ST. ALBANS, W.Va. - Now there's something you don't see every day: A Model T Ford sitting on a used-car lot.

C.J. Helmick, a salesman for C&O Motors in St. Albans, said the 1927 Model T pickup truck was bought from a man in Spencer last week. Although it was covered in dust from a long period of storage, Helmick said sales staff cranked the starter and the truck fired right up.

"It runs fine," said Helmick. "They drove it right off the truck."

The 81-year-old Ford went out on the car lot Friday, where - parked between two yellow sports cars - it has since been the star of the dealership.

"You won't believe the attraction," said sales manager Brian Cavendish. "People just want to stop and look at it."

Henry Ford, generally credited with inventing the modern assembly line, came out with the Model T in 1908 as a utilitarian vehicle practically anyone could afford to own, the Volkswagen Bug of its day. Basic in the extreme - Ford said you could buy a Model T in any color you wanted so long as it was black - the Model T was nevertheless reliable and economic transportation.

The 1927 model year was the last for the Model T, which Ford replaced with the updated but equally egalitarian Model A. Among the improvements on the Model A was a choice of colors.

C&O's Model T attracted several would-be buyers in its brief time on the lot. Ben and Janice Arthur of Cannelton wanted to buy the truck on Tuesday.

"It's older than I am," said Ben Arthur, though he conceded it was only by a few years.

But the Arthurs found the truck had already been sold. Helmick said his mother, Jane Helmick of Buckhannon, decided to buy the Model T as a present for his father, Charlie.

Jane Helmick said she bought the Model T "because it was a truck and because it's old," adding that Charlie was excited about the purchase. Jane said the truck was also a present for her father-in-law, who is 81, just like the truck. The Model T was expected to be loaded on a flatbed today for its journey to Buckhannon.

Ben Arthur, meanwhile, was less than thrilled. "If I'd have come down yesterday, I might have gotten it," he said.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.

C.J. Helmick, a salesman for C&O Motors in St. Albans, said the 1927 Model T pickup truck was bought from a man in Spencer last week. Although it was covered in dust from a long period of storage, Helmick said sales staff cranked the starter and the truck fired right up.

"It runs fine," said Helmick. "They drove it right off the truck."

The 81-year-old Ford went out on the car lot Friday, where - parked between two yellow sports cars - it has since been the star of the dealership.

"You won't believe the attraction," said sales manager Brian Cavendish. "People just want to stop and look at it."

Henry Ford, generally credited with inventing the modern assembly line, came out with the Model T in 1908 as a utilitarian vehicle practically anyone could afford to own, the Volkswagen Bug of its day. Basic in the extreme - Ford said you could buy a Model T in any color you wanted so long as it was black - the Model T was nevertheless reliable and economic transportation.

The 1927 model year was the last for the Model T, which Ford replaced with the updated but equally egalitarian Model A. Among the improvements on the Model A was a choice of colors.

C&O's Model T attracted several would-be buyers in its brief time on the lot. Ben and Janice Arthur of Cannelton wanted to buy the truck on Tuesday.

"It's older than I am," said Ben Arthur, though he conceded it was only by a few years.

But the Arthurs found the truck had already been sold. Helmick said his mother, Jane Helmick of Buckhannon, decided to buy the Model T as a present for his father, Charlie.

Jane Helmick said she bought the Model T "because it was a truck and because it's old," adding that Charlie was excited about the purchase. Jane said the truck was also a present for her father-in-law, who is 81, just like the truck. The Model T was expected to be loaded on a flatbed today for its journey to Buckhannon.

Ben Arthur, meanwhile, was less than thrilled. "If I'd have come down yesterday, I might have gotten it," he said.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.