It's brilliantly simple, and it is also simply brilliant. Ford’s Model T, the car that put the world on wheels, is as basic as a car can get and yet it’s surprisingly usable too. Octane columnist Jay Leno demonstrated this recently by commuting in his Model T to The Tonight Show studios in Los Angeles for a while (issue 63).

The T was in production for nearly 20 years and went through countless evolutionary changes, but the basic car changed little. Mechanically it’s a lot cleverer than you might suppose: the engine flywheel incorporates magnets so that it works as a dynamo, and the gearbox is a fully enclosed two-speed epicyclic unit. Ford pioneered the use of vanadium steel, so the T was built of quality materials.

It’s often said that more than 100,000 Model Ts survive in the USA alone, which translates to fantastic spares back-up. Even in the UK it’s estimated there are up to 3000 Model Ts. The earlier the car, the more brass fittings and period appeal, but later examples are cheaper to buy and more robust.

In the UK, an Austin Seven has always been popular as an entry-level vintage car, but the Model T offers more room for similar money. It’s ideal for dipping a toe into vintage waters.

Neil Tuckett (above) is one half of Tuckett Brothers, Model T specialists and agricultural engineers – his brother looks after the latter business. Neil’s premises are a treasure trove of Model T projects and parts, a slice of 1920s Americana relocated to rural Bucks.

‘Less than £5000 buys you a project car,’ he says, ‘and £7500 will net a tidy black-era [1916-on] T. Really nice ones are £10k-plus.

‘Brass-era cars are rarer, so you’d pay £10-15k for an average example. Pre-1911 Model Ts are particularly scarce and early English cars are sought after: you could expect to pay £25k for a 1911 UK-built car.’

While four-seater tourers are most popular with buyers, the closed cars are underrated, says Neil, especially for the British climate. But he thinks back-to-basics speedsters are today’s hot property: ‘You could buy or build a basic one for £5000, but a properly exciting car will be £10-15k.’

Rust can be an issue with the Model T but the simplicity of its construction means it will be easy to spot. Less obvious will be anachronistic parts: it’s not unknown for a T to have a chassis from one period and a body from another – especially when homemade pick-ups have been restored to ‘original’ condition – so it’s worth swotting up beforehand on production changes.

Its epicyclic gearbox means the T is unlike most other cars to operate, so for the test drive you’ll learn more by letting the owner demonstrate the car while you pay attention from the passenger seat. Some chatter from the timing gears is usual and you can’t expect the motor to be silky smooth, but there shouldn’t be any loud knocks and the car should perform briskly up to its 30-35mph cruising speed. Worst-case scenario is that the bearings will need remetalling: about £600.

Like a BMC Mini, the Model T’s engine and transmission share the same oil bath: straight 30-grade for the Ford. That means frequent changes are essential to maintain cleanliness and prolong the life of those whitemetal bearings. The gearbox rarely gives trouble. Bearings and clutch bands can wear out but replacing either is a straightforward job.

Radiator and tyres are the other main possible areas of expense. A leaky radiator will cost about £500 to recore, while tyres are typically £75 to £100 each. Electric starter motors were available from 1919; they can be retrofitted but require a different gearbox top casing and, of course, a flywheel ring gear.

Desirable extras to look out for are Rocky Mountain brakes – basically, big rear drums that supplement Ford’s originals – and any kind of period tuning gear.

Maybe it’s because of some collective memory of old Laurel and Hardy movies, but the Model T is a car that never fails to elicit a positive response from Joe Public. Driving a Model T turns you into an instant celebrity (if not quite one of Jay Leno’s stature). And, as Jay himself proved, it’s a perfectly usable car in the right kind of traffic conditions. Not fast, but torquey and extremely reliable.

If you want more speed, there was a plethora of tuning gear available in period and some of it has been remanufactured. Overhead-valve cylinder heads can turn the T into a real flyer, although brakes are the limiting factor: front-wheel brakes were never an option in period.

At the moment it’s still easy to find original 1920s parts, and when they finally dry up the specialist remanufacturers will take over; you can already buy 80% of a Model T in new parts. In fact, the future for the 20th century’s most significant car has never looked brighter – and, you don’t have to spend much to experience it.