There is nothing that strengthens the bonds like a parent-and-child restoration project. It allows two (or more) people to work together towards a common goal, and the end result can be a car that provides all parties with years of satisfaction and enjoyment. This 1928 Ford Model A Roadster could be just such a car. It runs and drives well, and now needs someone to return it to its very best once again. It is located in Vancouver, Washington, and has been listed for sale here on craigslist. You can add the Roadster to your workshop by handing its current owner $10,500. I do have to say thank you to Barn Finder Ikey H for spotting this classic for us.

When you look at this Ford, it’s pretty obvious that it has worn at least three different colors during its lifetime. The Black definitely isn’t original, but it is impossible to determine whether the Duchess Blue or Niagara Blue is the shade that was finished in originally. Although if I had to choose, I would say that the latter color would probably be it. Either shade would result in an attractive vehicle, and if the existing paint was all stripped away to reveal the original steel, it easily could be once again. There is minimal rust in the floors that could potentially be addressed with patches, with the rest of the car appearing to be very solid. The original top is long gone, but the original roof bows have been sandblasted and epoxy primed. Also included are a new set of wooden bows, which should help things along. The wheels are looking quite corroded, so I would be very inclined to pack them off to a specialist to have them thoroughly checked and restored. There’s nothing that would grab your attention quite like one of those wire wheels failing while you are trundling along the road at 40mph. That’s one failure that I, and I’m sure that you would agree on this, would not want to experience.

Mechanically, the Ford seems to be full of good news. The car features the normal 201ci flathead 4-cylinder engine, along with the 3-speed manual transmission. It had been sitting for the best part of 30-years, but it has now been revived. The owner believes that the engine was rebuilt at some point, and even after sitting for decades, it fired into life with little effort. However, it now has a new clutch, a leakless water pump, along with a reproduction radiator. With that work completed, the owner says that the Model A now starts, runs, and drives really well. The engine does have that fairy common minor oil leak from the rear main seal. This could pose a quandary for the next owner. The engine looks really clean, and in itself, it wants for nothing. Replacing the leaking seal could potentially be completed with the engine in situ. My thinking is that with the paint in the engine bay looking so ratty, would it be more appropriate to pull the engine completely? That way the leaking seal could be replaced and the engine could be detailed to a high standard. The engine bay could also be stripped and resprayed at the same time. The result could be something close to perfection when finished. So, what would you do?

The Model A, while representing a major advancement over the outgoing Model T, was still not what most people would consider being a luxury car. With this in mind, the interior trim is quite basic, but fully restored, they can still present very nicely. The seat upholstery here isn’t original, with the owner purchasing it at a swap meet. I can’t say that it thrills me at all, so I would probably retrim the interior as a part of the restoration project. Where this car really scores for me is that it is a Roadster with a rumble seat. Now, if you have young children and decided to buy and restore this classic, the vast majority of them would be pretty excited about going for a spin sitting in a rumble seat. Actually, the kids don’t have to be little. I’ve been lucky enough to drive some pretty amazing cars throughout my life, but I am yet to tick “riding in a rumble seat” off my bucket list. I’m probably too old to do that now with any form of style or dignity, but someone once said that there is nothing wrong with growing old disgracefully!

One of the worst things that an individual can do, especially if they are either considering taking on a parent-and-child or a first project, is to choose a vehicle that is too complex or prohibitively expensive to work on. The potential costs and frustrations can soon sour what was intended to be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I won’t say that restored Ford Model A Roadsters are a rare car because they quite simply aren’t. However, it is that very commonality that makes them such a strong restoration candidate for families or first-timers. It doesn’t matter what aspect of the project that the next owner chooses to tackle, they can be guaranteed that there will be plenty of people out there who have trodden that path before, and will be willing to help them avoid the pitfalls that could potentially lay ahead. That makes this a project car that could be well worth inspecting.