1927 FORD MODEL ‘T’ COUPE

EXHAUST: FORD H.O. HEADERS. COATED PIPES AND MUFFLERS.  CUSTOM STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS

INTERIOR: BENCH SEAT OF ULTRA LEATHER, LECARRA BANJO STEERING WHEEL, IDIDIT TILT STEERING COLUMN, POWER WINDOWS AND POWER DOOR LOCKS

ENGINE:  ’93 THUNDERBIRD 5.0 HO ELECTRONIC IGNITION, FUEL INJECTED WITH STOCK HEADS. SOUTHERN AIR WITH HEATER

BODY: FORD 1927 ‘T’ COUPE ORIGINAL BODY. HOOD EXTENDED 4”. POLISHED STAINLESS-STEEL FIREWALL

FRAME: CUSTOM 2 x 3 TUBE FRAME- ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXTENDED 4”

BUMPERS: STOCK REPRODUCTIONS IN STAINLESS STEEL

SUSPENSION: JAGUAR REAR END WITH I.F.S. IN FRONT

BRAKES: FOUR WHEEL DISC- POWER               WHEELS:  WHEEL SMITH WIRE

TRANSMISSION: FORD A.O.D.

PAINT: G.M. INDIGO BLUE

REAR END RATIO: 3:55

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.’

 Henry Ford

Click here to hear Model T Ford song

The Model T was an automobile built by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 until 1927. Conceived by Henry Ford as practical, affordable transportation for the common man, it quickly became prized for its low cost, durability, versatility, and ease of maintenance. Assembly-line production allowed the price of the touring car version to be lowered from $850 in 1908 to less than $300 in 1925. At such prices the Model T at times comprised as much as 40 percent of all cars sold in the United States. Even before it lost favor to larger, more powerful, and more luxurious cars, the Model T, known popularly as the “Tin Lizzie” or the “flivver,” had become an American folkloric symbol, essentially realizing Ford’s goal to “democratize the automobile.”  Courtesy of History Channel.

John Rose is a larger-than-life kind of guy, welcoming, informative and an easy listen. He hired on with the Gas Company after mustering out of the Air Force in 1959 as a welder and equipment operator.  He’s owned and operated an Iron fabricating business, a Powder Coating business, and a boat shop, all giving him plenty of experience fabricating whatever he needs.

It’s easy to see that he’s happiest doing what he does now.  He rises every morning, has breakfast with Roberta and then it’s off to work; he travels across the rear yard, enters his shop, and punches the time clock; so to speak, where he spends his days working and fabricating everything and anything he needs for his hot rods.

Anyone entering his garage/shop is in awe at the expanse and enormity of it. Large enough for several projects, of which John has going on.  Milling machines, a press brake, a lathe, welders, and even a clean room for engine building; there’s not much else he needs to complete a job.

 John received the 27T free from a very dear and close friend, albeit on pallets and in pieces.  At first John, didn’t want the car because he was looking for a Roadster body and wasn’t interested in the coupe.  But Roberta said she wanted it and made a list of everything she wanted on the build; stirrup door handles (very rare), wire wheels and a ‘shiny’ fire wall. Everything else John was allowed to do his way.  Extending the frame 4” to accommodate the 5.0 V8 Thunderbird engine.  Original bar, headlights and shells with led turn signal installed on the bar.  Power windows and door locks all fabricated to squeeze into the small narrow doors. Even wiring in the computers not an easy task for a guy that’s colored blind.   Doing everything himself except paint.

His friends say if you want something done then tell John it can’t be done.

When asked how long it took to build Roberta likes to say, “4 years, 3 surgeries and a trip to Alaska.”

There’s even a matching trailer!  I could have stayed all day listening to John and Roberta’s interesting life stories.  What a pleasant time spent with a great CAL-RODS couple.