Many Ford owners bought the runabout and converted it to a pickup truck. Ford noticed this and in late 1925 model year finally offered a factory version.
The 1925 Model T Ford was largely unchanged from the 1924 models. So it is tempting to combine the two model years as if they were one. However 1925 was interesting for many reasons which we shall detail in the article below. Ford sold close to two million vehicles in 1925, with about 400,000 being TT trucks.
Major changes for the 1925 model year were few, but significant. Probably the most important was the four dip crankcase / engine pan, introduced in mid July of 1924 right at the beginning of 1925 production. The hand brake quadrant was riveted to the frame with two rivets beginning in August 1924, again right at the beginning of 1925 model year production. The frame itself continued to have four holes for the handbrake quadrant as before.
May 13, 1925: Completed cars at the assembly line in St. Paul. (Pioneer Press file photo)
The Fordor sedan body style received new standard equipment in the form of a windshield wiper, rear view mirror, and instrument panel light.
About the middle of 1925 model year the new 5 to 1 steering gear ratio was made standard on all cars equipped with the 4.50″ X 21″ “balloon” tires. This change happened about December 1924. Cars equipped with any other of the wheel / tire options continued to use the 4:1 steering gear.
The new River Rouge Ford plant began to assemble Model T engines in September 1924. The Rouge assembly plant did not ever actually build Model T cars or trucks. Engines from the Rouge went to all plants.
A well worn 1925 Fordor with accessory front bumper. Not sure what is hanging from the running board.A 1925 runabout with salesman’s body replacing the turtle deck. Duz was a popular brand of detergent for many decades.
Prices for the Model T were quite reasonable
Touring, $290 or fully equipped with starter and demountable rims, $355.
Runabout, $260 or fully equipped with starter and demountable rims, $315.
Tudor, $580 fully equipped with starter and demountable rims,
Fordor, $660 fully equipped with starter and demountable rims,
Coupe, $520 fully equipped with starter and demountable rims,
Chassis, $225
Runabout with pickup body, $281 or fully equipped with starter and demountable rims, $366.
Ford advertising in 1925 used colorized photographs. The coupe was the second most popular body style that year with over 343,000 sold!Hollywood starlet Carol Dempster watches a 1925 Model T Coupe come out of the factory for the first time in February, 1925.The runabout body style remained popular with close to 300,000 sold for the 1925 model year. The car shown is one of more than 264,000 built with full electric equipment and demountable rims costing $345 at the beginning of the model year, later reduced to $315.Ford sold almost two million cars and trucks in 1925 model year. Of that total nearly 400,000 were TT trucks or TT chassis.The new TT enclosed cab truck body was announced on April 9, 1925. This body style proved to be very popular with buyers. As seen here with demountable rims and full electric equipment the price was $505.Ford sold bare chassis to customers who wished to use a custom body such as the “depot hack” wooden body seen here. Bare car chassis sales were about 60,000 total with most of them fully equipped with generator, battery and starter as seen here. This particular vehicle is dripping with period accessories such as Ruckstell two speed axle, oil can, and steering column support.The Fordor sedan had a suggested list price of $660, however the dealer could and did often mark the price up for these desirable cars as winter approached.1925 photo of the engine run in stands being used at the Copenhagen, Denmark plant.The roadster pickup body style was introduced in March 1925 and proved to be quite popular. This one has full electric equipment and demountable rims. It had a suggested retail price of $345 as seen here.Many banks and dealers would finance your new Ford in the roaring economic conditions of 1925.The tudor sedan was much more popular than the more expensive Fordor. Price was $580 and nearly 200,000 were sold.In the storage area of the Ford Twin Cities plant in St Paul, Minnesota new 1925 Model T’s wait for shipment to dealers.A brand new 1925 touring with accessory skis and track drive. The occupants would keep warm with the side curtains installed and maybe a few hot bricks on the floor board.Late in the 1925 model year some cars were equipped with the new Holley Vaporizer carburetor. Gasoline quality had been going down as auto production and sales increased through the 1920’s. Octane was decreasing as petroleum companies struggled to meet demand. The Vaporizer was an attempt to improve performance by heating the substandard fuel before it was mixed with cool air.1925 model year was the last time Model T’s used the three similar shaped pedals. This restored runabout sold at a recent Barrett Jackson auction has sidelamps installed yet is equipped with generator / amp meter / battery / starter.
