Can you get any grassier or rootier?

I watched it actually move. By itself. This has to be the most patina I have ever seen on a car that is capable of such things. It has 35k on it so it is entirely possible the only un-original parts are the tires...

I want to drive that 

Why does the engine appear to be sitting so low in the chassis?

(I just watched a compilation video of old engines being started for the first time in decades and I swear this car was in that video)

You need a tetanus shot just to look at that thing.

tr8todd said:

You need a tetanus shot just to look at that thing.

And that is a great thing. 

I like how the driver is awfully proud (as I would be), but his friend is racing to obscure his face...

Sorry, but the whole patina thing is out of hand.  Actual Patina is one things.  COmepletly berkeleyed up is another.  If that was my car I'd get it running like that, but then do something so I didn't look like Jed Clampett driving it.

ebonyandivory said:

Why does the engine appear to be sitting so low in the chassis?

Clearly, it's for that sweet, sweet low center of gravity.  

I came very close to buying a 35 Chevy that was in that condition. Running, driving, but surface rust on everything. At the time I was a poor bastard and couldn't come up with the extra $125.

That was 30 years ago and I'm still kind of sad about that. 

It's not that the engine is low, it'a because the body is so high.    No transmission hump.

jharry3 said:

I agree!

But I can't decide if the car needs spinning triangles or more LS.

(Someone had to go there.)

ebonyandivory said:

Why does the engine appear to be sitting so low in the chassis?

Short flathead engine, tall pre ww2 car.

Does that car have brakes? I'm assuming drums on rear axle only but no idea about cars of that vintage. Looks like nothing on front axles. 

This is (what's left of) a mid-20's model T. Brakes were not a priority. Some manner of friction on the rear axle maybe a step up from what you found on horse-drawn wagons was deemed sufficient. 

In reply to T.J. :

No. Model Ts did not have wheel mounted brakes, but rather a brake band on the transmission.

”Rocky Mountain Brakes” were a popular add on. They were mounted on the rear wheels. 

These are neat to drive, but it’s hard to unlearn the controls you’ve been used to for 30+ years. For those who’ve never driven one... it has 3 pedals, but none are the accelerator...

Ive worked on/driven this one that is now on display at National Harbor. 

There's a difference between patina and neglect. Patina can be cool, neglect isn't. That's just straight up neglect.

In reply to Saron81 :

Thanks! I've never driven anything with a lever to control ignition timing advance, but I imagine it would be fun to play around in a model T.

Way back when I got the Miata I traded a drive in a Model T for a drive in the Miata. To say that the T controls are weird is an understatement. Not sure I would have figured it out without instruction.

This particular Model T is used in my engineering Alma Matters "Hobo Day" parade every year and has been ever since my father attended  somewhere around 1950 ( he actually drove it way back then) I am confident the thing has never been restored.

Pete

Adrian_Thompson said:

Sorry, but the whole patina thing is out of hand.  Actual Patina is one things.  COmepletly berkeleyed up is another.  If that was my car I'd get it running like that, but then do something so I looked like Jed Clampett driving it.

Fixed it for you. 

Why does the engine appear to be sitting so low in the chassis?

Because the head is flat. Flathead. 

 There's a difference between patina and neglect. Patina can be cool, neglect isn't. That's just straight up neglect.

I dunno man, i live in No Rust Land and when i see anything non-running from before 1940 it usually looks WAY WORSE than this. Most of the non-running pre-war stuff ive ever seen i would classify as un-restorable. 

Maybe the guy spent his last buck getting her road worthy and is happy as hell to show it off. 

You see neglect, I see resurrection. 

Noticed this cute couple in my rearview mirror a couple weeks ago on a weekday afternoon and had to take a pic just because, well, car guy. They were just driving along like they used it as a DD and were going to market. Decided to pull over and let them go by so I could get a better look at the car. Then started thinking "Hmmmm, wonder if it was their first car and they kept it?" They looked old enough for that to be the case.

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/South%20Florida/20180409_114059_zpse283pn1t.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/South%20Florida/20180409_113542_zpsj0f2uma2.jpg.html][/URL]

I mean a soda blaster at harbor freight is about $80, granted you need a $1500 compressor to provide the CFM to run the damn thing

captdownshift said:

I mean a soda blaster at harbor freight is about $80, granted you need a $1500 compressor to provide the CFM to run the damn thing

If you started to soda blast that you might not end up with anything left.

And, no, you don't need $1500 worth of compressor.  Just buy a few of these and gang them up: