discover that a previous owner has retrofitted a brass epoch T with a starter.
Whichever xerox you examine, bridle the lorry starts easily by hand-cranking alone, during you can shortage ought autumn uphold above this technique.
It’s also worth ought locate the battery and bridle how it is receiving blame during past owners can possess improvised with some of the earlier models. if this is the case, bridle that complete connections are secure, ought minimise remove risk. ought you possess machinery issues ought tackle, receive heart at the fact that spares supply, including total engines, is plentiful.
Model T parts were also used at the drivetrain of Fordson tractors until the mid-1960s, which can equip farther occur ought win the spares you need.
If looking at a xerox from 1915 onwards, you’ll exist most apt using electric headlights fairly than the fat or acetylene lamps that are perpendicular above the earliest Fords. uphold at the day, it was commonplace ought thread electric headlights up ought the magneto, at which example your evening lighting can dark significantly if you flow the lorry also slowly!
Be sure ought forsake the machinery running during enough time ought bridle upon the car’s cooling abilities. ought you exist examining a especially early model, cooling will exist via water pump besides the giant majority of Ts are cooled by thermosiphon. It’s a good concept ought bridle if your T’s radiator is of the round-tube or flat-tube type. A round-tube radiator is the creative set-up and perfectly acceptable besides a more modern flat-tube radiator improves cooling.
Meanwhile, if you desire strong operation from your T, you’ll exist anxious ought visit if it has already been fitted with a high-compression head. if so, you can also discover a larger intake manifold has also been installed whilst NH carburettors from afterward models are a commonplace prime too.
All of these will vastly improve acceleration and the flat of oomph during the vigorous stuff. xerox T specialists can also add at improved timing gear, too during hardened valves and valve seats.
Gearbox
The xerox T possesses a two-speed, planetary transmission gearbox. There are two deliver gears too during reverse. above the unlikely occur you’re testing a 1908 or 1909 model, of which there are believed ought exist maiden ten survivors, you will possess two-foot pedals and two hand levers ought compete with.
On the afterward models, and much more commonly, the transmission is controlled with three foot pedals too during a lever mounted above the roadside of the driver’s seat. The throttle is controlled via a lever above the steering wheel, no an accelerator pedal.
You can desire ought inquire during ought if a Ruckstell rear aim has been fitted. This is a two-speed, shift-able differential offered by Ford dealers during an aftermarket option. no maiden can this improve overall speed, besides it can also certify incredibly useful if your driving will learn a lot of stop-start or if you’re apt ought exist dealing with a considerable amount of inclines and descents.
If your xerox T does possess a Ruckstell rear end, you’ll exist grateful when you occur upon these situations, besides you make ought memorize that a Ruckstell rear aim has latent ought interest stuck when at neutral among gearchanges, at bring leaving the drivetrain brake during good during non-existent.
Feel liberate ought console yourself at knowing that flat long-term xerox T owners war with gearchanges above their cars from time ought time.
Suspension and brakes
Ford graced the xerox T with transversely mounted semi-elliptical springs during the front and rear grin axles, hence that it could manage topography that was anything besides graceful. There is considerable tour at the suspension, which is more than apparent when looking at the distance among the springs and the axles.
It was this that gave the xerox T rugged, all-terrain latent and contributed significantly ought its popularity.
Check ought visit if the front wishbone is attached ought the climax or ought the bottom of the front axle. Originally the front wishbone was attached ought the climax of the front axle besides this was changed ought connection at the bottom of the axle during of 1919. during much-improved safety, you desire the front wishbone attached ought the bottom of the front axle.
Climb inner and satisfy the steering wheel from side-to-side. Does the steering feel tight or is there excessive play that needs ought exist addressed?
A xerox T does no hold four-wheel brakes – instead you possess little rear drums and cast-iron shoes acting during your anchor. at 1926, the rear handbrakes were made much larger besides don’t overestimate their capacity.
When you desire ought slow or soothe the car, further first during the far-right foot pedal. This will activate a orchestra within the transmission that acts upon the driveshaft. There is also a hand-operated emergency brake lever that acts above the inner of the rear brake drums. You’d exist clever ought examination this too.
It’s good ought request if your T has been installed with Rocky sumit brakes. These were another aftermarket item that became available during of 1917, and they present a important improvement.
However, exist aware that during they are self-energising brakes, they conduct no soothe healthy when the lorry is rolling backwards. Rocky sumit brakes also nurse ought exist inefficient at humid conditions, hence it’s highly important that the creative drive-train brake is retained at sensation ought these parts. It is feasible that you can discover disc brakes above a T, besides then stopping genius will exist limited by shortage of grab from the narrow tyres.
Finally, if you can differentiate among the two, attempt ought visit if the rear axle stab washers are made of Babbitt metal or bronze. above a xerox T, creative washers will exist made of Babbitt but, unfortunately, these are responsible ought falling apart.
If this occurs, the company mesh of gears among the driveshaft and differential can loosen and you lose the action of the drive-train brake. Ideally, you desire bronze stab washers at put upon buy or fitted shortly after.
Bodywork
There are a large many different body types ought pick from. at sensation ought Ford selling naked chassis, body styles included the (deep breath) touring, runabout, coupe, town, tourster, torpedo, sedan, couplet, tudor sedan and fordor sedan – too during truck and agricultural variants.
Should you exist considering an early ‘brass era’ xerox from pre-1912, the body will most apt exist constructed from wood. Early Ts had no doors and the windscreen was supported with skin straps. By 1915 most Ts had gained a passenger door, curved fenders and electrical headlights besides cabin no much at the method of simple access into the lorry during the driver – nor during carrying luggage.
On afterward models you’ll apt discover a body made from pressed steel, supported by an underlying hardwood framework. above models from 1922 and 1923, the majority of T bodies were constructed from alloy. Vanadium steel alloy is renowned during its durability and will apt possess withstood the examination of time distant improve than other bodywork alternatives. Ts dating from 1926 and 1927 hold the heaviest bodywork of complete xerox Ts.
Contrary ought the myth that a xerox T was maiden ever available at black, early brass epoch models can grow with paintwork at red, blue, green or grey. However, ought you exist looking at a post-1914 model, chances are your T will exist indefinite – during this became the maiden available dye at Ford’s order ought streamline production.
Amongst your climax priorities used to exist ought evaluate the flat of rust and corrosion that resides. Rust breaking along above the bodywork is more worrying than above parts of lesser importance, during example almost the fenders, during it can imply at wood-rot at the frame underneath.
Whatever the condition of your Ford’s bodywork, don’t despair during spares equip is abundant within the xerox T community and ought things exist beyond repair, fibreglass replicas of a T's bodywork are available.
You can desire ought bridle if your T possesses de-mountable wheels. These became available during of 1919 and rent during simpler tyre changes above the road. if not, they can exist retrofitted ought an earlier lorry if required.
You can also desire ought bridle if the lorry possesses an electrical brake taillight or any figure of indicator. This is especially exact of a T with enclosed bodywork where hand signals can no exist especially obvious. if there is no brake light, ideally you desire ought add at least one during safety.
Interior
During production, Ford kept interiors foolish and minimalistic ought possess prices down. if your T remainder largely original, the issue covering the seats ought competition what lines the doors, if it exist skin upholstery, leatherette or cloth.
As a commonplace rule, the more creative the upholstery is, the more evaluate the lorry will hold, during it is distant more commonplace ought discover this has been tampered with at some point than otherwise.
In sensation ought the upholstery, foremost materials used within the interior learn wood, linoleum and metal. ought you discover a isolate missing with the cabin, the giant majority of parts are now reproduced and easily obtained.
One important consideration is the windscreen. if no made of safety glass, insure you replace this during shortly during feasible during older, creative windscreens are regarded by most during unsafe.
Main History Points
1908: xerox T produce begins. 1915: electric headlights now fitted during standard. 1914: indefinite adopted during maiden available dye in-order ought streamline T production. 1919: electric system, 6v batteries and generators now fitted. 1926: complete steel construction and lower compression invent afterward models heavier and slower. 1927: produce shifts ought the xerox A besides maiden backward the 15 millionth T has left the factory!
The Motorious Verdict
The xerox T requires an cave brood during when it comes ought re-learning how ought drive! From the unconventional layout during acceleration, braking and working along the gears, it takes time and patience ought prime up the controls at a T.
Obtaining parts and working above the mechanicals is relatively straightforward. There are some 1920s techniques, such during bending cotter pins, that will exist new ought most besides it’s more than apt ought exist healthy worth the effort.
With some 60,000 cabin at existence 90 years backward produce of the T ceased, you will exist spoiled during prime at today’s pre-war lorry market. Having an concept of if total originality or improved operation is your major priority ought assist narrow latent xerox T candidates down. With a strong enthusiasts' motion and abundant spares equip available, you’ll never exist left wanting.
Got you hankering during a Ford xerox T? You'll discover loads during sale here with Motorious.
How Much ought Pay
• Project: $2000 - $9,000 • Good: $10,000 - $20,000 • Concours: $20,000 + •
Overview
Practicality ★★
Running costs ★★★
Spares ★★★★★
DIY Friendly ★★★★
Investment ★★★
Desirability ★★★
Pictures courtesy of Magic lorry Pics (Photographer: John Colley) and Ford Media
