I’m sure the little guy behind the wheel caught your eye as he did mine! Of course, for me that might have something to do with “Happy”, my daughter’s Cairn Terrier that is laying on my feet as I write (she told me to write about her long-lost cousin’s truck, so I’m doing it). Anyway, this wonderfully patinaed 1930 Ford Model A pickup is appropriately located in Paw Paw, Michigan, and is listed for sale here on eBay. So far, bidding has risen to $8,600 but has not yet met the reserve price.
Happy asked me to assure you that her cousin does not come with the truck, despite looking so great in the cab — you’ll have to provide your own dog; sounds like the making of a country song to me! The seller of this cool-looking truck says that it’s all steel with no body filler and includes a cherry wood bed. The cool 16″ wire wheels are from a 1936 Ford and carry brand new tires. Both the glass and turn signals have just been replaced, so you and your dog can both see out and be seen by others. I should point out that dog harnesses are available to attach to seat belts to transport your canine safely; we don’t know if this build has belts at all as the seller sadly neglected to include interior pictures.
The fuel tank in the bed is from a Farmall F12 tractor, and the brakes are now hydraulic, which included a conversion to 1941 front spindles. The wiring harness has been replaced with a new one and converted to 12-volt operation. In other words, you and your dog will be riding in a truck that’s a little safer and more reliable than when it left Henry’s factory in 1930. The exhaust system has been recently replaced as well, and the rear end dates from 1949. We’re not told what gear ratio the swapped rear end has, but given the rest of the truck’s updates, I suspect it’s a little less tall than the original one to facilitate cruising.
Under the hood, we see more of that just-right mix of patina and modern (okay, modern-ish) reliability. The engine has been rebuilt, the 12-volt alternator is evident and that’s a downdraft Weber carburetor atop the “banger”, which is an affectionate term for the original type of four-cylinder, 200.5 cubic-inch Model A engine. Originally that engine would have had a compression ratio of only 4.22 to one and made about 24 horsepower, but I’m sure given a modern rebuild this one makes more than that. Happy asked me to ask you about your Model A experiences — please share them with us in the comment section below–and we’d love to hear about your vehicle-loving dogs, too!
After owning a V8 ’33 pickup for a while seeing this truck makes me sorry I sold it. I like it!
I know I am showing my age, but everytime I see one of these, I think of “The Walton’s”, Goodnight John-boy.
Then I must be showing my age as well. (64) The Waltons was the the first thing I thought of too!.
Just needs a V8-60. Otherwise, perfect.
Those 16″ wheels are off a ’35 Ford, not the ’36…
I’m a recent “convert” to the Model A world. The best thing about owning a Model A seems to be the support. Folks in the local club are happy to show you how to repair your A, for example. Parts are cheap and plentiful.
There is only one “upgrade” the seller has made that might change the character of this pickup, the new exhaust system. It may no longer sound like a Model A. The stock muffler is tapered from bigger to smaller and gives the A that unique sound. “Juice” brakes don’t make it stop any better, they are just easier to adjust. The Webber is nice, but the original is super simple and works well. The rest is just typical stuff folks might do to an old pickup. No one makes new gas tanks and the 16″ tires are much easier to find than nineteen or twenty inch tires. I hope the new owner is able to enjoy it as it is.
Hmmm… I wonder if “the rear end dates from 1949″ is a mistake. As I recall, the ’49 Ford had a 5 on 4-1/2″ bolt pattern whereas the wires are surely 5 on 5”. The model A had a closed driveshaft, and the ’49 was open. Whatever the case may be this is a really cool lil’ truck!
1.Best improvement to a Model A is the Weber 32/36 carb. more power and better gas mileage.
2.looks funny with those wheels.
3.juice brakes are nice but not necessary; even properly adjusted stock brakes will lock up on demand, the original system was 2 independent acting shoes on each wheel. modern drum brakes are self energizing. the lead shoe forces the trailing shoe to brake.
the Flathead Ted brake energizer kit will make the Model A brakes self energizing. very effective and very powerful. now, not perfectly adjusted brakes will lock up the tires.
Model As had 40 hp. You might be thinking of a Model T,
Sold.