1909 Ford Model T Tourer

The Ford Model T was the world's first mass-produced automobile, and upon its arrival in October of 1908, Henry Ford adopted a one-model policy that would see over 15 million examples sold worldwide by the time production ceased in 1927.

The first Model T wore serial number 1 and was manufactured on September 27th of 1908 as a 1909 model and shipped on October 1st of that year. Production of the 1909 Model T continued until July 31st of 1909, by which time around 10,600 examples had been completed, 7,728 of them as the $850 Touring model.

This particular Ford Model T Tourer is serial number 2 and may well be one of the oldest Model T's in existence. It is a 'two-lever' car, meaning it has two levers on the left floorboard, two pedals on the floor, and another two levers (for ignition and throttle) mounted on the steering column. Ford soon switched to a three-pedal/one-lever layout, with this change occurring after the first 500 cars (or perhaps after the first 800).

It is believed that chassis numbers 2 to 9 were sent to the United Kingdom for the London Motor Show where many orders were taken.

Serial Number 2 was later discovered in the 1950s in the upper Michigan, USA region by the late Richard Teague, which is how the late Donald B Hess got to hear of it. Mr. Hess acquired the Model T sight unseen, for $400 in the fall of 1958. It was shipped by rail to Donald Hess's home in Pennsylvania where it was completely dismantled and stored for the next four decades. A restoration began in 1995 and at the time, much of the car had not survived. Over the next few years, Mr. Hess accumulated parts and spares to help with the restoration. When the work was completed, it was shown at Hershey in 2001 where it won a 1st Prize in the Junior Award category.

The next owner was a U.K.-based collector, who acquired the Tourer from Donald Hess and had the car exported to the U.K. where it remained on static display in his collection. At the 2022 Bonhams Amelia Island Auction, the car was offered for sale directly from the U.K. owner's estate.

This Ford Model T is a correct and early example that is powered by a 177 cubic-inch Flathead inline 4-cylinder engine with a single carburetor and delivers 22 horsepower at 1,600 RPM. There is a two-speed Planetary manual tranmsission, two-wheel drum brakes, and a transevrse leaf springs suspnesion with solid axles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2022