Awesome speedster with an authentic period look. 188 cubic inch Model T engine with overhead valve conversion. High-speed Warford gearbox, Rocky Mountain brakes, Buffalo wire wheels. Logs of brass. Big fun in a small package!

The Model T has been many things, including one of the earliest hot rods. Period speedster kits were offered by multiple companies and the infamous “Frontenac” overhead valve conversion for the Model T’s 4-cylinder engine might be one of the earliest bolt-on speed parts. This awesome little speedster was built more recently than the 19-teens, but it has all of the charm and minimalist attitude of the originals. The radiator shell says “Fronty” in Ford-style script, referring to the overhead valve engine under the hood (which is not a real Fronty, but we’ll get to that in a moment). There’s also a 1915 callout, just to let bystanders know the year. The rest is very true to the speedster ethos, from the slim fenders to the twin bucket seats to the awesome “monocle” windshield. Add in the oval-shaped gas tank, a ton of lighting and brass accessories, and that awesome tool kit/trunk in back, and it’s obvious that someone spent A LOT of time getting this little car right.

I’m not sure you can call the seating area an “interior” but it does feature two leather-wrapped buckets that do a pretty good job of holding you in place should you try to test the limits of the car’s performance. The exposed wood is all varnished to a high shine, and for the most part, the controls are familiar to anyone who has driven a Model T. Three pedals, plus a funky roller-style accelerator pedal instead of the hand lever, and that shifter in the middle is for the 3-speed Warford transmission, which features low, regular, and high ranges. Instrumentation is basic but covers the vitals, although the speedometer seems to be stuck at the far end of the scale—I wonder who the brave soul might have been who achieved that feat? Everything inside is just beautifully finished a neatly detailed, from the textured insert on the instrument panel to the custom rubber floor mats, to the real wood steering wheel that feels beefy in your hands. Rudimentary seat belts (literally!) are included, as is a fitted canvas cover for the cockpit.

The engine is the standard 188 cubic inch inline-4 that will be familiar to any Model T enthusiast. Well, not quite, because there’s a clever adapter kit that uses a Chevrolet cylinder head to transform the Model T’s 20 or so horsepower into something closer to 40 or 50. Other upgrades include a downdraft carburetor with air filter and a matching tubular dual-port intake manifold, a custom exhaust header with heat wrap, and a 12V alternator tucked down low and out of sight. It has also been augmented with an electric starter, so it spins over easily and barks to life without a lot of coaxing—we were flat-out shocked by how easy it is to start compared to a regular 1915 Model T. The exhaust note is aggressive but pleasant, almost with a V8 sound if you can believe it. It’s too narrow to fit on our lifts, but the undercarriage is rudimentary and fully exposed, no surprises here. A dropped front axle uses a stabilizer to help keep it on an even keel, the Warford transmission hangs behind the original gearbox, and the rear axle has been fitted with externally-contracting Rocky Mountain brakes that improve braking a bit (even so, plan your stops well ahead of time!). Modified Buffalo wire wheels have been drilled for standard lugs, with brass center caps where there knock-offs used to live. Tall, skinny tires are showing some age, so if you plan on some actual touring in this T, a fresh set of rubber might be a good investment.

We don’t have any details on who built this speedster or when, but we’re impressed with the work they’ve done. It has all the right ingredients, it seems eager to run, and you could spend hours looking over all the wonderful details throughout. If you’re a Model T fan, it represents a branch of the hobby that many find entertaining and enjoyable and with the added power, this is surely a very usable Model T compared to many of its siblings. If this looks like your kind of fun, give us a call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.