1923 Ford Model T

1923 Ford Model T Roadster  A decade before NASCAR was officially incorporated in February 1948, dirt tracks sprang up throughout the South, some in cow pastures and open fields.  By the late 1940's, they had become the centers of attractions at local fairgrounds when hastily constructed ovals were often made with the quick sweep of a bulldozer.  The first NASCAR strictly stock race was run on June 19, 1949 in Charlotte Speedway, a three-quarter mile dirt track. Thx to SpeedSport magazine.  For consignment, a 1923 Ford Model T roadster with a title listed 100,400 miles although this cannot be verified as this skate isn't sporting an odometer and built as a 1940's style dirt track car.  It's low and wide and wears knobby tires on the back and will make quite the entrance at the next Cars and Coffee.  Exterior The exposed front axle provides a Cheshire grin in front of the radiator which reads Hot Rod 2 Hell, topped by a chrome skull cap, a nice start to your arrival at Cars and Coffee.  From the side, the tires are almost the highest point of the car, but the engine rises above them, as does the bucket cab in line and if your arms are long enough, you can pick up things off the street.   Out back, a gas tank is held in place with leather straps and a single Dietz taillight on top of a black frame is the beacon of warning for those behind.  A skull wearing the Prussian cross is on the side along with a number 5 in vintage font.  16-inch wheels wear Ford poverty hubcaps and the tires vary front and back with size and tread type.  More skulls on the windscreen frame which sits vertically over the body that is painted with thick black paint.  It's all in clean condition with the appropriate patina look.   Interior Hop over the shell to find a pair of sheep skin covers forming two sitting areas in a sparse interior that is highlighted by a custom bat shaped steering wheel in front of a pod of three Stewart Warner gauges.  The long shifter rises from the visible transmission in the floor and welded plates make up the uncovered floor where a Speed King gas pedal is flanked by the round pedals of the brake and clutch.  It's all very raw and old school and speed is determined by your own inner meter.   Drivetrain Up in front of this black sleigh is a 239ci flathead V8 with a trio of stacked 2-barrel Ford/Stromberg 97 carburetors.  A 3-speed manual transmission is on board and sends power to the 3.78 gears in back.  1937 Ford Juice drum brakes are here with newer pads, lines, and wheel cylinders.  Headers provide an escape route for spent gas with three pipes on one side as the center shares two ports.  Undercarriage Bare bones underneath, a virtual skeleton of automotive design.  There's no surface rust nor dirt underneath, but we do see drops of oil at the transmission, oil plug, and a touch on the rear differential.  Suspension consists of transverse leaf springs front and rear.  Drive-Ability We're roughing it in this raw interior in this gokart on steroids.  The low cab suspended between the axles and just inches off the ground is a pretty fun position and the V8 moves this relatively light car with plenty of power and the brakes do the opposite well.  Of course, the exhaust notes are blaring.  The low center of gravity creates great handling, and do we even need to comment on visibility?  The gauges and lights work too so everything functional that's available is operational.  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.  Rat rod meets race car meets street machine.  This car has more presence than zombies in The Walking Dead and will be an immediate magnet at any car gatherings or when you go to fill it with gas.  A cool ride with all the looks of a vintage 40's racer and you can't go wrong with a flathead Ford V8 for power.  If you