Model A Fords

[lloyd3]

Saw an article about an employee at Hagerty Insurance deciding to drive nothing but a 1930 Model A Tudor for an entire year and documenting the experience. This was in northern Michigan, not southern California, so it was not without some hardships. The car did/does have some minor modifications (safety glass all round, seatbelts, electric wiper motor, radial tires, upgraded tail lights) but it still has a 6-volt system and mechanical brakes.  I found myself being quite impressed by the overall drivability of the car in some pretty challenging conditions.  Surprisingly feasible transportation, considering that its over 85-years old now.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eHKcQw0bO0

[marshallfry01]

That is so cool! My grandpa has a 1931 A model coupe with the rumble seat.  It was parked in his barn since 1953 until about 3 years ago.  The barn was getting in rough shape and we moved it to another shed.  He tore the barn down and built a 40x60 shop.  I am planning on restoring it after I am finished with college.

[Patronus]

I'm always looking for a nice AA with a box. Love those trucks 

[lloyd3]

Another thing that caught my attention is that restored & very drivable versions are available for very little money (like $12 to $15K). The market for these cars has been soft for some time now (the folks that knew & loved them are, sadly, heading for the exits). Nobody (well.....darn few) wants a car anymore with only minimal creature comforts, a 6-volt electrical system, and mechanical brakes so.... they aren't the investments that they maybe once were.   What I find strangely appealing about them is their spectacular build quality and relative ease of maintenance. For just puttering around town in mild weather & low-speed situations, I would think that they'd be just fine & kind-of fun. They are, after all, the original economy cars. The "coolness" factor is also undeniable, especially for a history buff such as myself.  They sure beat the hell out of a modified golf cart. 

[Aero426]

Another thing that caught my attention is that restored & very drivable versions are available for very little money (like $12 to $15K). The market for these cars has been soft for some time now (the folks that knew & loved them are, sadly, heading for the exits). Nobody (well.....darn few) wants a car anymore with only minimal creature comforts, a 6-volt electrical system, and mechanical brakes so.... they aren't the investments that they maybe once were.   What I find strangely appealing about them is their spectacular build quality and relative ease of maintenance. For just puttering around town in mild weather & low-speed situations, I would think that they'd be just fine & kind-of fun. They are, after all, the original economy cars. The "coolness" factor is also undeniable, especially for a history buff such as myself.  They sure beat the hell out of a modified golf cart. 

You sir, are someone who "gets it".   

[41husk]

and eventually the 200k plus cars highly sought after by most of us, will be placed in sheds and bought at sold at a highly deflated rate.  People will say they can't even fly, float are run on nuclear power, who would drive that

[RallyeMike]

Great video. The cool thing about old cars is that they instantly transport you to a point in history. To do it for a full year in the Midwest though? That's dedication to the full experience!

[Dino]

When I graduate we'll be buying an old car to put around in, and it will likely be a Model A with rumble seat.   

I won't be driving it in Michigan winters though.

[Trulyvintage]

Then again ....

You might consider driving a 1934 Ford Hot Rod ... 

Just dropped off this beauty in St. Ignatius, MT on Wednesday ... 



Jim

[303 Mopar]

I am drawn to the '32-34 Fords that have been hot rodded, and I know there are many kits out there to build one but see two drawbacks. Cabin room, I'm 6'2" and 200 lb and not sure I would fit.  The other is when I get bored of it I would have a hard time selling it since the market is very soft on these cars as pointed out.  Still they are way cool!   

[Daytona R/T SE]

I would give up a lot of things I currently own to have a genuine steel bodied 33 or 34 Ford 3 window coupe. 

[Magnumcharger]

I was a Ford Model A fanatic long before I got twisted into Mopars by my older brother, and my sister's boyfriend.
My Grandfather bought a 1929 Tudor sedan brand new, just before the market crashed and he lost his business. His A was the family transportation for the next couple of decades, so my Mother had lots of stories about the car, which must have influenced me somehow.
I bought as many Hubley metal models of Model A's as my lawn mowing and snow shovelling jobs would allow. I still have all of them forty years on!
I actually owned a 29 Tudor for a brief period of time, buying in at a respectible $300! It was rust free, but in need of practically everything. I'd planned on making a streetrod out of it, but once I started collecting parts, I realized I really couldn't afford to give it justice, so I cut it loose for $600.
Even now I constantly peruse Kijiji and Craigslist looking for "that car"...which may someday find its way into my garage.

I have a rule that I follow in my plans for acquisition: If its an original car, I'd keep it stock. If its just a shell, or parts car, I'd Hot Rod it.

The white Coupe is in a barn not far from where I live. I've been waiting patiently for the owner to drop the price to a reasonable level.

[lloyd3]

There was a little car show down in Franktown, Colorado today which I got to attend for just a little bit (the boy had a scout campout that burned a little too-much time this weekend). There were three Model As there, two Tudors and a woody wagon. I got to really go over one of the Tudors (a very pretty 1930 Grey/green one that had been restored in the early 1980s) and talk with the owner. Beautifully simple and substantial automobiles! The one thing that struck me was how small the interior space appeared to be.  I'm not exactly huge (6'3" & 250lbs), but....I'd be worried about how well I'd fit in one.  Getting in and out of the back would be nearly impossible for me.   Folks were clearly much smaller (& less well-fed) in the 1930s.