Description

The Ford Model T Indianapolis was a specially prepared racing version of the Model T that took the famous “Tin Lizzie” from being a humble people’s car to a competitor on the oval tracks of America, including the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Though the Model T was designed for affordability and practicality, its rugged construction, simplicity, and huge production numbers made it a natural base for modification, and many enthusiasts and racers transformed the T into stripped-down speed machines for competition in the 1910s and 1920s.

The Indianapolis versions of the Model T were not factory-built race cars but rather private entries heavily modified by owners and mechanics. Typically, these cars began as standard Model T chassis but were radically lightened by removing the stock bodywork and replacing it with narrow, pointed “speedster” bodies. These bodies often had boat-tail rears, minimal seats, and aerodynamic cowls—giving them the look of purpose-built racers. Weight reduction was essential, as the stock T was slow compared to specialized race cars of the time.

Performance improvements were usually centered around the engine. The Model T’s 177 cubic inch (2.9-liter) four-cylinder engine produced only 20 horsepower in stock form, but aftermarket equipment transformed it. High-compression cylinder heads, such as those from Rajo, Frontenac (the Chevrolet brothers’ company), and Roof, could double or even triple horsepower. Dual or quadruple carburetors, racing camshafts, and improved exhaust systems gave these racing Ts surprising speed. Some Indianapolis-prepared Ts could achieve speeds of over 70–80 mph, remarkable for a car originally designed to cruise at 35 mph.

Suspension and chassis modifications were also made to make the car more stable at high speeds. Wider axles, lower stances, and wire wheels often replaced the stock wooden artillery wheels. Braking systems were minimal, as was common in the era, so much of the focus was on making the car fast and light rather than safe.

At Indianapolis and other oval tracks, the Model T was typically outclassed by purpose-built racers from companies like Duesenberg, Stutz, or Mercer. However, the Ford’s affordability meant that a wide range of privateers and local drivers could enter races, filling grids and keeping competition vibrant. The T’s presence at Indianapolis symbolized the democratization of motorsport: anyone with mechanical skill and ambition could build a racer from a car they might also use every day.

Today, the Ford Model T Indianapolis racers are remembered as part of the grassroots history of American motorsport. Surviving examples, especially those fitted with Rajo or Frontenac heads, are highly sought after by collectors and vintage racing enthusiasts. They capture the spirit of ingenuity and ambition that defined the early days of Indy racing, when even the world’s most famous mass-market car could be transformed into a machine fit for the Speedway.