While there are many Model A’s that have survived in various conditions through the test of time, it is still refreshing to see there are still unrestored cars out there being found. While this may not be the creampuff you may have been dreaming of, this Model A pickup is a relatively solid find. The original owner parked this truck when the roof ripped. Sadly, the owner passed away, and the son passed this A’ onto the current seller. With a day remaining in the auction, this Ford has seen quite a bit of interest with 44 bids, and a current price of $5,150. Check it out here on eBay out of Hurlock, Maryland. Thanks to Russ for sharing this charming find!
Although the engine appears a bit crispy with rust peppering, miraculously the engine still turns over by hand. The seller has suggested that the engine could be a runner without much work. Reading this book by its cover, I have doubts. Although, I have seen stranger things happen out of these old engines if they are gently awakened back into running duty. Appearing mostly complete, the distributor looks rough, and the carb hopefully isn’t damaged where it could be rebuilt. Although, I am sure many of you are thinking about a few more cylinders and heads than the original 4 cylinder engine.
Basic and to the point, the interior is missing the driver side door panel, and obviously the roof. I would be willing to bet a few of the wood floor panels are missing as well. Generally, it appears that the interior hardware is still in place, and even flaunting a bit of original nickel plating as well. Also, the driver side window is rolled down, and not broken from what can be seen in the photos.
While this Model A is mostly solid, there is certainly pitting to be found in the bodywork, along with some original paint hanging on by a thread. Arguably, there are many directions you could take this project, from extravagant to simple. I rather envision this as a simple project that could be gently cleaned up and made into a driver again. Granted, not a real beauty by many folk’s standards, in the original weathered finish. I would bet that the wire wheels need replacement or a rebuild at the least. The only apparent rot in this A is by the spare wheel in the lower section of the front fender. Otherwise, the rockers and running boards look solid. A decent enough project to do something with, what would you do with this Model A?
When I was very small about 2 or 3 years old I remember a 29 model A or B pickup not sure which that my dad owned. We had moved to Stevenson, Washington from Provo, Utah after my mother died in 49. My oldest brother drove the pickup while my dad drove the 39 Dodge 7 passenger sedan as I have been told with 8 children and a dog pulling a home made trailer. My brother rebuilt the engine in the pickup at some point and could never get it started. When we moved to Redding, California a year or two later the pickup was left behind.
God bless America
I don’t think your Model A is still in Stevenson. I used to live down the road in Bingen and never saw a Model A truck there. But the Rolls-Royce Owner’s Club had their national meet there in 2007. Lots of Rolls and Bentleys but again, no Model A truck.
I know, I thought so too, but John Walton had a AA. Still, it was a wonderful show, something you could watch as a family, not disemboweling zombies, like today. Again, same old thing, has to be restored as a labor of love, because, as is, it’s not very happy on todays roads, and modified ruins it completely. Lot of work here, going to have to be completely disassembled, but doesn’t get much easier than a Model A. I think there’s still enough older folks that will take this on, but after THEY’RE gone, who knows, as shown, the kid don’t want it. Great find, there simply can’t be many left like this.
I agree with you Howard. I don’t think you’ll find any young person out there today that would be interested in this
truck unless someone our age got them
interested in it. That’s why the hobby is
suffering now. There aren’t many young
folks out there today willing to get dirt
under their manicured nails taking on
a project like this. But for me, this would
be heaven! The only thing really holding
me back is lack of cash to buy the parts
needed to restore it. As for the TV shows
you mentioned, I agree there too. That’s
why when I moved in with the kids, I had
them pick a TV plan with decent programming on it like TCM, METV, and
all those other great channels that make
watching TV a worthwhile experience.
Why they’ve even got channels that filter out the commercials for you too!
Ken Carney-That’s why the hobby is suffering now, aren’t many young folks out there willing to get dirt under there manicured nails? There is lots of young folks in the old car hobby. You need to get out more in the old car hobby and look around and participate more. There is lots of room in this hobby for all generations to enjoy. No need to bash the younger ones. The old car hobby has never been better than it is now with so much knowledge and parts availability.
@triumph1954 Yeah, it’s a niche market, but don’t despair. There are indeed kids out there who dig this just like we do. My colleague’s teenage daughter took on a 1952 F100 project truck and wanted to restore it. Dad supported her. She now can weld, do bodywork, dropped in a motor, and troubleshoots as she drives it. She befriended a mechanic who then mentored her and let her use his shop.
Sorry, I meant that for the previous poster
A closed-minded response if I ever saw one. You’d be amazed at what young people are doing these days if you took a moment to look past your particular horizon. DO SOMETHING to spread the good word about the hobby rather than gripe about how it’s “dying” if you care so much.
I can understand how some people get the idea that young folks aren’t as interested anymore but when I think back to my younger days I have to say that gearheads were few and far between way back then. I was fanatical about old trucks and cars from the time I was able to walk and in my small high school graduating class of 34 kids, I was almost an outcast because I was a gearhead. One of my friends also liked old cars and trucks but he was also one of those natural ‘Babe Magnets’ who had a little harem so his attention was often diverted. I was one of those guys who loved mechanical things and the only people I could relate to were the local mechanics who were my Dad’s age. There never were a lot of us and I don’t think the ratio has changed all that much. I might add that at the South Dakota State Fair last summer I met some future gearheads that were Juniors in high school and were as enthusiastic about old junk as I was at their age…
Okay, maybe the “manicured nails” was a bit much, but you can’t possibly compare todays younger folks with what we went through( I’m 65) Of course there are younger people that love older cars today, but they usually have some connection, grandpa, dad, maybe mom, but once those people are gone, very few younger folks take the hobby on themselves, especially something like this. They gravitate more to vehicles they can turn the key and go, and that’s great, but I fear projects like this will be forgotten.
My oldest son was 8 at the time when we were driving in my 70 Carmaro!! I had left my phone home and I was at the end of my road when I realized it!! I stopped at the stop sign and told him I was going back to get it!! In first gear I cut the wheel and punched it! The car did a doughnut in the intersection and we were going the other way!! He screamed at me do it again dad do it again!! He’s 22 now and just sold his second build!! A 1986 Nissan 240 (not the Z). He was hooked that day!! He’s 22 now and I can’t keep him out of the shop!! I showed him how to make a car desirable sell it for a profit so you can trade up or make extra money for your own build!! I’m proud of him and he’s doing it just the way I showed him!! The hobby is alive and well at my house!!!
Good commentary, Gary, if not a little terse. I have said for a few years now that we need the young folks to take this hobby over. I spread the good word all the time. But go to a car show and see how grey hairs you see vs young guys. As they say , this aint no dress rehearsal. I enjoy all of it and will continue to do so. If you can mentor a young enthusiast, spend the time.
Cheers
GPC
I’ll be 50 in a couple months, and you all have seen my taste in cars by my comments & by cars I have posted for sale.
If any of you would have met me 30 years ago, my taste was different. The 1978 Skylark I just sold would have never been thought of. I wanted to go fast and that was that!
My taste has evolved because I have evolved.
My son loves Honda Civics with the big tin can exhaust & rediculous wings. I liked anything that was jacked up with Crager mags & a glasspack.
Now I have a thing for Packards (pre-1954) & anything Cadillac, or any car from the 1960’s-1980’s that a parent or grandparent would have owned. Now it uh s about the memories for me.
I like to think my Honda loving son will evolve. I try to teach him what I know about the real vintage stuff. I tried teaching him 3 on the tree, but that van was such a piece of junk that we spent more time pushing it than driving it. But I will teach him once I find the right tool to teach him with lol.
I hope he eventually appreciates the vintage cars like I learned to. I hope I am teaching him correctly, but I believe I am. I caught him telling his girlfriend about 3 on the tree.
excellent project for the right person.
(I’m the wrong person).
Neat a-bone. You can get the engine modified so it will run good on unleaded gas, They make an overdrive unit that will allow you to run it all day long at 55 mph. Friend of mine figured out a way to use a stout v8 clutch assembly. Yep its all money and you would have to really want to go this way. Flatmotor v8 swap?
Good luck to the new owner. Stay safe. Like Howard said, the clock is ticking.
Cheers
GPC
I would love to have a Model A to play around with before I check out of this world. The guys I know who have them love ’em to death and are always out for a tour. Super easy to work on and reliable to a fault. I might add that these have a lot of the younger generation’s interest too…
Hi, I would love to own an AA Truck, I have a 30 sedan ,and love it. This is the second Model A for me.
A Double-A is a great, fun truck as long as you’re not in a big hurry to get anywhere. Widely used, I’ve even seen pics of them in full tandem axles. I have no doubt that you’d spend more time shifting gears than actually driving it…
Nice! Give me the AA ( or BB) They had an old-time look, but were actually quite modern. I can’t find much on tandem axle AA’s. I’m not sure if they were actual “twin screws”, or just a tag axle. ( or “rubber band drive”) Weight had not yet become a concern, and there was very little call for a full twin screw truck at that time. This is the only picture of one I found.
https://aafords.com/wp-content/uploads/fmaatc/meetings/mj-gallery/mj06-31-cab-chassis-tandum-q8.jpg
I’ve never seen one myself and would like to be up close and personal with one to study it and know what makes it tick. The Russians did use them in their GAZ clones but I heard that they were also available over here. Obviously in limited numbers. Anyway, here is a pic I found. By the looks of that rear axle I’d have to say that it’s live. It would be a beast to drive with only 40 hp on tap…
As a young motorhead, I started with Model Ts and Flathead V-8s, skipping Model As except for one. My buddy & I payed $25 for a ’30 coupe with no headlights or roof & a loud wrist pin knock. Needless to say, it didn’t last long..
This is the kind of a truck you want to start your project with!! Not molested chopped or channeled!! All the fenders are there and even the spare is still attached to the front fender!! The headlight buckets aren’t dented and the grill is in good shape!! The electric seems striped out but most would upgrade it any way!!
When I was a wee lad in the early 60s we used to have a customer who lived near my Dad’s service station who was a painter and had a Model A PU for his only vehicle. At the time someone driving something like this old everyday was quite unusual. Now you see fifty even sixty year old cars and trucks in regular use.
Back in the early forty’s we had a garbage man named Tippy who had one of these . I asked him if I could use the crank to start it he said no kid you could brake you arm . I would love to restore it just for the memories of old Tippy .
My dear dad, rest his soul, told me that when he came home from the war in ‘46, that you could buy all the Model A’s you wanted for $50 or less. He also said that old farmers still had muzzle loaders in their closets when he was a kid in the 30’s but nobody wanted them then! I knew an old farmer when I was a kid and he said they finally got rid of their Baker steam engine in’54, for scrap, and the buyer was able to actually drive it up on the trailer. Oh, if I could only go back in time!