The Model T is arguably the most famous mass production car ever built because it was an affordable and practical mode of transportation for its buyers during the early days of domestic automobiles.
Henry Ford knocked it out of the park with the Model T and spent the rest of his days trying to match its overwhelming success.
In fact, the Model T was so successful that it remained in production for almost 20 years (1908-1927) and still occupies a place near the top of legendary automobiles.
Jim Sutherland
The other side of the coin was the Model T’s role in the pioneer days of the hot rod movement because it was a very inexpensive old car when hotrodders began to take notice of it. The T was a lightweight platform for some of the most creative custom builds in the history of the hobby and MyStarCollectorCar was able to connect with the talented owner of a 1927 Model T hot rod labeled the “Track T” because of its racy potential.
The car guy behind the project was Scott Carl and he has owned his ’27 T since 1966. “I dragged it along behind me” (Scott’s words) through several decades of life to this very day. Scott added: “I paid 20 bucks for the T–but likely would have gotten the damn thing for nothing a few years later when the old guy’s (former owner) son married my sister”.
After gathering a bunch of old parts, Scott got serious about his Model T project in 1997, although the untimely death of his son caused Scott to take a break from the project while he dealt with his son’s passing. It was an understandable reaction, given the tragic circumstances, but eventually Scott was able to resume work on the T and give himself an automotive distraction from his personal issue. It was the right project at the right time in Scott’s life and undoubtedly helped him cope with his grief.
MyStarCollectorCar was pleased to see a vintage Ford flathead engine in Scott’s Model T hot rod. It was donated by a 1949 Ford and has been treated to an old school hot rod build because Scott installed a tri-carb system on the flattie, along with lake pipes that resemble the exhaust choice made by many hotrodders from the early days of the hobby.
The most notable newish part in the car is its 5-speed manual transmission donated by a 1986 Mustang. Scott added a very long fabricated shifter to the tranny, an alteration that really stands out in his custom build. A solid argument could also be put forth about the Model T’s upgraded front disc/ rear drum brake system as a smart new upgrade on the car.
As mentioned earlier, Scott began his hot rod T project in 1997 and completed it in 2018 after he put his personal stamp on the build in the finest tradition of old school hotrodders. Scott told MyStarCollectorCar that “I did everything but the wiring on it”, a strong testimony to his automotive talents and creative approach to old school hot rods.
The net result is one of the coolest Model T hot rods we have seen since we started MyStarCollectorCar in April 2009.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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