This Model A Roadster may not be original, but to me, it’s just a really cool car that appears to only need minimal work to be driven and enjoyed. Listed for sale here on eBay, it is located in Hico, West Virginia. Offered with a clear title, 33 bids have seen the price rise to $9,350, but the reserve hasn’t been met as yet. If you want to avoid all the hassles that go with the auction there is a BIN option of $19,999.
This little Ford was placed into storage in either the 1950s or 1960s and has only recently emerged into the light of day. The seller states that it is not wearing its original paint as it has been re-painted in the past. The seller provides a lot of nice, clear photos that indicated that the frame of this Roadster is rock solid. The seller is unsure whether the top is original, but it is quite weathered with a number of small cuts. It does sport a luggage carrier on the running board which is a nice little bonus. It also has a rumble seat which is just really cool. That’s something that I’ve always wanted to experience.
Under the hood is the 201ci 4-cylinder engine backed by the 3-speed manual transmission. After its long slumber, the seller fitted the car with a new condenser, points, plugs and some fresh gas and away it went. There have been some modifications made at some stage in the past, mostly aimed at making this Model A more reliable and safer. The main one is that the brakes have been updated to hydraulic at some stage and the wheels are now from a ’35 or ’36 model. The seller states that the car runs and drives, but it will need some work before it hits the road.
The interior appears to be complete and serviceable. The door trims look good and while the seat may not be perfect, it would be up to the new owner whether this should have a new cover or just throw a blanket over it. There are two things that would definitely have to go. Someone has fitted blue carpet that looks totally wrong….but not as wrong as that steering wheel! Sure, it may be more comfortable than the original, but it looks completely out of place and out of character with the rest of the car.
This Model A appears to be a strong and clean car that will require minimal work to return it to the road. It would make a great project car that would potentially provide years of enjoyment to its new owner. I guess that the big question is whether it is worth the BIN price. That’s one that you could really toss a coin on. It has a rumble seat and that tips the scales for me.
Nice upgrade would be a banjo steering wheel from a ’37.
That would be a sweet ride for the right person. I like it, post reverting back a few things
Nice car for sure. If it came my way, I’d fix and drive, and move the battery back under the floor where it belongs. Replace the top and get the interior looking the way it should, and keep driving. I might add that I like the color. The absolute LAST thing I’d do to any Ford before 1939 would be to convert it to hydraulic brakes. The mechanical binders bring them to a stop quickly and safely, and should you happen to break an axle, you’ve still got brakes left.
The master cylinder they retrofitted is taking the space originally held by the battery.
Wheels most likely are 1935 Ford. The 36’s had split-rim disc wheels.
It’s up to 35 bids now, but more importantly or informative, there are only 5 bidders. It’s still under 10k with less than two days left, I’d be surprised if it cracked 11k, no way it gets to the BIN unless a flake hits that button before reneging.
The advertiser doesn’t know much about old Fords, those wheels are ’35 (if 16″) as a ’36 is a completely different looking wheel. The routing of the hydraulic lines is pretty shaky too, so that’s something that would be important to repair. Otherwise, it’s a fair to decent example of a typical Model A roadster, with better than average lack of rust, but I’ll bet I could find some in places the advertiser doesn’t know enough to look.
The tail light is a neat accessory, and if having a devil symbol on your radiator doesn’t freak you out the cap ornament is an historical piece.
True enough, it has been messed with. But most either returned to original or just left as it is.
The wheels are indeed 35 Ford, rare, as that was the only year of 16’s in wire. Class for sure. I used them on one project. Red with beauty rims and plain caps. Striking, even to my more “modern” thinking son!!
Indeed, the rod operated stock mechanical brakes can be made to work well. Fiddly, though.
A busted axle does not mean no brakes with hydraulics. but, busted wheel cylinder sure will.
Pricey for sure. but id I were 10years younger……
Carl
Can’t figure out the devil radiator cap. Is he wanting to arm wrestle, or just thumbing his nose at everyone?
The lead picture lead me to believe this was a Shay reproduction from the 70s. The hood/ radiator seemed to be too tall for the fenders and the front bumper looked like it was riding too high. I fully expected to see a Pinto 4 cylinder under the hood. It looks like it has 28-29 front fenders, they follow the curve of the front tires more, a little less sweeping than 30-31 fenders. Also has smaller headlights, may cause the hood/radiator to seem tall. Looks it would be a fun car but don’t spend a lot of money for origionality.
Also has a ’30 rad shell rather than ’31. Close scrutiny would find a few more “swaps”.
Indeed, I recall the pinto powered Shay!! I sought to buy one at an estate sale.
This is not one. It is a Ford original, but with “improvements”. Sharp eye,
the head lamps are not Ford.
Decades ago, I swapped a pair of tractor lights to my my pal Billy for a nice pair of A lamps. they looked great on my T hot rod.
For that kind of $ one could buy a real car. Mechanical brakes, if adjusted and maintained, work better than hydraulics, and the handbrake works on all 4 wheels.
And ’36 wheels are not ‘split rims’.
Correct on the wheel, often referred to as a “wide 5” for the wide spread bolt pattern (similar to air cooled VW for those with other preferences). Used on ’36-9 Fords.
Mea culpa, Uncle Bob. My brain was thinking wide 5 and my fingers typed “split rim.” I have two just like those in your photo, red with period Atlas tires still holding air. If anybody wants them. Funny, they were handed off to me by someone who thought they were early VW Beetle…
Uncle Bob gets it right again. Although I thought the battery was on the under side of the right floor board, for sure on V-8’s. It is hard to tell from picture angle ,but front fenders look like 28 or 29’s. The car sits so high it just looks bad, I can’t imagine this car bringing anywhere close to 20K,
Bidders are doing just that – bidding it up…for a non-original that will be street rodded….
For the BIN you can get a properly equipped, period correct, high quality driver.