1926 Ford Model T

Grass Valley, California

$24,900

Vehicle Details

Make

Ford

Model

Model T

Year

1926

VIN

13914605

Body Type

Convertible

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

V8 4.9L

Description

This 1926 Ford Hot Rod runs a ’59 AB Flathead V8 with Edelbrock heads and a custom polished manifold with dual 97s and custom headers, backed by a C4 automatic transmission and a quick-change rear end. Disc brakes and a dropped front axle sit up front, with a glass body built on a custom boxed frame with a roll bar. Steel wheels carry pinstriping, and the chopped ’32 grille, custom red upholstery, and usable rear trunk round it out.

It comes with hood sides and a top that are scalloped — the hood top would need to be cut to fit the air cleaners. This is an award-winning Hot Rod, built and driven in a traditional style with some modern upgrades.

Classic Ford Model T Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1908–1927

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Buyer's guide for the Ford Model T (1908–1927). Year-by-year differences, body styles, mechanical inspection of the unique planetary transmission, common issues, and current market values for drivers through to concours examples.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Model T Buyer's Guide

Ford Model T Market Overview

Based on 58 Ford Model T listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$24,766

Avg. Asking Price

1912–1929

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $24,900

Low: $10,000 High: $64,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 48% ◄

Manual 38%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 14%

Good 21%

Fair 3%

Poor 2%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 58 listings →

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Classic Ford Model T Buyer's Guide

The Ford Model T is the automobile that made the automobile universal, and it remains the most historically significant production car ever built. Manufactured from 1908 to 1927 in volumes that made it the most numerous automobile of its era by an enormous margin, the Model T transformed American society, democratised personal transportation, and established manufacturing practices that the rest of the world spent decades learning to replicate. Buying a Model T today is an act of connection to that history, and, with proper preparation, an accessible one.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Verify engine block casting numbers , The engine block casting number and date code are the primary authentication points. Correct stampings for the claimed year are essential for any car presented as original. Cross-reference with Model T Club documentation.

✓

Test planetary transmission function , The two-speed planetary transmission engages via foot pedal. Should engage cleanly in low and high, and reverse without slipping or grinding. A slipping transmission needs band adjustment or replacement.

✓

Check magneto output , The flywheel magneto powers the ignition system. Weak spark indicates worn magneto coils. A magneto test at idle and at speed will identify weakness.

✓

Inspect engine for bearing condition , Listen at idle for bottom-end knock. Model T babbit bearings can be poured and recast, not expensive, but a knocking engine needs immediate attention.

✓

Verify body style authenticity , Year-correct body styles vary considerably. Touring, Runabout, Coupe, and sedan bodies changed annually. Cross-reference body hardware and stampings against Model T Club year-specific documentation.

✓

Check brass fittings and trim authenticity , Brass-era cars (1908–1914) have specific brass lamps, radiators, and fittings. Authentication of brass components is a specialist exercise, involve a marque expert.

✓

Inspect wooden structural elements , Early Model T bodies used wood framing. Check for rot, delamination, and previous repair at all wooden structural points.

✓

Test fuel delivery system , Gravity-fed from cowl or firewall tank depending on year. Check fuel line, sediment bowl, and carburettor. Model T carburettors are simple and easily rebuilt.

✓

Drive the car for at least 20 minutes , Model Ts reveal their condition in use. Check for transmission slipping, cooling adequacy, brake effectiveness (rear drums via foot brake pedal), and steering response.

✓

Consult the Model T Club registry , For any car priced above $20,000, cross-reference the claimed year and specification with MTFCA documentation before completing the purchase.

Common Issues

The planetary transmission is the most commonly misunderstood and most frequently worn component on surviving Model Ts. The transmission bands (which control forward low, forward high, and reverse) wear with use and must be adjusted or replaced. A car that slips or refuses to hold in gear needs immediate band service. The flywheel magneto ignition system is unique to the Model T and has no equivalent in any other vehicle. Weak magneto coils are common on cars that have sat for years. Replacement coil sets are inexpensive and widely available, but the flywheel must be removed for replacement. Wood rot in early body styles is a significant concern, particularly in cars that were stored in damp conditions. The wooden body framing can appear sound and still be structurally compromised. A specialist inspection of any car with wooden body framing is strongly recommended. Overheating is common on cars with blocked cooling passages, a Model T engine runs fine when the cooling system is clear and fails quickly when it is not. A chemical flush and thermostat check should be among the first maintenance tasks on any newly purchased car.

What to Look For

Engine block authenticity first. The casting number and date code on the block are the primary provenance indicators. A correctly dated engine for the claimed year is the foundation of any significant valuation. Transmission condition second. The planetary transmission is the most mechanically consequential component. A smooth, positive-engaging transmission without slipping indicates recent service or careful preservation. Body style and year-correct detail third. Model T body styles and trim details changed annually in ways that are well-documented by the marque registries. A car presented as a specific year should have year-correct body hardware, lamps, radiator core style, and fender profile. The Model T Ford Club of America's technical library is the authoritative reference.

Price Guide

Driver-quality touring car or runabout in honest running condition: $12,000–$22,000. Restored, correct-specification touring car: $28,000–$45,000. Concours-quality marque-verified restorations: $45,000–$70,000. Brass-era cars (1908–1914) in correct condition: $35,000–$80,000 for the finest examples; rarest body styles and very early production (1908–1909) can exceed $100,000. Commercial body styles (depot hacks, snowmobiles, early trucks): $20,000–$55,000 depending on rarity and condition. The Model T truck and commercial variants are increasingly collected by a separate buyer community.

Did You Know?

The Model T's 177 cubic inch inline-four engine was not significantly changed from 1908 to 1927. Ford made incremental improvements, but the basic engine design that powered the final 1927 car was recognisably the same as the one in the first 1908 production vehicle. Henry Ford offered the Model T in any colour a customer wanted, as long as it was black. The famous line, however, was not entirely accurate: earlier Model Ts were available in other colours, and black only became truly universal from about 1914 to 1925, when the fast-drying Japan black paint was required for production-line efficiency. From 1926, additional colours returned.