Is this $19,500 1926 Ford Model T pickup a Black Friday bargain? – Jalopnik

As legend has it, Henry Ford claimed that buyers could get his eponymous company’s Model T in any color they wanted, as long as it was black. Today’s Nice Price or No Dice ’26 is black and has a rare pickup body style. Let’s see what such a combo could reasonably be used for.

Saving clothes is a frugal and environmentally friendly practice. However, the goal is to find garments that are almost new or, at best, only lightly worn. Obviously, it is best to avoid clothing that is worn thinly or that shows the folds, stretches and curves of the original wearer’s body.

The same goes for cars. When buying used (why don’t we call that thrifting?), the rule of thumb is to find the best, least used example at the lowest possible price. The 2002 Honda S2002 we looked at on Wednesday seemingly met the first criterion from the ballpark. However, it came up against the second account. The roadster’s low mileage and impeccable condition earned it praise in the comments. The asking price of $25,999 turned out to be less popular, even though most of you expected this for a car in this condition. However, that unfortunate dismissal was reflected in the mood, with the Honda falling with a narrow ‘No Dice’ loss of 60%.

It was the rise of the automobile in the early 20th century that allowed easier access to merchandise, whether for weekly shopping or for special occasions. This was primarily due to Ford’s introduction in 1909 of what has since been heralded as the greatest gift to the world’s mobility needs: the mass-produced Model T.

The Model T was not the first car to be produced on an assembly line. That honor goes to Ransom E. Olds’ Oldsmobile Curved Dash. However, Ford was the first automaker to adopt this practice on a large scale, expanding it from simple assembly to incorporating raw materials – wood, iron, rubber – into finished vehicles. Over the course of the model’s 18 years in production, more than 15 million Model Ts left their factories in the US, Great Britain and continental Europe.

The T does have three pedals on the floor, but they are from left to right for the clutch, reverse gear and brake. Another oddity is that the brakes are mechanical drums and operate only on the rear wheels. Fortunately, the low top speed of 68 kilometers per hour does not put too much strain on that setup.

To get the ‘Flivver’ up to speed, a flat four-cylinder with a capacity of 2.9 liters (177 cubic inches) is good for 20 hp. Behind it is a two-speed gearbox that drives the rear wheels via a torque tube.

According to the ad, both the engine and transmission have been rebuilt, and as can be seen in the photo under the hood, someone opted for the electric starter, even though the crank is available as a backup. Everything else about the car appears to be in good condition, except for the truck bed, which is missing the wooden floor. As such, it offers an interesting view of the chassis below, but with a load capacity that isn’t exactly practical. Although the frame of the blade is intact, the blade itself will need to be replaced due to wear and tear.

The beautiful paint is of course deep black, because that was the only color option that Ford offered in the last ten years that the Model T was produced. The button-tufted vinyl upholstery also appears to be in excellent condition, with only minor wear evident on the controls. According to the seller, the truck runs and drives smoothly and has a clean title.

What do you think of this Model T pickup for that price? Does that make it a Black Friday Door-Buster? Or is that too much to ask for a flippin’ Flivver?

You decide!

Nice prize or no dice:

Seattle, Washington, Craigslistor go here when the ad disappears.

Help me with a nice prize or no dice. Contact me at robemslie@gmail.com and send a fixed price tip. Don’t forget to include your commenter handle.