million Model Ts had rolled off the line. With history like that, this Ford icon was bound to catch Geoffrey’s eye eventually.


“After restoring a few tractors I thought I’d fancy an old car, something that I could take out for a drive around the countryside on a summer evening. A few years ago at the Stradbally Steam Rally in the Irish midlands, I visited the Model T Club stand. I chatted to some of the members and found out as much as I could about buying and looking after a T and then I started to keep an eye on the internet for more information. I had already bought a tractor in America and shipped it home, and I knew what was involved and how much it would cost. With that knowledge I made a bid for a car in an online auction which, because of the time zone difference, took place in the middle of the night, but when I woke up the next morning I found that I wasn’t the successful bidder. The next time I saw Model Ts for sale, all the cars were being ‘sold as seen’ so I had no idea of their mechanical condition but the auction was held on a


Saturday afternoon UK time so I was able to follow it live. When the 1925 ‘Doctor’s coupe’ was being sold it all seemed to be chaotic and I didn’t think I had bought it, so I bid on a 1923 Tourer that I liked and won that auction. Later on the invoice for the Tourer came through by email and I was delighted because I was the owner of a Model T. The next day another invoice came through for the Coupe! I wired the money through, arranged the container shipping and waited and hoped everything would go as planned.” When the container arrived Geoffrey was pleased to find that they had been well secured and there had been no damage during their Atlantic voyage. Soon they were sitting in his garage and by six o’clock the following Saturday evening he had both engines running. Although the initial signs of life were present there was still some work to be done before that long awaited summer evening drive. “On the Doctor’s Coupe the friction material on drive band, which does the job of the modern clutch plate, had worn and needed to be replaced. It’s a nightmare


Please mention THE VINTAGE SCENE when responding to advertisements


JULY/AUGUST 2021


19


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