c1913 Ford Model-T Runabout (Turtle Deck)

When Henry Ford began building automobiles in 1903 few could have imagined the impact his cars would have on the motor industry, nor the enduring legacy of his most famous product, the legendary Model T. Ford’s earliest car, the original Model A, was a simple, twin-cylinder affair with the engine mounted under the seat and basic two-seater bodywork known as a runabout but the range expanded rapidly and diversified to include both four and six-cylinder cars by 1906. The Model T, affectionately known around world as the Tin Lizzie, was introduced in October 1908. The rugged mechanicals, strong performance and great value made the Model T a runaway sales success, putting motoring in reach of millions of Americans for the first time. Powered by an L-head four-cylinder unit of displacing 176.7-cid and developing 22 horsepower, the Ford employed a foot-operated planetary-type gear-change with two forward speeds plus reverse. Suspension consisted of a transverse semi-elliptic leaf spring at each corner and the wooden-spoked wheels were shod with pneumatic tyres, while braking was carried out by expanding bands on the transmission and hand-operated brakes acting on the rear wheels. With prices ranging from $850 to $1000 in 1909, the Model T offered excellent value for money and demand soon threatened to outstrip supply. Although the basic ingredients remained largely unchanged, the Model T underwent almost constant development over the years, with improved front and rear axles and updated engines introduced in 1911. A new body appeared in September 1912, with metal side panels extending to the rear for the first time, along with deeper doors, and three styles were available; the touring, runabout and town car. Giving lie to the accepted wisdom that Model T Fords were only sold in black, early cars were actually offered in variety of shades and most 1913 models left the factory’s paint shop dark blue, although other colours were available. All 1913 Model Ts were equipped with headlamps and a horn and there were no optional extras. Although the Model T is often credited with being the earliest mass-produced automobile, Ford’s revolutionary moving production line wasn’t introduced until 1913, with earlier Model Ts built in the traditional labour-intensive manner. More than 15 million Model Ts were built between 1908 and 1927, helping transform American society and the Ford is rightly regarded as the most influential automobile of the era. With relatively few survivors, brass-era Model Ts – like the example on offer here – are highly prized by collectors today.