Vehicle Description
1915 Ford model T Coupelet
In September of 1914, a new sedan was introduced as the famous
center door sedan. Soon after came the Coupelet and as the name
implies, is a combination of coupe and cabriolet. Electric
headlights were now standard along with curved rear fenders. The
price was $750 and the top was touted as being able to be raised in
two minutes. The advertisement at the time claimed "underneath is
the strong, sturdy, Vanadium steel chassis". Less than 2,500 were
produced, very few remain, and rare is the occasion for one to be
on the market.
For consignment, a 1915 Ford Model T Coupelet, completely restored
including wood, engine, transmission, and rear. This is an AACA
Senior Award winner, (2006), and once was part of the Imperial
Palace collection. This one presents a unique opportunity for the
discerning collector.
Exterior
Incredibly monochromatic for such an early car, glossy black paint
colors this entire car with "nicer than new" coverage. Dirt roads
and harsh conditions meant cars looked new once, and for a short
time. The black is beautifully offset by brass trim and hardware,
and the steel step plate on the coarsely stamped running board. The
30-inch wooden spoke wheels wear black with brass hubs and valve
stems under a gently sloping fender in front and a fully rounded
one in back. A black canvas top floats overhead with minor tears
near the lock pulls, but otherwise in nice condition with a small,
oval window in back. The radiator shell is a fantastic piece,
embossed with Ford and gleaming brass, topped with a brass cap and
motometer, while cowl lamps are perched on each side. This shiny T
is in great condition and no flaws were noted on paint or
metalwork.
Interior
Reverse opening doors are adorned with stitched black leather door
panels with slim black door pull and lever action door actuator.
There are also buckled straps that serve as the window lifters, and
they are glass, part of the first convertible with glass windows
made by Ford. Diamond tufted black leather wraps the bench in soft,
black leather in very nice condition, while a wood steering wheel
with brass hardware and black spokes presents to the driver leading
to a black painted dash that is really the bottom frame of the
windscreen above a leather-lined footwell. Tan carpet has been cut
to fit the floor and encircles three metal pedals and the hand
brake. The trunk contains vintage tools and the battery for the
converted 12 volt system.
Drivetrain
Behind the engine cover is a 177ci 4 cylinder fromAugust of 1915,
rated at 20 horsepower and fueled by a 1-barrel carburetor. A
2-speed planetary transmission sends power a short distance to the
rear axle and 3.64 gears. Mechanical drum brakes are found in the
rear only.
Undercarriage
The underside is clean and in like new condition, uniformly black,
with transverse leaf springs front and rear and a single exhaust
terminating under the car after a stock style muffler. We do not
some oil on the oil pan but for a car that's 110 years old, we're
not complaining.
Drive-Ability
It takes some vintage knowledge to start this antique, with the
right mix of throttle and spark, our trusty staff was able to crank
this car to life without much effort and we rolled this highboy
through the test loop at relatively low speed to find a working,
driving relic of some of the earliest gas powered mobility to
exist. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were
working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these
functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
As Autoweek wrote in 2002, "Henry called it a Coupelet. The
cabriolet top is felt lined and insulated, and looks convincingly
permanent when closed. Fully framed glass slides down into the
doors, and the frames themselves fold flat, out of sight. Even so,
the $750 Coupelet looked matronly compared to the stripped and
lanky $440 runabout. Ford assembled 2417 Couplets for 1915,
outpacing the sedan's 989 units, but of minor significance next to
47,116 runabouts and 244,181 touring cars". This is an opportunity
to acquire one of the rarest Model T's in existence, and it's a
fine, working example.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
