eBay Find of the Day: 1923 Model T powered by Harley V-Twin
Click above for more images of the 1923 V-Twin powered Model T
Ford's ubiquitous Model T has seen its fair share of modifications over the years. Often powered by an engine other than what was originally designed for the large engine bay, countless variations of the hot rod theme have made Henry Ford's original mass-market vehicle a highly desirable machine to customize. Today, we've stumbled across an entirely new way to power the T, and it's just too cool not to share. Behind the custom spiderweb grille of this 1923 Ford Model T is a 1200cc V-Twin engine taken from the frame rails of a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Considering how little this vehicle is likely to weigh, the air-cooled twin cylinder mill with Screaming Eagle mods is probably plenty powerful to get the vehicle out of its own way. The owner used quite a few HD cues in the overall design and as many original parts from the donor bike as was possible. Note the dual rear shocks suspending the rear axle -- those are from the Sportster, as well as the foot pegs which now see duty as the gas and brake pedals. Nice work.
Gallery: Harley-Powered Model T
[Source: eBay Motors via The Kneslider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
cowboy bob 5:25PM (5/31/2008)
I love it. I would have made it a roadster though. Plus, extend the pipes a bit. Very cool.
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ambientFLIER 7:05PM (5/31/2008)
Can't think of anything more annoying than a V-Twin with loud exhaust...Should have at least put a civic engine with a fart pipe on there, would have been better.
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Justin 9:30PM (5/31/2008)
wait, so you're actually saying a loud civic sounds better than a loud harley?
Derek 11:05PM (5/31/2008)
I'm not sure which sounds better/worse. The fart can is pretty grating, but loud Harleys are quite obnoxious as well.
Given those two choices, I think I'd pick the T's original engine.
Stuka 9:22PM (5/31/2008)
Lot of scary looking fab work done to it. Its a neat concept, although certainly not a speed demon in even the smallest regard. And why on earth is the starter mounted to axle. Why would you want to have a car move in order to start it?!
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Derek 11:05PM (5/31/2008)
It may have a two speed rear end and thus possibly have a neutral in the rear axle? It does seem quite strange though.
Why did they mount the rear coil overs so far inboard? Thing is going to have insane body roll and under steer madly unless there are some anti roll bars on there.
Stuka 11:19PM (5/31/2008)
Thats a GM rear end, so its just a normal ring and pinion. And yeah, the shocks are WAY inboard, wtf?! I don't see any anti roll bars. Honestly, it looks pretty red necked.
drstrangegun 11:22PM (5/31/2008)
The "starter" on the rear axle is very likely the means of reversing the car. It's not clear exactly what he's using for a transmission, but if it's motorcycle sourced it's likely there's no reverse gear.
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mikey 11:25PM (5/31/2008)
Read the ebay link. It's an electric reverse, dash operated by a button.
I have a lot of respect for the builder of this car. It's definitely different and cool.
Das Boese 11:41PM (5/31/2008)
If someone attached a generator to Henry Ford's corpse rotating in his grave, it would probably generate a few megawatts of power right now.
Why, why of all things a harley engine? Dark humor? Some twisted sense of patriotism? It boggles the mind.
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toyotageorgetownky 12:17AM (6/01/2008)
Two pieces of Americana roled into one. I am sure that the builder had little interest in making a drag car. If speed was all he wanted he would have put a 302 or 350 in it. Sometimes being different is just fun.
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B 1:12AM (6/01/2008)
I liked the old ford with a New ford/cosworth rally engine in it better
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toronado455 5:21AM (6/01/2008)
I think it should have a proper exhaust routing. And maybe a few mufflers to quiet it down. :-)
But I do like the idea of using a small engine- one that is more similar in size and power to the original engine than the V8s that everyone puts in these things.
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toronado455 5:25AM (6/01/2008)
The 63 Chevy pickup column is super tacky.
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martin 6:49AM (6/01/2008)
why is there a cheese grater on the front of the engine..
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OubelhaNegra 10:17AM (6/01/2008)
Cool!
"top speed of probably 80 mph"
LOL I think they didn't try it because they don't want a break a part the machine....
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Bill 1:51PM (6/02/2008)
Not too fast, anyone see front brakes?