How did you acquire your T? (2024)

I was just searching for an old file for a friend and came across this article. Around 1997 when I was assisting Gus Stangeland in administering the MTFCA forums one of the jobs I undertook was posting stories from members. I jump started submissions by posting a few stories of my own. This ondetailed how I obtained Rusty, my second model T Ford some years prior. I thought the photos appended to the article had been lost as though the story archives are hidden in the directory tree of the MTFCA website, the photos were scrubbed.

So for the interested, here is a story of how I got my current Model T Ford Russel T. Phored or "Rusty" . If you have an account of your T acquisition please post it here!

From the 1998 MNTFCA website:

The acquisition of Russell T. Phored ("Rusty")

Owner: Terry Horlick, California. E-mail: Terry Horlick
At the urging of R.D. I have put down the story of the acquisition of Russell T. Phored ("Rusty") and would like to share it with you...thereby removing any question about my lack of sanity.

About a year ago I was surprised at my office by the sight of two slippers protruding out from under Toady (T. Thaddeus Toad the '13 "Mountain Wagon" which was my principal mode of transportation) in my parking lot. Fearful of a wrongful death suit from OZ, I was much relieved when the owner of the feet reappeared only slightly grease smudged and presented herself on my doorstep. It seemed that Toady was perfect for her tourist business in Alaska. So much so that a sum sufficient to transfer ownership was offered. Only after the transaction was agreed to did I realize that unless drastic measures occurred I would soon become a pedestrian. Careful assessment of my motoring needs, including due consideration of the frequency with which I must back up my street to reach home, made it clear that only a '27 T pick-up would do. In fact only a rough, nasty, neglected original would do.

A search for just the right vehicle was undertaken when an ad on the MTFCA classified section paid off. Having read my ad another member told me of a nice vehicle which could be had in Nevada. After about 4 months of intense procrastination contact with the owner of the vehicle was completed and an appointment for evaluation set up. At the last minute Bill Jennings having that particular Sunday morning free agreed to accompany me. I assume that he is amused by observing idiocy as no other explanation for his participation suffices. In any case he presented himself with two 30x3 wooden wheels in hand "just in case"..."we'll be back by 3 p.m. won't we?"

Two hours later we found ourselves touring the vehicle owner's garage workshop and inspecting various vintage Ford Model T's each festooned with some questionably '27 looking parts. The yard was circled with narrow gauge railroad rolling stock which was set off nicely by the lovely brown colored '27 bits and pieces sticking up out of the ground around the yard. I was mightily dismayed to learn that the larger heap of iron oxide in the middle was the "almost complete original '27 Ford roadster pickup". I soon was directed to the correct pile and the following discussion indicated that Mrs. Owner would not be excessively disappointed at the departure of the '27.

Since I wanted a complete original car with just a little rust here and there I really wasn't interested in this fugitive from a Virginia City mining claim. Mr. Owner says "well, what will you give me?" Lack of interest in the vehicle motivated me to proffer just $5 in order to kill the deal. "No, I won't split the difference between your price and mine", says I. The end of negotiations found me parting with $5 for the car and assorted additional shekels for all of the oxidized artifacts I felt I wanted to extract from the yard.

By this time it was starting to rain and "wouldn't it be a nice surprise for Mrs. Owner if you and your vintage vehicle were gone before her arrival?" Sure! Now how many of you can drive a T with frozen engine, no head, no wheels, no drive shaft, no differential, no axles, no seats, no top....etc. off of a stack of railroad ties and onto a trailer? Mr. Owner fearing the collapse of his carefully engineered rural renewal project suddenly materialized a huge headframe and hoist on wheels. After suspending the rear of the T with the hoist and fitting wheels onto the front it only took an hour and a half to whisk the trailer underneath. Papers were signed, money exchanged and Mr. Owner was gone. Oh, I guess he just wanted to go in out of the heavy rain which was now falling.

Through all of this I assumed that the continuous laughter from Mr. Jennings was a sign of hypoglycemia so I spent some of the funds I saved by not buying a reasonably complete car on a grease-burger. Our culinary stop coincided with the end of the rain storm, as we left the burger joint Bill giggled about how nice that rusty T looked now that it was turning white. As we coursed through Reno and ascended I-80 I had to admit that it really did look nicer now that the pick-up was virtually hidden under a blanket of snow. Those of you who have been along this route are familiar with the "bug" station which was now about 1/2 mile ahead. At this time all forward progress ceased permitting the installation of snow chains onto the tow vehicle and a photo session right there in the fast lane! A few hours later we pulled in to the agriculture check station to hear from the head bug inspector that the freeway was closed over the pass (Donner Pass). I tell you I was relieved to hear that the return road to Reno was open and clear..."yes officer, we'll head right back down there".

It sure can get cold and cramped sleeping on a Truckee street behind the wheel of a Ford F150. Round 'bout midnight everyone else's cars started up and sure enough the highway had just re-opened for those with chains, FWD, and others with LIGHT trailers, NO TOWED VEHICLES. We were safe, we weren't towing a vehicle, we were towing a light trailer...with...hmm...hmm...a load of snow! The highway patrol woman guarding the on-ramp exclaimed "wow that load of snow looks just like a neat old car...that's really pretty!" I'm not sure she heard my proffered thanks as I disappeared on down the on-ramp. I prudently set the speedometer at 8 mph which allowed my arm to avoid frost-bite as I reached out to scrape a viewport through the snow on the windshield.

For the next 15 minutes car after car zipped around the F150 and it's trailer load of snow. In a few minutes we found ourselves weaving around a field of all those autos parked in funny places all over the freeway. My first reaction was that perhaps we should stop and offer help to these many unfortunate fellow travelers, unfortunately our rig chose this very moment to refuse any alteration in it's downhill speed of 8 mph . Did you know that it really doesn't matter if you have wheels turning or not, facing the direction of travel or not, when your trailer decides it wants to take over the driving. All those sitting on their hoods really applauded my masterful driving skill as the trailer threaded our way sideways between all the other cars and off of the ice.

With the show over and only one collision with a snow bank we proceeded on down I-80 for the next three hours without even one car passing us. We pulled into Grass Valley about 12 hours after our planned 3 p.m. arrival time. Which allowed me a few hours to prepare for work the next day. When Terrie, my wife, saw the trailer she was upset that I had overpaid for my new treasure...."do you think you can get your $5 back?" I decided not to discuss the additional shekels.

Did you know it is difficult to remove a T from a trailer when it has no rear-end? My solution was the engine crane which was able to suspend the rear end while I drove the trailer out from under the car. After raiding my limited stock of spare parts and visiting the Turlock swap meet. I had enough parts to get the car onto wire wheels. A week of penetrating oil didn't help at all so I used a block of wood and an 8 lb. hammer. To better reach #4 with the block of wood I stood on the crank and pounded away. When I found myself sitting on the ground I knew the car was unstuck. A quick hand lap job on the valves, a new head gasket and IT WAS RUNNING! These T's are amazing. I drove it around and then opened it up and found that it was able to run without any contact of rings with cylinder walls. There was at least four pounds of gravel in the crankcase!

With the help of many friends that pick-up is now serving as my regular transportation. Most people around town keep asking when I'm going to restore or paint it...but I can't do that, it might cover up some of the rust-through! The rest of the people look at the car and wonder why I can't afford a "good" car.

Toady? Well the deal fell through and even though he is still available for his usual daily duty I much prefer to rely on Rusty. You know how lots of guys try to find three parking spaces together so that they will not get a door ding on their T? I always get three spaces....when I park the two neighboring cars always jump back for fear that the rust is contagious.

Sincerely, Terry Horlick

And a much more recent photo of Rusty.

Toady was sold around 20 years ago, but Rusty still soldiers on as my preferred daily driver!

TH