Rare Model T Centerdoor Sedan Brass 1915 First Year Fewer Than 1000 Made Rare

The 2-door 5-passenger Model T sedan is known colloquially as the Centerdoor. It was first built in 1915, nd marketed by Ford until the early 1920s. What is interesting about the year 1915 is that it was the last year in which Model Ts were uniformlyproduced with brass radiators (there were only a few left-over brass cars built in 1916,and from then onward, othing was brass).

So, f you like Centerdoors, nd you like Brass Era cars, hen the only year you'll find the two reliably together is 1915.

"Wait," you'll say. "I've seen a lot of brass Centerdoors!" Yes, ou have... and they're not correct.

The 1915 Centerdoor body (by Fisher) was an anomaly in that it was fabricated with aluminum. It had the gas tank under the rear seat. It had a single panel at the rear of the car in lieu of two fused panels. ALL of these features changed in 1916 and onward. For this reason, t's easy to tell ifthe Centerdoor at which you're looking is a later body with an after-market brass radiator slapped on the front - that's the vast majority of what you're seeing 'out there.' BUT, f you can find aCenterdoor with theunique 1915 features, ou have a first-year production car, nd a rarity indeed.

The renowned Model T author and historian Bruce McCalley says that fewer than 1000 Ford sedans were produced in 1915, nd that includesboth the Centerdoor and the Town Car.

Moreover, he 1915 Centerdoor would have beena 27 year old car at the start of the WWII metal drives. How many(of the few that were even made) ended in a scrap heap as "an old junker"? I bet quite a few.

Don't believe me? Check the membership roster of the Horseless Carriage Club, hich lists members and the cars they own. See many 1915 Centerdoors? Nope, idn't think so.

I wanted one of these for a long time. I searched all over the country. For several years. Nada. Lots of 1917 and 1919 and 1921 Centerdoors with after-market brass radiators can be had, ut nothing actually correct. Until I found this beauty on the other side of the country. I flew out, xamined it with an expert, ought it, nd had it shipped back. And here it has remained garaged to the present.

The body is inarguably 1915: aluminum, as tank in rear, nd all the other structural facets that can't be faked or altered. The engine's serial number is 8644xx, hich puts it squarely in the middle of August 1915.

The carhas been on several regional tours, nd has performed admirably. It needs a good fuel line cleaning, ut otherwise it has no apologies. It has the after-market 'fat man' steering wheel, nd also it still have ancient curtains and bud vases inside the passenger compartment.

Sadly, ealth developments have necessitated my selling this wonderful garage art (isn't that always the reason that great cars come on the market?)

About the photos: I am not strong enough to crank the car at the moment to drive it outside and take good photos in sunlight, o I had to take photos in the garage as best as I could. In the posted photos, ou'll see the pair of lovely brass(period after-market) carriage lamps that I removed from the sides of the car. You'll also see the upholstery, hough it's hard to getagood interior shot. Also, have taken a pix of therelatively minor wood damage where the lamps were affixed (both sides are about the same). Or better, ust arrange to come by and see the car in person. You'll be glad you did.