Buying Classics Abroad
This icon of America’s industrial coming-of-age is still a very viable import
Ford Model T
It’s said that at one time, half the cars in the world were Model Ts. Today about 600 right-hand drive examples are known to exist in the UK, while the USA still has around 3000 in left-hand drive.
Although the fall of the pound has undermined the viability of importing many classics from the USA, the Model T is still worth the effort. So says Neil Tuckett, author of multiple books on the Model T, and the man behind Buckinghamshire specialist, Tuckett Brothers (modeltford.co.uk, 01296 670500), which imports a 40ft container full of Model Ts and Ford spares into the UK every month.
Some regions of the USA should be avoided in your quest for a Model T, however. ‘They tend to rot in Florida for some reason,’ advises Neil. ‘The east coast tends not to be good, and more expensive than the west coast. Some cars in the north of the US and around the Rockies can be very good value for money, but also very remote and difficult to extract. There’s always a catch!’
Conversion to right-hand drive is achievable from about £10002000; quite affordable compared to many later classics, but difficult to justify financially, advises Neil, as it’s unlikely to increase the value of the car. It also depends on body style. ‘If it’s coachbuilt then it’s not a problem, but on cars which require a door to be cut in the body it’s not cost-effective.’
Model Ts are also quite easy to find in Australia, where garish modifications and hot-rod style creations are common. Right-handdrive configuration also counts in their favour, but while the Aussie climate does have a good reputation for preserving vehicles, prices tend not to be very inviting. ‘America usually has the best value for money; elsewhere there tends to be more paperwork involved, more hassle, and you’re less likely to find good value,’ says Neil.
For him the jackpot is an ‘original oily rag, pulled out of a barn,’ preferably in right-hand-drive, the kind of car he only manages to find about once a year. ‘They’re certainly getting harder to find these days.’