Town car brass era?

[FRANK PKNY]

I have been offered a town car body? It looks early brass era. I don't think ford made one? Were they done by private coach builders. The person has many old T parts not matching the car to go with it. It has been striped and repaired with most of the original hardware. Any body have input on value and knowledge of town cars? Frank

 

[redmodelt]

Ford did make a Town car body up to 1917 or 1918. This is the one with a fixed roof over the driver.
http://www.mtfca.com/gallery/models/misc.htm
For a short time very early they listed in the catalogs a Landauilet, with no fixed roof over the driver.

 

[FRANK PKNY]

Thanks Redmodelt , this car has a fixed roof over the driver and the back roof folds down I will try to get some photo's when I go to view it. Frank Has a pre 1915 fire wall on it , I am reasonably sure it's pre 1915. Would the body have any markings on it to indicate ford? I would think it may have been made by a outside vender.

 

[redmodelt]

As far as I know, till the 20's most all bodies were made by outside venders. By the 20's Ford was building the open cars but most closed cars were still supplied from outside till 25 models. Could be why you all most never see photos of the body being built till the improved models in late 25. The trimming done, yes, but not assembled. There were 2 for sure and maybe 1 more body suppliers of the early bodies. Briggs and or Murray (sp) may have come in about the time of the 26 models and were carried over for the Model A closed cars (4door and some others)
Look for a letter with or without a number stamped into the floor board riser or heel board or stamped in the sheet metal seat support across the front.

 

[Royce P]

Ford did not make their own bodies until about 1918, and even then did not make all of the bodies. Any of the Model T town car bodies were made by outside vendors such as Beaudette or Kelsey.

Here's a selection of original Model T town cars. All of these belong to Jim Finney of Oblong, IL.

The center car is a 1916 town car:

1912 Town car on the right, 1914 Town car on the left:

Ford brochure for the 1912 Town Car:

Period picture showing the rear floding top and fixed front top:

A spectacular restoration of a 1912 Town car - Scott Rosenthal of Cincinnati, O:

 

[redmodelt]

Great photos. If you take time to think about it, just the fact that you could get the lowly Model T with such a grand body (including the coupe) for the price they were being sold for is pretty outstanding.

 

[Old Redneck]

I had a 1911 Towncar for a few years. I sold it and it went to Italy also my 1911 Tourpedo Roadster. Both were nice cars. I miss the Tourpedo but as you know more toys down the road.

 

[FRANK PKNY]

 

[redmodelt]

If that would fit on a Model T chassis would make one sweet 13 or 14. I do not know enough about town cars to be of any help. My first guess is that this is a home built job and looks to be a good job at that.