Ford Model T cars for sale in Cary, North Carolina

Ford : Model T Centerdoor Sedan Rare Model T Centerdoor Sedan Brass 1915 First Year Fewer Than 1000 Made Rare

$35,000

Cary, North Carolina

The 2-door 5-passenger Model T sedan is known colloquially as the Centerdoor. It was first built in 1915, and marketed by Ford until the early 1920s. What is interesting about the year 1915 is that it was the last year in which Model Ts were uniformly produced with brass radiators (there were only a few left-over brass cars built in 1916, and from then onward, nothing was brass). So, if you like Centerdoors, and you like Brass Era cars, then the only year you'll find the two together is 1915. "Wait," you'll say. "I've seen a lot of brass Centerdoors!" Yes, you have... and they're not correct. The 1915 Centerdoor body (by Fisher) was an anomaly in that it was fabricated with aluminum. It had the gas tank under the rear seat. It had a single panel at the rear of the car in lieu of two fused panels. ALL of these features changed in 1916 and onward. For this reason, it's easy to tell if the Centerdoor at which you're looking is a later body with an after-market brass radiator slapped on the front - that's the vast majority of what you're seeing 'out there.' BUT, if you can find a Centerdoor with the unique 1915 features, you have a first-year production car, and a rarity indeed. The renowned Model T author and historian Bruce McCalley says that fewer than 1000 Ford sedans were produced in 1915, and that includes both the Centerdoor and the Town Car. Moreover, the 1915 Centerdoor would have been a 27 year old car at the start of the WWII metal drives. How many (of the few that were even made) ended in a scrap heap as "an old junker"? I bet quite a few. Don't believe me? Check the membership roster of the Horseless Carriage Club, which lists members and the cars they own. See many 1915 Centerdoors? Nope, didn't think so. I wanted one of these for a long time. I searched all over the country. For several years. Nada. Lots of 1917 and 1919 and 1921 Centerdoors with after-market brass radiators can be had, but nothing actually correct. Until I found this beauty on the other side of the country. I flew out, examined it with an expert, bought it, and had it shipped back. And here it has remained garaged to the present. The body is inarguably 1915: aluminum, gas tank in rear, and all the other structural facets that can't be faked or altered. The engine's serial number is 8644xx, which puts it squarely in the middle of August 1915. The car has been on several regional tours, and has performed admirably. It needs a good fuel line cleaning, but otherwise it has no apologies. It has the after-market 'fat man' steering wheel, and also it still have ancient curtains and bud vases inside the passenger compartment. Sadly, health developments have necessitated my selling this wonderful garage art (isn't that always the reason that great cars come on the market?) About the photos: I am not strong enough to crank the car at the moment to drive it outside and take good photos in sunlight, so I had to take photos in the garage as best as I could. In the posted photos, you'll see the pair of lovely brass (period after-market) carriage lamps that I removed from the sides of the car. You'll also see the upholstery, though it's hard to get a good interior shot. Also, I have taken a pix of the relatively minor wood damage where the lamps were affixed (both sides are about the same). I am happy to take add'n photos if requested. Or better, just arrange to come by and see the car in person. You'll be glad you did.

Trim brass