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Circa 1926. "Ford car at National Museum." A Model T outside the Smithsonian Institution's main exhibit hall, completed in 1910. Today the building serves as the National Museum of Natural History. National Photo Co. View full size.
The T is a 1926-27 and you most certainly could order a new one with wood wheels. Wire wheels for the last two years of production were an upgrade.
The prototype for the infamous window sticker
The car on the old $10 bill was a 1926 Studebaker. As for this car I would rule out 1927, when closed Model T's had steel wire wheels as standard equipment. So this Tudor should be a 1926. A fairly new one, since the body colors back then tended to get dull faster than nowadays.
Nowadays, you take your life into your hands driving around this place. One of my very favorite museums. I remember sitting outside this entrance back in the 70's for the King Tut exhibit. Also, I've gotten "dumped" into that tunnel before.
This makes me think of the old $10 bill whose reverse had the Treasury building and a Model T cruising by. Too bad the new $10 note has no products of American ingenuity next to the Treasury. Maybe a guy riding a Segway would be nice. With a helmet of course to please the safety-monitors.
This photo has to have be taken in 1925 or later. The car is a 1926 or 1927 model year. It is a 1926 or 1927 Tudor. Note, the windshield is one piece and that practice started in the 1926 model year.
The location of this photo is on 12th Street just south of Madison Drive N.W. However, you can't get to the exact location in Google Street View because 12th street no longer is on the surface -- it's been converted to a tunnel under the Mall and if you're unlucky Street View will dump you underground!
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