Description

The Ford Model T Touring was one of the most popular and enduring body styles offered on the legendary Model T, which was produced from 1908 to 1927. While the Model T was available in many configurations—runabouts, coupes, sedans, and even trucks—the Touring was the quintessential family car of its era, a practical and affordable five-passenger automobile that put America and much of the world on wheels.

The Touring featured an open body with two rows of seating, accommodating the driver and a front passenger plus three more in the rear. It had four doors in most versions, although the earliest cars sometimes used asymmetrical layouts with fewer. The body was simple and functional, built primarily of wood with steel panels, and fitted with a folding fabric top for weather protection. Side curtains could be attached, but the Touring was best suited to fair-weather motoring, as was common for cars of its day.

Mechanically, the Model T Touring was identical to other Model T variants. It used a 177-cubic-inch (2.9-liter) inline four-cylinder engine producing about 20 horsepower. While modest by modern standards, this was sufficient to propel the lightweight car to speeds of 35–45 mph, which was more than adequate for the rough and often unpaved roads of the early 20th century. Power was delivered through a two-speed planetary transmission operated by pedals, a hallmark of the Model T’s simplicity and ease of use.

One of the great strengths of the Touring model was its versatility. It was affordable, selling for less than $500 at its peak, and it could be used for family travel, business, or even light commercial purposes. Its open design made it accessible and practical for many climates, and it was often the model chosen by rural families, city drivers, and even taxi operators.

Over its production life, the Touring body style evolved along with the rest of the Model T line. Early cars featured brass fittings and kerosene lamps, while later models received electric starters, improved wheels, and updated styling. Despite these changes, the basic concept of the Touring remained the same: a durable, inexpensive, all-purpose car that could carry a family or small group with ease.

By the time production ended in 1927, millions of Touring models had been sold, making it one of the most common and recognizable automobiles of its time. Today, the Model T Touring is one of the most sought-after body styles among collectors, as it captures the essence of what made the Model T such a success—simplicity, practicality, and accessibility for ordinary people. It stands as a symbol of the automobile’s transition from a luxury novelty to an everyday necessity, and it remains one of the defining images of early motoring history.