Ford Model T Tudor

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By the start of the First World War, the Model T represented over three quarters of the cars on the planet, being the car that literally 'put America on wheels'.

The first automobile to be built in such huge numbers, it used a moving production line with completely interchangeable parts - highly advanced for its day. This inspired example of mechanisation set the standard for efficiency and was the prototype for the layout on which most modern factories are still based to this day.

In its first year, the assembly process for the Model T had been so streamlined that it took only 93 minutes to build a car and in 1908 Ford produced more of them than all other car makers combined! It was so successful that Ford did not purchase any advertising between 1917 and 1923. In total, more than 15 million Model Ts were manufactured before production ended in 1927, more than any other model of car for almost a century.

Powered by a 2.9-litre monobloc 4-cylinder engine, it was capable of 45mph and returned 25-30mpg. The engine was capable of running on gasoline, kerosene, or ethanol, although the decreasing cost of gasoline and the later introduction of Prohibition made ethanol an impractical fuel for most users.

Costing just $850 at launch when competing cars often cost $2,000 - $3,000, the Model T was a huge commercial success, and by the time Henry made his 10 millionth car, 9 out of 10 cars in the world were Fords. On 26th May 1927, Henry Ford watched the 15 millionth Model T Ford roll off the assembly line at his factory in Highland Park, Michigan.

The success of the Model T in the UK market was significantly hampered by the UK’s horsepower taxation system which meant that the humble ‘T’ attracted the same annual licence fee as a Rolls-Royce 20hp. Despite their reliability, go-anywhere abilities and cheap purchase price, this made them expensive to run (which may have been the intention of the Government), despite Ford investing heavily in a production facility in Trafford Park near Manchester.

Most Model Ts that come onto the UK market today are therefore imports, although in this case, this fine RHD Tudor was first registered in the UK on 1st May 1925. The V5 shows that it has had just one previous owner, a lady from Olney in Buckinghamshire, although rumour has it that it served time as a taxi in Kent so this may or may not be correct.

It was purchased by the vendor in 1998 from model specialists, the Tuckett Brothers, having had a useful Ruckstell two-speed back axle fitted along with Rocky Mountain brakes, both period aftermarket goodies that transform the overall performance of the car. A number of bills on file show additional care and maintenance during the period including a new radiator core in 1999.

The Tudor was used regularly until recently, its owner now being embroiled in a house renovation which has prevented him from using it as he would like. This smart looking maroon and black example is therefore back on the market, is on the button and ready to go and has the right ‘goodies’ to make it a sensbile proposition in today’s traffic.