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Story by Ron Preikchat
Photos by Terry Denomme

“Sincerity is everything and if you can fake that you’ve got it made.” Grouch Marx actor/comedian.

In the winter of 2007, Regina, SK’s Ron Preikchat and sons Elton and Craig, set out to build a modern version of the old dirt track racers of the 1920s and 1930s with a few modern touches. Here’s his story.

If one would assign a personality to a vehicle, this 1926 Model T’s personality would be a departure from the other vehicles we have built. We have built some beer-swilling, barrel-chested , front-tooth-missing brawlers, including a massively powerful ’60s Econoline pickup with a twin supercharged 428 Ford in the box or a 428 Ford Cobra Jet in a T bucket .

My modified 1926 Ford Model T Touring represents a more refined Country Gentleman who prefers crumpets and tea instead of beer and pretzels. That’s why we went with a smooth running Jaguar engine, leather seats and a quiet exhaust….if you can call a Smitty’s Glass pack quiet. The build style is somewhat reminiscent of the old dirt track racers that were minimalistic Model T Ford roadsters stripped down to the frame, using wire wheels and running DOHC 4cylinder Frontentenac conversions. Because DOHC Frontenacs are hard to find these days we decided to use a DOHC 6 cylinder (4.2 litre) 1975 Jaguar XJ6 rebuilt to XKE specs with 9.0:1 compression and 250 horsepower. The intake is a Red Line unit purchased from New Zealand along with 3 Weber 45 D.C.O.E. carburetors and 5” velocity stacks. The exhaust manifolds are stock but smoothed and painted. The valve covers are actually 1958 Mark X Jaguar pieces which lend a more vintage look to the engine. All the nuts and studs have been replaced with stainless steel acorn nuts (about 60 in total) to further enhance the vintage vibe. The transmission is stock Borg Warner/Jaguar Type 65 3-speed unit but we had to modify a Lokar C6 floor shifter to operate it. The stock “Prince of Darkness” Lucas ignition system was replaced with Pertronix electronic distributer.

The frame is custom built from 2x3x3/16 HSS tubing and Z’d 6” to lower the seating position. A GM 10-bolt with rear disc brakes was sourced from a 1970s Trans Am. Modifications had to be made as one caliper faced forward and one rearward. The backing plate on the right side was redrilled and turned so the caliper faced forward and the caliper itself had to be redrilled and fit with a new bleeder screw so the bleeder screw would be on top. Gear ratio is 3.21. The suspension, front and back, was designed and built in the Preikchat shop. Out back is air springs with 4-link and panhard bar and shocks from an early Chevy Luv pickup. The front suspension starts with a Super Bell 4” dropped axle with custom designed hairpins and spring perches with a modified 3-leaf front spring. The spindles are from a 1948 Ford while the brakes are Dodge Diplomat rotors with GM metric calipers and custom designed adapters. The master cylinder is from a 1970s Trans Am and a Wilwood proportioning valve.

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