It all started in 2021 when Sally and I were invited by a friend to go on a Ford Model T tour as passengers. During this tour a green 1924 Ford Model T caught our eyes. At the time we did not know that one day it would become ours. After the 2021 Holmes County tour, Sally and I were invited again to ride along on a 2022 Model T tour in Hamilton, Ohio, followed by a 2023 tour in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It was on that last one where we actually rode in the “to be ours” Model T.

Even though Sally and I had never driven a Model T, we were undaunted by the challenge of driving one. And the idea of owning a Model T was growing very strong. The next tour we were scheduled to attend was in Cadillac, Michigan. We became aware that the 1924 Model T touring car owned by fellow VMCCA member Jimmy Hixon would not be there due to his health issues and would most likely be up for sale.

Sally and I were attracted to the green Model T touring car. We knew Jimmy's was a good automobile with many extras that would make it a reliable touring vehicle. Jimmy had only owned it a couple years. He bought the Ford from an older “T” person who had aged out of the hobby. We knew after purchasing the car a few challenges were to come: getting an Ohio title, learning to drive it, and storage.

Sally and I had to get a new Ohio title and we had never bought a car from a private owner before. There is no VIN number on a T. The only number that I am aware of is the number stamped on the left front of the motor block that is now located behind the aftermarket water pump. The number has 8-digits: 10156090. To my older eyes the first two and last two numbers were questionable. The local Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Inspector got into our trailer, I gave her a flashlight, and she verified the number. Next she requested an odometer mileage. There is no odometer on a Model T. Our 100-year-old car officially has one mile on it.

My first driving lesson was in Jimmy's yard when we went to purchase it. Driving a Model T is a different experience and nothing like our 1932 Desoto or 1970 Barracuda. Driving a Model T requires the use of its pedals, three of them to be exact: a brake, reverse, and a pedal with low–neutral–high positions. Forgetting where to place which foot and when can bring undesired consequences. There is a hand stopping/parking brake, and some say the throttle is one of the best brakes on a Model T. Given the small size of the brake band on the wheels, it certainly helps. Starting and running it is also a matter of good memory. Start on battery or hand crank which is for the physically adept. For the sake of the battery and performance, its best to switch to magneto. If you need more oomph for a hill, the Ruckstell shift changes the rear-end ratio or be sure to get a good run when seeing a hill ahead.

In the short time we have owned the Model T, meeting the various challenges has been fun. We are also reminded of its place in history in the development of the automobile and its success. It was an affordable car for the masses. Our 1924 Ford Model T Touring cost a whopping $295.00 and only $355.00 with electric start.

The 1924 prices had reached an all-time low price for the car. Two million Model Ts were assembled in 1924. The increasing efficiency of the assembly line allowed Ford to continue to lower the price and run the assembly line full tilt. Our T was assembled in July 1924 according to the serial number. It is now green, but back then due to production constraints all were painted black in 1924. Black dried faster and a single color would make production less expensive. Ford's 1924 profit was $115,000,000 with an average of $50 dollars per car. There is one fact that Mopar enthusiasts note—the Dodge brothers supplied engines and other parts to Henry Ford from 1903 through 1915.

Now Sally and I have a small storage problem. Each summer we rotate a car into trailer storage. We have a four-car garage that requires creativity since we have added the Model T. We have a 1970 Barracuda and a 1932 Desoto (that have been on numerous VMCCA national and regional tours); plus two trucks, a 2006 Dodge 3500 for towing and a 2017 Ram 1500 Limited for traveling; and a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. We live one mile from the county fairgrounds; so the Barracuda spends the winter in the “pocket pet” building.

One of the positives in owning a Model T is that there were so many made, making for more available and more affordable parts. A number of parts manufacturers offer replacement items, many of which can be delivered overnight. Also, there is considerable interest among some collectors for alternatives to the original parts that upgrade Ts to make them more reliable and better suited for touring today's highways.

For example, we have the following extras on our T:

• Alternator replacing generator
• Distributor replacing a timer
• Rocky Mountain brakes (very heavy-duty brakes, especially for hilly country)
• Ruckstell underdrive (two-speed auxiliary transmission)
• Two-speed rear end
• Deluxe Motometer (w/ Ford trimotor engine propeller)
• Gas pedal (original column mounted lever)
• Dash light
• Water pump
• Wire wheels (w/ chrome beauty rings)
• Electric starter and lights
• Wind wings
• Headlight lenses w/ blue tint upper edge.

We also plan to add a 6-to-12-volt inverter to run our Garmin on that will display speed and total miles driven. One of the more frequent questions asked is: what kind of mileage does it get? Since there is no gas gauge estimating levels can be tricky. We also plan to upgrade to rear wheel disc brakes. Rocky Mountain brakes work well going forward, but not so good going backward downhill.

We recently bought a new trailer which has sufficient height to accommodate the Model T with the top up.

Since David Taylor originally published this article for Mid-Atlantic Region's 2025 July, August, September Wheels A Rolling, we have taken the Model T on the 2025 Model T Ford Club International Tour in Owatonna, Minnesota, and the 2025 Ohio Model T Jamboree in Wooster, Ohio. This year we have participated in the Model T Ford Club International Tour in London, Ontario, Canada and the Ohio Model T Jamboree in Archbold, Ohio. We hope to take it to a Revival AAA Glidden Tour® soon.

Photos by Bob and Sally Murray and David Taylor